Greetings everyone! This month we're talking about one of the most interesting classes in the 3.5e system - the druid. From his animal companion, to his wildshape ability to his exciting nature-based spells. Read on for more!
The Druid's Best Friend
The first ability druid's get is the ability to summon an animal companion. In Revenge of the Firstborn, that takes the shape of a wolf, which druids can summon immediately at level one. As the druid levels up, her wolf gains additional hitpoints, natural armor and high strength and dexterity. It also gains the evasion feature and an increased number of attacks along with a bonus to its will save.
Additionally, any spell that the druid casts that affects herself will also affect her animal companion, provided it is within 5 feet of her at the time of casting.
I Can be Whatever I Want to Be
The ability that is often cited as the defining feature of a druid is its ability to assume the shape of various other creatures. In the 3.5e rules, they first gain this ability at level 5. Upon gaining that level, the druid gains the ability to take the shape of a wolf or a black bear, gaining each creature’s attack characteristics, such as the wolf’s ability to trip a creature on a successful attack, or the bear’s increased number of attacks per round via its natural weapons.
Upon gaining 8th level, the druid gains the ability to turn in a saber spider, a large spider with swords for its first two arms. In addition, the wolf form improves to a dire wolf, and the bear form improves to a brown bear.
Upon gaining 12th level, the druid gains the ability to wildshape into a treant, gaining its size and strength, along with the ability to trample over opponents.
At 16th level, the druid gains the ability to take the shape of an either an earth elemental or a fire elemental.
Primary Spellcaster...?
Druids also have the ability to be potent spellcasters, even being able to cast spells while wildshaped, via the Natural Spell feat.
The druid’s spells are some of the most visually fun spells in all of Revenge of the Firstborn, from the Earthquake spell, to the call lightning spell, which allows the druid to call down a bolt of lightning on a given target each round.
Comment below to find out if your favorite druid spell is in the game, or to request a different animal type to be included in the future!