Starting a Druid

Overview
Druids are a fairly simple class to build as long as you aren't going for a max DPS or ultimate tank build. This simply won't happen with a druid but they can do many other things very well. Druid also go very well with several multi-classes.

There are 3 main styles of druid.


 * Juggernaut: Uses bear forms, this one is the most difficult as it needs strength, wisdom, and dexterity. Some people will drop dex and go straight for constitution but as you can only wear light armor, dex will be your main source of AC. Note: Druids can wear medium armor, but only if it's not made of metal (because of the Druidic oath). Non-metallic medium armors are rare, but they do exist. Examples: Dragonscale Armor and the Terrorweb Chitin Breastplate, as well as Hide Armor.
 * A good build would be: Str 14, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 16, Cha 8.(32 pt)


 * The Shredder: Focused on shape-shifting, generally wolf and ice wolf. This build will allow you to do fairly good melee DPS and is very survivable and amazing for solo. Half/half wisdom for DCs and strength for DPS.
 * A good build would be: Str 16, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 16, Cha 8. (32 pt)


 * Elementalist: Very caster-oriented but can melee with the Flame Blade spell. Max wisdom and max out one elemental line of enhancements. I suggest frost for the creeping cold and ice storm. This will allow for good AOE and single target DPS.
 * Most of the time it will just be Con 18, Wis 18. In some cases for UMD purposes you can do Con 14, Wis 18, Cha 16.

Stat allocation
The druid is very simple. If you're in melee you're a shape-shifter so you don't use the TWF or THF feats so you don't need to worry about prereqs.


 * Str: At least 16 for The Shredder and 14 for the Juggernaut. Drop to 8 or 10 for Elementalist.
 * Dex: Only useful for tank or monk-splash reflex build. At least 14 for those, otherwise dump.
 * Con: Minimum 14. For melee at 16 is better.
 * Int: Dump stat unless you want a few more skill points. Never go above 10.
 * Wis: On all builds you want 16 or more. This will affect your Wild Shape spell DCs and spell points. Try to keep this as high as you can.
 * Cha: Dump stat unless you want UMD.

Races
As far as races go there aren't many pros or cons to any of them.


 * Human: One extra of 2 stats. Can be nice for one extra Wis and Con/Str.
 * Elf: Extra Dex for AC and long sword proficiency. Less Con so less health.
 * Halfling: Extra Dex, saves, and AC. so can be good for a monk splash. Not so much for tank because of Str penalty.
 * Dwarf: More Con. Good for tanks. Less Cha.
 * Warforged: More Con and all those good resists. However the penalty to Wis really hurts so it's not a good option for druids.
 * Drow: More Dex, Int, and Cha. Not useful unless you're on a UMD build. Less Con.
 * Half-Orc: Great for any melee dps build. Less Int can hurt the skill points but you can get by. Less Cha doesn't really matter.
 * Half-Elf: Makes a very good Melee druid for the rogue dilettante gives you the extra damage or the barbarian for a tank. The extra stat can also be very nice.

Overall you'd want to go with either Dwarf, Half Orc, or Half elf for melee, while for casters Humans are your best bet for the extra feat.

Feats
As for feat there are a few ways you can go.

--Caster--


 * Both Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus: Evocation are vital for DCs.
 * Maximize extra spell power
 * Empower
 * Heighten.
 * Mental Toughness and
 * Improved Mental Toughness are useful to help compensate for the druid's lower SP pool.

--As both tank and melee DPS--


 * You will want to max out double strike chances. For this you will want both regular and greater Shield Mastery.
 * Once you hit level 9 you will want to start stacking the Natural Fighting feat for even more double strike.
 * Power Attack is also nice for the extra damage.

Elementalist Human Druid Build
A leveling order would be:


 * 1st: Augment Summoning (for fun, will swap later)
 * Human bonus feat: Spell Focus: Evocation
 * 3rd: Extend Spell (for longer buffs and Body of the Sun, will swap later)
 * 6th: Maximize Spell
 * 9th: Quicken Spell
 * 12th: Empower Spell
 * 13th (druid): Wild Shape Fire Elemental
 * 15th: Shield Mastery. Feat swap Augment Summoning for Improved Shield Mastery
 * 17th (druid): Wild Shape Water Elemental
 * 18th: Heighten Spell
 * 20th: Feat Swap Extend for Greater Spell Focus: Evocation any time between L18-20

The choice of taking the elemental forms at this levels is to take advantage of the spells that get a bonus of the matching element, mostly Body of the Sun and Wall of fire, should you take them.

Gear
3 or 5 piece  and Goggles of Time-Sensing can be fun for  a few levels.
 * If you can craft or can buy from a crafter,  get a Heavy wood shield with invulnerability ASAP.
 * Ring of Elemental Essence for early on.


 * House C challenge items: Cloak of Flames, Frozen Tunic, Bracers of Wind are awesome for druid because they cover spell power and crit chance for a druid’s 3 primary elements: fire, cold and electricity, plus they have lots of other goodies like blur, fire absorption, dodge, Heightened Awareness, Haste guard and Freezing Ice. Get heroic versions (starting with L7/8 versions and upgrade them as you level) and epic versions of each.


 * Wall of Wood and its Epic versions, both on normal will suffice and easier to find and much more affordable.
 * Torc is awesome if you’re a TR and have it. even your caster/healer druid can and should be in the middle of combat, taking lots of hits and generating lots of Sp.
 * Vibrant Purple Ioun stone (upgraded) is also very nice for any caster to have big sp at L5.
 * A Greensteel lit II scimitar or Alchemical scimitar is very nice to have, if not available other scimitars/sickles/daggers to consider while leveling are Swailing Blade, Thunderstorm Crescent, Royal Scimitar, Flint, Guardian of the Liturgy, Skiver, Threnalian War Dagger, Sacrificial Dagger.

Those are a rough list of items that would be nice to have, but they are not essential, just try to get a non metal light or medium armor and a nice weapon to melee or one with nice spell power bonus. Your pet will be of great help at lower levels so keep him buffed and geared.