#class:druid

The Druid In Perspective

"Nature is by definition uncontrollable. At best you can attempt a momentary influence, but even that is subject to the whims of nature."—Vadania

The druid's home is more spacious, and possibly more beautiful, than that of any other character. Tall oaks, pines, and elms form the roof over her world—a canopy more vibrant and interesting than any ceiling fresco. The grasses and leaves provide her with a floor and a soft bed.

Where are the walls? The druid laughs, for she knows no walls—no boundaries to her never-ending natural world.

Within her home or outside it, the druid is never without friends. That wolf hiding in the grass, the hawk flying above, and the mighty bear—these make loyal traveling companions as well as fearsome opponents for uninvited guests. Should she need clever scouts to prowl the bushes or soar through the sky in search of enemies, or strong warriors to protect her from harm, her friends can be at her side in a moment. If their aid isn't enough,

She can become one of natures creatures and either defeat her foes with claw and tooth or take wing and escape. Woe to the cretin who thinks the druid powerless outside her wood, for even in the darkest dungeon, she is never without friends, spells, or powers.

Unlike many adventurers, the druid is fully prepared to go it alone. The fighter, wizard, and rogue depend on the cleric to heal them, and the cleric depends on the fighter to keep enemies at bay. The druid, on the other hand, can defeat her enemies with fiery spellcasting nearly as powerful as the sorcerer's, take the form of a tiger or a lion to gain the upper hand in melee, then heal herself when the battle is done.

Because of this versatility, the druid has much to offer a group of adventurers. She can take on any role that's required. Need a healer for the barbarian? Can do. Need a little more firepower to strike down foes from a distance? No problem. Need some spells to make the party tougher? Sure thing. How about reasonable combat skills, allies that can be summoned at a moment's notice, and the ability to bring down the rain or clear away the clouds? The druid is your choice.

With all these options, hundreds of druids can share the same world and still be nothing alike. One may concentrate on healing, another on the creation of magic items, another on animal companions, and yet another on assuming other shapes.

Race and the Druid

Druids can emerge from any natural environment.

Where they are rarest is where cobbled stones and the noisy advance of civilization have replaced a carpet of leaves and the gentle song of the lark. Some races are more likely than others to take up the druid's path for cultural reasons, but in game terms there's no race that makes for an especially bad druid. Since Wisdom is the primary ability score for the class and no race has a bonus or penalty to this score, no obvious racial choice exists for druid characters.

—Half-Elves: Lost and looking for her place in the world, many a half-elf finds solace in serving nature. Perhaps it's a way of accepting her elven half or appeasing elven kin— or perhaps the half-elf whom society has cast aside finds a certain appeal in the sometimes lonely path of the druid. Whatever her reasons for taking up the class, the half-elven druid benefits from her elven heritage through her improved vision. Half-elves may also have an easier time getting along in a human-dominated world than elves do.

The Druid and Other Classes

The druid's defense of the natural world is neither shortsighted nor provincial. She is, in some sense, a living extension of nature's will. Therefore, when evil threatens the land, she's likely to enlist in the fight, even if it takes place far outside her grove. On other occasions, the druid may become involved in adventures out of loyalty to friends, or out of curiosity about some aspect of nature.

As noted above, the druid has no difficulty fitting into most adventuring parties. If you're playing a druid, you may find some good advice in the following paragraphs about getting along with your fellow adventurers.