I've recently been wondering about a Druid build, as I've got the perfect portrait for it. Thinking about maybe multiclassing a bit into Vivisectionist for the sneak attack and mutagens, and maybe a bit of Tactician Inquisitor. Anyone have any experience playing around with that sort of thing? On testing out a Druid merc for a quick spin, I was disappointed to see that he was weaker than his pet in corresponding beast shape! If I as a mighty magic user am going to transform into a beast, surely it's going to be the most magnificent example of its species?
Druids are most optimal as a reach melee support caster or as a primary spellcaster, wildshape builds are not very strong (fun though)
So is it not worth faffing about with Viv to get the sneak attack and mutagens, and Inquisitor to get the feat sharing? Just go full DotTW for a bit of extra endgame oomph maybe?
Are you trying to make an optimal build, or a fun one? If you want to just make something fun, do whatever you like.
Druid is a class that is most optimal when making the most out of its full range of spells, dipping stuff like Vivi and losing spells as a result is not optimal
Traditional Monk 1 is the only dip for this class that is remotely optimal and it still hurts
I generally play on Challenging, so it has to be reasonably efficient, but there's a bit of elbow room for some fun.
DOTW 19/Traditional Monk 1 can make for a reasonably effective Wildshape build, IIRC the Earth Elemental is the best
I believe COTW has some good feats for Wildshape builds so you might want to consider that
Thanks! Yeah, I've been playing around respeccing the Merc:
Human. Starting stats 12,12,12,11,19,10
At lvl 11 so far I've got DOTW 5 (Plant Domain)/Viv 2/Sacred Huntsmaster 3 (Erastil, Community Domain, Animal companion from this rather than Druid)/Sensei Monk 1.
Spell focus on Transmutation(+Greater) for the control and buff spells, Evocation and Conjuration (might drop this for another feat, maybe weapon focus Bite?). Dodge, Crane Wing (+3 mobility ofc). Sacred Huntsmaster shares Outlfank to pet (using Bear for flavour because of the goddamn portrait I found
I like the flexibility of the Mutagen being able to boost STR/CON or DEX for Wolf/Bear or Leopard, and I can switch out Amulet of Mighty or Agile Fists respectively (they do work).
Even just in Wolf form atm, she's great at charging/tripping and can take a fair old chunk out of the enemies' health bar.
I dunno, seems to be working absolutely fine on Challenging at this level, but ofc who knows what it's like on higher levels and whether it would be viable as a player character from the get-go on Unfair (I suspect it might be IF she started as a Sacred Huntsmaster and I maybe switched to the Aasimar race).
Theme: she was an inquisitor of Erastil, then some Fey shenanigans blew her mind, then she went a bit crazy as a vivisector trying to find out secrets so she could fight the fey, then she calmed down and monked a bit, and finally found balance and became dedicated to defending the True World
Certainly lots of fun to play around with anyway!