PvM build, playable lvl 1-40

That's right, yet another dragon build. I designed it with the goal of having a good shapeshifter druid without using the shifter class, so that he can still get maximum attacks/round. His high wisdom and reasonable caster level make him a good spellcaster druid, but I use that mainly for buffing and occasionally against groups of monsters that just aren't worth the time it takes to shapeshift. I wanted to reach druid lvl 12 as soon as possible for dire bear shape, but I've also taken monk levels early to keep a high AC and to get stunning fist which has a very good DC with his high wisdom. At lvl 40 he has infinate wildshape, elemental shape 3x/day, dragon shape 3x/day.
I looked around a bit before posting to make sure this build would not be a copy of an older one and found these two which are rather similar:

Christophs Dragon of Torm (Druid 25/CoT 6/Monk 9)
The Dragon Druid by AntonTD (Druid 20/Monk 10/CoT 10)

I decided to post this anyway as I feel it has some advantages.

Race: Human

Abilities:
Str 10
Dex 8
Con 14
Int 14
Wis 18(34)
Cha 8

Level advancement:
1 druid 1, toughness, blind-fight
2 monk 1
3 druid 2, extend spell
4 druid 3, (+wis)
5 druid 4
6 druid 5, extra stun attacks
7 monk 2
8 druid 6, (+wis)
9 druid 7, zen archery
10 druid 8
11 druid 9
12 monk 3, weapon focus(kama), (+wis)
13 druid 10
14 druid 11
15 druid 12, max spell
16 CoT 1, (+wis)
17 monk 4
18 CoT 2, empower spell, called shot
19 CoT 3
20 CoT 4, point blank shot, (+wis)
21 monk 5, great wisdom
22 monk 6
23 druid 13
24 CoT 5, great wisdom, (+wis)
25 CoT 6, great wisdom
26 druid 14
27 CoT 7, great wisdom
28 CoT 8, great wisdom, (+wis)
29 druid 15
30 druid 16, dragon shape
31 CoT 9CoT
32 druid 17, (+wis)druid
33 druid 18, epic prowess
34 druid 19
35 CoT 10, armor skin
36 druid 20, epic reflexes, (+wis)
37 druid 21
38 druid 22
39 monk 7, great wisdom
40 druid 23, (+wis)

Skill points: 281

SkillDistribution:
Consentration 43
Discipline 42
Spellcraft 43
Tumble 40
Other skills 113

Some stats:
Using the "unbuffed (buffed)" format, the buffs in question are:
Owl's wisdom
Bull's strength
Blood frenzy
Bark skin
Aura of vitality

Human form: (with ranged weapon)
max HP 460 (580)
AB 38/33/28/23 (43/38/33/28)
AC 32 (43)
saves:
Fort 33 (36)
Reflex 30 (32)
Will 40 (46)

Dire bear form:
max HP 540 (660) +40 temp
AB 37/34/31/28/25/22 (43/40/37/34/31/28)
Damage 1-8 +10 (1-8 +16)
AC 39 (50)
saves:
Fort 35 (38)
Reflex 32 (34)
Will 40 (46)

Air elemental form:
max HP 540 (660)
AB 33/30/27/24/31/18 (39/36/33/30/27/24)
Damage 2-16 +6 (2-16 +12)
AC 55 (66)
saves:
Fort 35 (38)
Reflex 43 (45)
Will 40 (46)

Earth elemental form:
max HP 620 (740)
AB 39/36/33/30/27/24 (44/41/38/35/32/29)
Damage 2-20 +12 (2-20 +17)
AC 43 (54)
saves:
Fort 37 (40)
Reflex 31 (33)
Will 40 (46)

Dragon form:
max HP 820 (940) +100 temp
AB 46/43/40/37/34/31 (51/48/45/42/39/36)
Damage 2-16 +19 (2-16 +24)
AC 66 (77)
saves:
Fort 42 (45)
Reflex 44 (46)
Will 40 (46)


Things I would like:

Edited By pulse cap on 06/20/05 21:45

C'mon I want some feedback, any posts are welcome

Please? I know so little about druids. Does he absolutely have to have +16BAB by 20th?
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Quote: Posted 06/21/05 12:53:18 (GMT) -- grizzled_dwarflord

I know so little about druids. Does he absolutely have to have +16BAB by 20th?

With the monk levels it gives him 6 attacks when shifted (and 4 with a bow)

EDIT: Admitttedly I'm pretty new to druids myself, but he does get six attacks and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't with a lower BAB at lvl 20

Edited By pulse cap on 06/21/05 13:10

I worked one out with 12 levels of druid and 8 CoT pre epic, then finished out the wisdom requirement and epic weapon focus and epic prowess using the CoT bonus feats, while using the regular feats for great charisma and saving the last level for monk to max tumble and discipline. The final build was druid/14 Cot/25 monk/1.
This allows for a high ab and AC unbuffed in dragon form, while creating a HUGE boost in AB and damage for a short time, toping out around 65 and dealing the usual high damage plus a hefty divine damage bonus. oooh!
a divine damage dragon, now that seems like fun!
Quote: Posted 06/21/05 22:52:52 (GMT) -- Deltutammatre

I worked one out with 12 levels of druid and 8 CoT pre epic, then finished out the wisdom requirement and epic weapon focus and epic prowess using the CoT bonus feats, while using the regular feats for great charisma and saving the last level for monk to max tumble and discipline. The final build was druid/14 Cot/25 monk/1.
This allows for a high ab and AC unbuffed in dragon form, while creating a HUGE boost in AB and damage for a short time, toping out around 65 and dealing the usual high damage plus a hefty divine damage bonus.

By taking monk levels from the start it becomes a lot more playable, with wisdom AC bonus, extra attacks, and stunning fist. Also I didn't think weapon focus/epic weapon focus worked in dragon form. I'd still like to see it though, could you post a link? Weapon focus no.. epic weapon focus yes! The reason for only taking 1 monk level at the end was a symptom of the CoT divine wrath power: past the epics it advances by 2 for every 5 levels. You could always mix it up and take 6 monk levels for the free KD & IKD feats and a little speed boost at the cost of 2 AB from divine wrath and 2 feats. I will post a writeup asap. This was also by no means an easy build to level. The good druid spells all come at higher levels and having all your feats tied up in melee while having no strength, dexterity or constitution is a real drag. All I can say is the ends justify the means.