Post
by Seven Sons of Sin » Wed Dec 06, 2017 9:25 pm
I agree and disagree with everything Wytchee and JediZero have said. I should disclaim I think druids are one of the most highly conservative classes, in terms of roleplay - "conservative" because their approach has long been guided by principles like,
- being a reactive force in the Arelith Woods (rangers only get riled up when necromancers trot through)
- clinging to a moot system
- "the Balance" has often been used as a tool by entrenched and established players to maintain control (similar to Light Keep)
- druid roleplay has lacked consistent vision, or arguably memorable "presence" on the island
With that out of the way, druids are fundamentally an estranged class. I think they would be a lot better conceptually if they were not bound by a neutral-alignment restriction. I don't think the neutral-alignment system makes any sense, as its often articulated (see above) that druids do not take extreme moral stances. Like a Lawful Good or Chaotic Evil character would take. That seems presumptuous at best, and pretty reductive at its worse. A Lawful Neutral or Neutral Evil character can be just as extreme.
Extremity of morality, thus, can't be argued as something druids don't uphold because of their alignment system.
Further, the idea of "cosmic balance" seems more fascinating, but more plagued by inconsistencies. Druids, often argued, should be as abhorrent by a demon as an angel, because both manifest outsider intervention into the natural ecosystem of Abeir-Toril. The principle of this seems fair (they don't like cosmic interventions). However, and this is just because of the mechanics of the class, druids do rely on summoning elementals from the Elemental Planes, and druids have often roleplayed animal companions as coming from "somewhere else." If a druid is irreconcilable with planar presence, it seems bizarre they don't mind external weather demigods. The "science" of ecosystem preservation runs at odds with summoning a Water Elemental that can flood a forest.
So, by extension, it makes sense why druids dislike warlocks and undead. Undead are animated via the use of magic from the Negative Energy Plane (which is why they are healed by it), and warlocks are literal agents of Extraplanar powers (with varying impact).
But to say druids aren't concerned with morality doesn't seem consistent with what the class is: they are guardians, teachers, and arbiters. In fact, actual historical druids were also ruling members of Celtic society, important legal administrators, preservers of culture, and more. I cannot help but disassociate DnD druids from real life druids, because (like almost every class), the original comparison bleeds a lot into the concept. It would be fascinating to see druids take on a more "legal" stance within what they believe to be just and fair principles - aka Abeir-Toril has to solve its own problems, don't rely on others; or, rather, actively using external powers undermines Abeir-Toril's natural laws and natural morality.
I just don't think druids should be reduced to discussions of The Balance. There is the "balance of nature" but that's not with a capital B. They are different concepts. So I agree and disagree with everything stated.
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