Dragonshaper Build Thread

[One Two Three Five]

So here's what we know.

Druids will be given a -command of some sort, granting them an extra epic feat.
DS requires 25 Wisdom and can be selected with the above command.

Stats here

This is without their weapon, which, here:

Red Dragon: 5 AB, d10
Green/Bronze: 4 AB, 1d8
Also doing 1d6 base, as a magic staff

.

And their individual powersets:

Green:
100% Acid Immunity
12 Hide/MS
3d6 Sneak Attack
18 SR

Red:
100% Fire Immunity
100% Cold Vulnerability
18 SR

Brass:
100% Electric Immunity
24 SR

AB of 50 on red, 44 on brass/green,
dealing d6+d10+23 for red, average of 32 per hit
d6+d6+19 for the other two, average of 26. (Green has sneak attacks, though.)

AC calculation should be 10+20 dodge+dex, assuming it works like base NWN. On a pure druid, crossclassed tumble brings the 45/47 up to 48/50, a cast of barkskin to 53/55, and imp expertise buzzes you to 63/65.

But that's all besides the point. How would yall build druids now, assuming you have to also take the new dragonshape? I believe the requirements are 25 wisdom and 21 druid levels. Totems allowed, all gear is legal so long as you have proficiency and enough UMD.

[Oshido]

I have a old style legacy svirf with all three gifts as wis, int, con. am going for a skill monkey. rat totem and has an int score of 22. looking for 3 rogue levels for filthy rat pick pocket, trapping, lockpicking etc. now that I'll not be taking monk I'm not sure what other class to take to compliment this idea. Dragon shape will be it's backup for getting cornered. Maybe just 3 fighter in epics for the feats. 5 shadow dancer for hide in plain sight maybe.

[One Two Three Five]

You could go for bard instead of rogue, use green dragon? 3d6 sneaks is more than you'd get from a rogue dump.

That said I had an idea for an illusion/conj druid 24/shadowdancer 6. Dragon knight/shape, -project image.. Take a totem with +'s to physical stats once you've got dodge and mobility (is this still legal?) Gives you full tumble ranks and lets you stack DS hide/ms with full class ranks, along with the stealth bonuses druids already get.

[Jagel]

To use dragon shape in its current state would require discipline dump methinks.

[Pavor Nocturnus]

This is without their weapon, which, here:

Red Dragon: 5 AB, d10
Green/Bronze: 4 AB, 1d8
Also doing 1d6 base, as a magic staff

So just to be clear, on top of the weapon foci feats, it's now also useless for dragonshapers to take improved critical (unarmed strike) and the weapon specialization feats?

[One Two Three Five]

Pretty sure that was the point.

[Jagel]

Only imp crit worked before nerf since it was a creature weapon

[yellowcateyes]

The magic staff base was indeed chosen specifically to avoid feat improvements to AB/dmg.

[Cortex]

Unarmed critical still enhances other shapes. Only not dragonshape.

[Lorkas]

Does the fact that the dragon is mechanically wielding a magic staff allow them to be targeted by spells like blackstaff, blade thirst, and holy sword that can be cast on enchanted weapons?

[Cortex]

That's a good point I had not thought of, but that can be disabled.

[Wytchee]

To use dragon shape in its current state would require discipline dump methinks.

Not necessarily. With the right gear and build planning, you can reach 78 AC while maintaining 45 AB. While knockdown isn't the only thing discipline defends against, a pure druid could theoretically survive in 1v1 vs. someone who doesn't have an ample supply of true strike potions.

Still, it's not something I would recommend.

[Cortex]

KDing a dragonshape druid requires Improved Knockdown as well, a feat some builds cannot afford. So it's a very good situational feat, which is fitting for a class that should be a jack of trades.

[yellowcateyes]

Does the fact that the dragon is mechanically wielding a magic staff allow them to be targeted by spells like blackstaff, blade thirst, and holy sword that can be cast on enchanted weapons?

Head's up about this.

The way the Blackstaff DC is calculated, the on-hit DC is going to be very, very low on a Dragonshaper - and in fact on any individual without arcane casting levels and a decent arcane casting stat. It's not really a worry.

Blade Thirst, Holy Sword and Bless Weapon, however, will be changed sometime soon as to not work on Magic Staffs.

[hoshi]

Does the fact that the dragon is mechanically wielding a magic staff allow them to be targeted by spells like blackstaff, blade thirst, and holy sword that can be cast on enchanted weapons?

Head's up about this.

The way the Blackstaff DC is calculated, the on-hit DC is going to be very, very low on a Dragonshaper - and in fact on any individual without arcane casting levels and a decent arcane casting stat. It's not really a worry.

Blade Thirst, Holy Sword and Bless Weapon, however, will be changed sometime soon as to not work on Magic Staffs.

Wait, is the blackstaff DC calculated by the recipient and not the caster? I haven't personally used it but unless in gives the recipient a buff that works as you switch out weapons then the druid cannot take advantage of it as they can't use scrolls in dragon shape.

I'd think the rest already wouldn't have much in the way of performance as potions (and Holy Sword can't be brewed).

As far as someone else choosing to cast the spell on a dragon shaper, I wouldn't see a reason to call them out over anyone else as they're far from the most melee DPS oriented class just counting the caster.

[Lurch]

Does blackstaff benefit from transmutation spell foci, by any chance? It would be nice, considering transmutation is quite a poor choice in general.

[Baron Saturday]

Does blackstaff benefit from transmutation spell foci, by any chance? It would be nice, considering transmutation is quite a poor choice in general.

Not so much anymore! But no, Blackstaff gets no transmutation buffs.

[yellowcateyes]

Actually, the DC of the on-hit Blackstaff effect is modified by transmutation foci.

It would still be pretty low when cast on a non-arcane caster though. Even with foci bonuses.

[Baron Saturday]

Note to self: Double-check wiki every time before posting. So many changes that I keep forgetting what's been reworked!

So how is Blackstaff DC actually calculated? 10 + Innate Level + SF Transmutation bonuses + Int/Cha mod of the person with the weapon? Or Int/Cha mod of the caster, assuming the two aren't one and the same?

[yellowcateyes]

Note to self: Double-check wiki every time before posting. So many changes that I keep forgetting what's been reworked!

So how is Blackstaff DC actually calculated? 10 + Innate Level + SF Transmutation bonuses + Int/Cha mod of the person with the weapon? Or Int/Cha mod of the caster, assuming the two aren't one and the same?

The DC is wholly dependent on the one wielding the weapon. 10 + Innate Level (8) + Wielder's Transmutation Foci. If the wielder has wizard levels, the INT mod is added. Otherwise, if the wielder has sorcerer levels, the CHA mod is added. (But not both.)

If the wielder has no levels in either of those two classes, then no attribute modifier is added.

[Lurch]

Damn, I was hoping it would be the caster who's feats and abilities count, not the recipient's. Arcane transmuter with Mordekainen's sword buffed by blackstaff would've been cool. I guess spellswords will still like it...