Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Discussions related to character builds and mechanics may occur here.

Moderators: Forum Moderators, Active DMs

satan
Posts: 191
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2019 9:11 pm

Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by satan » Mon Apr 22, 2019 12:44 am

I'm thinking about doing this. Tell me why it's a bad idea.
Xyxz - Goblin spider druid. RIP
Flail - Orog weapon master RIP
Krom - Half orc Barbarian RIP
Glyngolyn - Firbolg Shadowdancer RIP
Jigjog - the least industrious Kobold ACTIVE
Muck - munching on carion. ACTIVE

Brahtius
Posts: 51
Joined: Fri May 04, 2018 12:46 pm

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Brahtius » Mon Apr 22, 2019 12:56 am

Downsides: You lose Monolithic forms and 4 levels worth of Epic Caster Bonus on your summons. No wisdom AC in Dragonshape.

Upsides: Access to skills Druid doesn't have. Such as discipline, hide/ms, listen, tumble. Stupid high AC.

I personally like it. Polymorph is instant and in a quick pinch you're not completely useless. Also you end up with really nice discipline. It also adds some nice flavor in my opinion.

satan
Posts: 191
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2019 9:11 pm

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by satan » Mon Apr 22, 2019 1:26 am

I'm not sure if fury of blows is useable while wildshaped.

Also not sure if Wis ac bonus applies while wildshaped.

Anyone know?
Xyxz - Goblin spider druid. RIP
Flail - Orog weapon master RIP
Krom - Half orc Barbarian RIP
Glyngolyn - Firbolg Shadowdancer RIP
Jigjog - the least industrious Kobold ACTIVE
Muck - munching on carion. ACTIVE

JubJub
Posts: 414
Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2018 9:42 pm

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by JubJub » Mon Apr 22, 2019 1:59 am

Monk lost almost all its benfits when they made changes to dragonshape,

Brahtius
Posts: 51
Joined: Fri May 04, 2018 12:46 pm

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Brahtius » Mon Apr 22, 2019 2:12 am

satan wrote:
Mon Apr 22, 2019 1:26 am
I'm not sure if fury of blows is useable while wildshaped.

Also not sure if Wis ac bonus applies while wildshaped.

Anyone know?
Wis AC definitely applies. I imagine flurry of blows works. Jump on the PCCG Arelith server and play around. You could also go 27 druid 3 monk if you like.

User avatar
Ebonstar
Posts: 1471
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2015 2:17 pm
Location: you may not see me but i see you

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Ebonstar » Mon Apr 22, 2019 4:35 am

monk skills wont help with the change and you lose alot of druid power 4 levels gets you really nothing as most now kick in at level 6
Yes I can sign

Brahtius
Posts: 51
Joined: Fri May 04, 2018 12:46 pm

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Brahtius » Mon Apr 22, 2019 5:40 am

Ebonstar wrote:
Mon Apr 22, 2019 4:35 am
monk skills wont help with the change and you lose alot of druid power 4 levels gets you really nothing as most now kick in at level 6
Discipline helps a lot. Although seeing a monolithic fire elemental knocked down by a halfling is pretty funny.

User avatar
Ebonstar
Posts: 1471
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2015 2:17 pm
Location: you may not see me but i see you

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Ebonstar » Mon Apr 22, 2019 7:30 am

i know a monolithic fire elemental who is a halfling

but 4 points in dis wont make a difference
Yes I can sign

Brahtius
Posts: 51
Joined: Fri May 04, 2018 12:46 pm

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Brahtius » Mon Apr 22, 2019 7:43 am

Uh, you know you can bank up points and spend them all at once?

User avatar
Jagel
Posts: 1250
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:50 pm
Location: Scandinavia

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Jagel » Mon Apr 22, 2019 8:40 am

Druid with monk dip makes your totem shape a perfect tank with a gazzilion AC, sounds of hpband no damage. Bear in mind you don’t get uncanny dodge which means your AC goes down a fair bit when caught flat-footed

Might-N-Magic
Posts: 276
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:34 pm

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Might-N-Magic » Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:55 am

I keep reading the Totem Druid path page of the wiki and don't really get why anyone would really do it.

Is anyone really going to bother with wildshape once you get elemental? I don't see why you would. +12 listen or spot or Int buff are kind of the only enticing things on the list I see, but druid doesn't really need it for what you lose.

I just don't get it. Am I missing something?

Harkath
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2019 4:40 pm

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Harkath » Mon Apr 22, 2019 12:08 pm

Totem druid was implemented a long while before the elemental shapes got changed from default, is what. They've been pretty solid tanks for a good while, but don't do much else other than, y'know, RP aesthetics. Which I'd argue should have an option not tied to losing a bunch of stats.

Brahtius
Posts: 51
Joined: Fri May 04, 2018 12:46 pm

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Brahtius » Mon Apr 22, 2019 12:21 pm

Only two stats matter for druid anyway. Strength is good to be able to carry your loot to the merchant but other than that they don't do anything.

User avatar
Jagel
Posts: 1250
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:50 pm
Location: Scandinavia

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Jagel » Mon Apr 22, 2019 3:52 pm

Yeah totem feels irrelevant mechanically these days. Back then it made sense to supplement your druid lvls with a dip of 3-6 lvls to flesh out your totem’s strengths/theme

Edit: the lack of mechanical sense also has to do with the general increase in summoning and item power.

Astral
Posts: 1229
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2016 6:18 pm

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Astral » Mon Apr 22, 2019 9:14 pm

Jagel wrote:
Mon Apr 22, 2019 8:40 am
Druid with monk dip makes your totem shape a perfect tank with a gazzilion AC, sounds of hpband no damage. Bear in mind you don’t get uncanny dodge which means your AC goes down a fair bit when caught flat-footed
AC from wisdom is not lost when flat-footed.
Currently playing: Seth Xylo

Sea Shanties
Posts: 426
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2018 6:45 pm

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Sea Shanties » Tue Apr 23, 2019 1:31 am

Might-N-Magic wrote:
Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:55 am
I keep reading the Totem Druid path page of the wiki and don't really get why anyone would really do it.

Is anyone really going to bother with wildshape once you get elemental? I don't see why you would. +12 listen or spot or Int buff are kind of the only enticing things on the list I see, but druid doesn't really need it for what you lose.

I just don't get it. Am I missing something?
They do it because a pack or swarm of 6 animals look cool, mostly. Also a totem gives you a lot of power early on so you level much quicker. Once you get to 28 the monolith shapes are the same whether you're totem or not so if you aren't going high con, EDR it doesn't really make that much difference.

Some of the shapes are quite nice- rat gives +4 intelligence which means 60 extra skill points. Bear's +4 str and con are soft bonuses so they're applied on top of whatever shape you're in, which can help max stats. Etc

That said totem druids are definitely old school and due for a rework.

satan
Posts: 191
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2019 9:11 pm

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by satan » Tue Apr 23, 2019 2:02 am

I am aware totem isn't the most optimal.

What I don't get is why optimal matters in Arelith?

I'd rather have a swarm of spiders than make another exactly the same as every other druid druid.


On another note you all convinced me to try it. Was set to add a monk level when I realized I wasn't lawful.

Oops :p
Xyxz - Goblin spider druid. RIP
Flail - Orog weapon master RIP
Krom - Half orc Barbarian RIP
Glyngolyn - Firbolg Shadowdancer RIP
Jigjog - the least industrious Kobold ACTIVE
Muck - munching on carion. ACTIVE

Brahtius
Posts: 51
Joined: Fri May 04, 2018 12:46 pm

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Brahtius » Tue Apr 23, 2019 3:14 am

satan wrote:
Tue Apr 23, 2019 2:02 am
I am aware totem isn't the most optimal.
It makes no difference at all in the end game. If you were to go totem and 30 levels of druid you're monolithic form would be exactly the same as someone without a totem. The only other thing people do is make that silly EDR3 build with 19 wisdom. Which is a little silly in my opinion.

User avatar
Jagel
Posts: 1250
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:50 pm
Location: Scandinavia

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Jagel » Tue Apr 23, 2019 6:20 am

Astral wrote:
Mon Apr 22, 2019 9:14 pm
Jagel wrote:
Mon Apr 22, 2019 8:40 am
Druid with monk dip makes your totem shape a perfect tank with a gazzilion AC, sounds of hpband no damage. Bear in mind you don’t get uncanny dodge which means your AC goes down a fair bit when caught flat-footed
AC from wisdom is not lost when flat-footed.
I know, and that’s not what I meant. But you loose all dodge ac and dex ac which is all of a totem’s extra ac. Even if you retain wisdom ac and tumble etc you’re still down a lot of ac.

Might-N-Magic
Posts: 276
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:34 pm

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Might-N-Magic » Thu Apr 25, 2019 6:44 am

For RP, I'd rather be able to choose several forms than being stuck in one.

I mean, you're not going to find a parrot in a swamp. :?

Sea Shanties
Posts: 426
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2018 6:45 pm

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Sea Shanties » Thu Apr 25, 2019 6:59 am

Might-N-Magic wrote:
Thu Apr 25, 2019 6:44 am
I mean, you're not going to find a parrot in a swamp. :?
Parrots are pretty much ONLY found in swampy rainforests. Swampy rainforests, pirate shoulders and fjords.

User avatar
Jagel
Posts: 1250
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:50 pm
Location: Scandinavia

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Jagel » Thu Apr 25, 2019 8:06 am

satan wrote:
Tue Apr 23, 2019 2:02 am
I am aware totem isn't the most optimal.

What I don't get is why optimal matters in Arelith
It mostly matters when you ask in the builds/mechanics section.

User avatar
Ebonstar
Posts: 1471
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2015 2:17 pm
Location: you may not see me but i see you

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Ebonstar » Thu Apr 25, 2019 9:17 pm

you dont need optimal, some will disagree

imho however monks and druids should never be mixed for being opposites of the universe

but thats just me
Yes I can sign

User avatar
garrbear758
Posts: 1521
Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2018 4:20 am

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by garrbear758 » Tue May 07, 2019 10:16 am

Totem forms are considered unarmed, so flurry of blows and stunning fist will work while polymorphed
You've done it [Garrbear], you've kicked the winemom nest. -Redacted

Roarthing
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2018 8:51 am

Re: Totem druid 26/Monk 4

Post by Roarthing » Mon May 27, 2019 3:03 pm

Hi there, jumping on this posts bandwagon, rather than start a new one.

I'm quite fresh to Arelith, but I'm loving playing my Totem Druid at the moment - Most definitely not the strongest character I've played so far, but fun and way more interesting.

I was wondering though, is there anyway to boost their damage ala magic or bonus damage, as I suppose Essences do not work? If someone cast Magic Weapon on a polymorphed Druid, would that work? At the moment, my only option is Bull's Strength.

Thanks!

Roar

Post Reply