How soon is too soon for a druid?

[GS4Merchant]

Was searching for an old thread... I recall someone saying that they were able to start a pure druid as low as lvl 35. Not sure if I recall the effectiveness. Just looking to do something. I'm gettin bored. T_T

[Jeril]

A 'druid' uses two spells pretty much 616 and 635, not sure quite how early you can use them as attack spells to actually finish a hunt, but definitely not at 35. You'd need enough mana and both are costly to cast. You'd also need to be at least 1x in ranger spells, maybe more, and 1x in summoning lore. On top of all that you'd need someway to defend yourself, which means either shield training or ranged. Pretty sure shield is the way to go until you get enough post cap where you can switch over to ranged. What most people do is go ranged and work their way up to 'druid' training as points allow.

[Drew]

At lower levels you lead with 610 to prone them and save mana.

[Drew]

But yeah, I don't think druid really works till cap or at least very near it. You need a lot of stamina regen items and sunfist mastery to do it.

[WRoss]

But yeah, I don't think druid really works till cap or at least very near it. You need a lot of stamina regen items and sunfist mastery to do it.

I've always wondered how a forest gnome would work. Great spirit regen, +5 wisdom bonus, and all the other great gnome factors.

[neimanz1]

you could do it around 60 or 70 i think.

[Drew]

I've always wondered how a forest gnome would work. Great spirit regen, +5 wisdom bonus, and all the other great gnome factors.

I think almost all the druids use a bow to finish things off when they are low on mana, that's why sunfist is better than col.

[WRoss]

The point is that all you'd need is +1 spirit regen and you'd rarely run out of mana. That's assuming that 616 works as well as 1115. I think it's more efficient.

[und3ad-minion]

610/616 combo can start at zombies and take you to cap, assuming 2 things

1. CoL

2. You are a race that has decent spirit regen.

But, the best way to do it 25-60 is using 616 to setup an ambush to the head

So, with any "pure" ranger the build should be this:

First 30 days: claid and then 610 + claid

- get 103 then 1x ranger spells

Levels 25-65: 616 and then finish with an ambush to the head or arrow to the eye

- get 107 then 1x ranger spells unless you're hell bent on getting 120

Levels 65-100: Pure 616

- get 120 then 1x ranger spells, make sure your build is physical enough to have a decent DS post cap or you will die in Nelemar

That is all. Also, you really don't need too much summoning lore until cap. Pump those points into extra spell ranks. Summoning lore gives you an extra damage cycle for 616, but it's the spell ranks that really bump up the damage. Post cap, you can get away with only 1x ranger spells so you can focus on more physical skills, but for the Scatter, 150+ ranger ranks makes a huge difference. You won't be able to go to 150+ ranger ranks until 13m exp or so unless you have a dangerously bare-bones investment in physical skills.

[Ryku]

I've been playing as a pure 616 caster for a while now, I never fire my bow. COL, Elf race, 4x bow and 5x HCP brig. I combine Aspect of the Owl with wracking to attain 3 full pools of mana per hunt and it has worked great. I blasted through the Skull Temple but now find it hard to max my mind in there at 72. I've been toying around in the Labyrinth a bit but my TD is a bit too low with just self spells and I've been getting blasted periodically in there. I'm considering trying a sword and board build instead of ranged if I can confirm it can give me a higher TD. I'm not sure if it will or not. Either way though I've been able to fully function as a pure caster since level 60 or so, but I can do nothing but kill stuff.


Ryku (at level 72), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 120 30
Combat Maneuvers...................| 174 74
Ranged Weapons.....................| 248 148
Physical Fitness...................| 174 74
Dodging............................| 174 74
Harness Power......................| 174 74
Spirit Mana Control................| 102 24
Perception.........................| 140 40
Climbing...........................| 90 20
Swimming...........................| 90 20

Spell Lists
Minor Spiritual....................| 20

Spell Lists
Ranger.............................| 100
Training Points: 4 Phy 0 Mnt (1352 Phy converted to Mnt)
(Use SKILLS BASE to display unmodified ranks and goals)

[Jeril]

Switching builds won't improve your TD any. Only way you can increase it without resorting to outside spells would be enhancives, TD increasing gear, and self knowledge items if any of them out there have spells that will raise your TD. You can also get into heavier armor to improve your TD situation as well, it may not be for you but a lot of rangers, even those who cast, have found the slight increase in hinderance worth it to have the better CvA and crit divisor of chain armor.

[Ryku]

Hmm thanks for clearing it up for me. I may have to look into the armor thing. Let me ask you this though. If I were to switch to 1h + shield, would getting my hands on a 10x shield increase my TD? Getting a 10x shield is a lot easier than a 10x bow.

[jpatter123]

no