Talking to the local animals to learn about the dark forest of certain death and then summoning a flock of giant owls to fly your party over it seems like pretty good role play to me. Shepherd Druid out of combat wild shapes are just as good as moon druids.
I have a bunch of cards at the ready for my summons! It keeps the DM from letting somethings slip and makes their job easier, f your gonna do any significant amount of summoning I’d suggest cracking open your monster manual and writing the stat blocks for your beasts or fey (or just bookmark)
I am currently playing a Circle of the Shepard Druid, her name is Estelwen, she is one of the most fun characters I've ever played. It was definately hard at first since I haven't played Druid yet and it is fairly complicated. Now that I've got the hang of it I want to play more Druids! The only slight problem I have with the subclass is that there are a few things that are quite vague in the descriptions. My DM sometimes has a hard time trying to figure out how exactly the totem spirits work but we're both learning. :))
Absolutely love my Tabaxi Circle of the Shepherd Druid (with 3 levels Ranger). My D&D character is a mildly goat-like (you had to be there lol), slightly stabby spiritual nature cat and honestly I can't think of anything more me
The only problem I have with this sub class is that at higher levels the things you summon become way less usefull. For example at level 14 when you get faithful summons the 4 cr 2 beasts you get will get destroyed by anything it fights, they also won't be doing much damage because they are only cr 2.
That definitely is true, but I wouldn’t completely write off something like 4 polar bears with over 50 hp and multi attack with +7 to hit and 21 average damage! It definitely isn’t the best, but you essentially summon 200hp worth of allies with up to 8 additional attacks a round which never hurts and maybe they can protect you long enough to be revived oh and they don’t require concentration! You can also conjure fey which is up to 6CR monsters with the default spell level or higher it up casting. Combat and action economy is a huge swing, just make sure you’re willing to lose control of the beasts (get that war caster and resilient for adv and proficiency on the con saves)! Thanks for watching!
I am still waiting for a druid that summons plant creatures with the addition of more plant creatures. I was hoping the druid of spores was going to be more of a saproling spawner like in the mtg game as they are fungus plant creatures
I’ll have to disagree with you about there not being many role-playing aspects to conjure animals. Are usually end up using conjure animals. I helped my party travel much faster by Summoning giant owls to carry them over mountains or other obstacles. I also had a lot of fun sinking ships by conjuring 2! Plesiosaurs Not to mention using giant owls in order to scout ahead of the party.
Those are great creative uses of the conjure spells, but one thing to note is that those spells are not exclusive to this particular subclass and are available to all druids as part of their spell list. Since it is not part of the subclass or an ability gained through the subclass, it isn’t factored into the score. I hope that makes sense! Thanks for watching!
@@URGE Regarding roll playing, I think you glazed over the Speech of the Woods too quickly. Give that ability its due; you can speak with animals ALL THE TIME, as though it is a language. This is an incredibly powerful RP ability, as it turns every animal you encounter into a potential NPC. There is no need to ritual cast or burn a spell slot; for the shepherd druid, it is effectively another language that other characters don't know. This is enormous roleplay potential.
|But isn't the totem a lot more situational if you can only use it once per long rest? Or did I misunderstand that, and you can use each totem per long rest?
The Spirit Totem recharges every short rest. Further, the Temporary HP of the bear spirit doesn't end at the end of the minute; like all temporary HP (unless the ability says otherwise) , they last until the next long rest. So at Level 2, you can wake up, give everyone in your party 7 temp HP, and then take a short rest to get the spirit totem back. It's incredibly strong. Also, since the totem spirit is a bonus action but not a spell, you can conjure 8 elk, then drop the bear totem spirit to give them a bunch of temporary HP, as well. This is especially strong when the druid takes Ritual Caster /Find Familiar. At 6th Level, your owl could have 13 HP. Not super strong, but much better than the 1hp it normally packs.
I'm thinking about being shepherd druid/grave cleric. I'm thinking of playing like a shaman or whatever you'd call someone who helps spirits find peace
any preference of cantrips/spells as synergy or outside of conjuring? i have been told for example that using thorn whip as a cantrip makes your summoned animals make opportunity attacks against them... is that true? any other suggestions?
According to the rules, opportunity attacks are not given if the creature is pushed/pulled out of reach against their will: “You also don't provoke an opportunity attack when you teleport or when someone or something moves you without using your movement, action, or reaction.” That being said, there are some spells that can still help zone control a bit with your summons. Tidal Wave is great because it deals damage to an area and has a Dex save to knock prone. Once prone, your summons (and party) have advantage on melee attacks. You could also get something that creates difficult terrain. Position your summons on the edge of the terrain to keep the enemies pinned down on the rough movement or provoke opportunity attacks from the creatures if they try to run out of the terrain. Some examples of this are Ice Storm and Erupting Earth (both also deal area damage) or Plant Growth (only difficult terrain, no damage). Hope that gives you some ideas! Thanks for watching!
I like most the subclasses from Xanathar's, but with the druid subclasses, I can't really think of any reason I would want play either one. I mean with this you can be a good aoe healer, or like a real beast master with this I guess, but that seems like it would get old pretty quick -for all involved.
@@williamturner6192 the subclass mechanics reflect no play style or (more importantly) any archetype tropes that I am interested in -on a class I am already not really excited about. Mechanically, Dreams basically only provides one feature to use when you aren't taking a rest. And you're still left preparing all the healing/restoration spells for when for when your BA dice are exhausted -which will happen pretty quickly if you're the healer, in my experience.
I was excited for this class till my dm nerfed my abilities to summon. Basically, most dm's aren't going to allow the spell Conjure Woodland Beings to be used due to the exploit of the pixie polymorph spell. I personally believe it's wrong to do this and it ruined the class for me.
You say that bringing pets into the city is a bad idea but I can think of few social situations which would not be made more expedient and profitable if you show up with 6 mountain lions. Trying to barter for a lower price on equipment? Start petting your favorite killer kitty and explain that you really need the armor but you also need money to get them food. They haven't eaten in over a day. That shop keep will likely become much more cooperative.
Talking to the local animals to learn about the dark forest of certain death and then summoning a flock of giant owls to fly your party over it seems like pretty good role play to me. Shepherd Druid out of combat wild shapes are just as good as moon druids.
I have a bunch of cards at the ready for my summons! It keeps the DM from letting somethings slip and makes their job easier, f your gonna do any significant amount of summoning I’d suggest cracking open your monster manual and writing the stat blocks for your beasts or fey (or just bookmark)
Your a good PC. This gives you a bunch of quick reference cards to look up when considering your options too.
I am currently playing a Circle of the Shepard Druid, her name is Estelwen, she is one of the most fun characters I've ever played. It was definately hard at first since I haven't played Druid yet and it is fairly complicated. Now that I've got the hang of it I want to play more Druids! The only slight problem I have with the subclass is that there are a few things that are quite vague in the descriptions. My DM sometimes has a hard time trying to figure out how exactly the totem spirits work but we're both learning. :))
Absolutely love my Tabaxi Circle of the Shepherd Druid (with 3 levels Ranger). My D&D character is a mildly goat-like (you had to be there lol), slightly stabby spiritual nature cat and honestly I can't think of anything more me
The only problem I have with this sub class is that at higher levels the things you summon become way less usefull. For example at level 14 when you get faithful summons the 4 cr 2 beasts you get will get destroyed by anything it fights, they also won't be doing much damage because they are only cr 2.
That definitely is true, but I wouldn’t completely write off something like 4 polar bears with over 50 hp and multi attack with +7 to hit and 21 average damage! It definitely isn’t the best, but you essentially summon 200hp worth of allies with up to 8 additional attacks a round which never hurts and maybe they can protect you long enough to be revived oh and they don’t require concentration!
You can also conjure fey which is up to 6CR monsters with the default spell level or higher it up casting. Combat and action economy is a huge swing, just make sure you’re willing to lose control of the beasts (get that war caster and resilient for adv and proficiency on the con saves)! Thanks for watching!
I am still waiting for a druid that summons plant creatures with the addition of more plant creatures. I was hoping the druid of spores was going to be more of a saproling spawner like in the mtg game as they are fungus plant creatures
Homebrew
@@pockets8548 make one? Circle of seeds?
@elgatochurro here’s a better idea just make a spell that sommons plants!
Healing word and healing spirits in the same turn.
Giant eagles are cr 1 so I'd say the roleplay usage is pretty good. "The eagles are coming"
I’ll have to disagree with you about there not being many role-playing aspects to conjure animals. Are usually end up using conjure animals. I helped my party travel much faster by Summoning giant owls to carry them over mountains or other obstacles. I also had a lot of fun sinking ships by conjuring 2! Plesiosaurs Not to mention using giant owls in order to scout ahead of the party.
Those are great creative uses of the conjure spells, but one thing to note is that those spells are not exclusive to this particular subclass and are available to all druids as part of their spell list. Since it is not part of the subclass or an ability gained through the subclass, it isn’t factored into the score. I hope that makes sense! Thanks for watching!
@@URGE Regarding roll playing, I think you glazed over the Speech of the Woods too quickly. Give that ability its due; you can speak with animals ALL THE TIME, as though it is a language. This is an incredibly powerful RP ability, as it turns every animal you encounter into a potential NPC. There is no need to ritual cast or burn a spell slot; for the shepherd druid, it is effectively another language that other characters don't know. This is enormous roleplay potential.
|But isn't the totem a lot more situational if you can only use it once per long rest? Or did I misunderstand that, and you can use each totem per long rest?
The Spirit Totem recharges every short rest.
Further, the Temporary HP of the bear spirit doesn't end at the end of the minute; like all temporary HP (unless the ability says otherwise) , they last until the next long rest. So at Level 2, you can wake up, give everyone in your party 7 temp HP, and then take a short rest to get the spirit totem back. It's incredibly strong.
Also, since the totem spirit is a bonus action but not a spell, you can conjure 8 elk, then drop the bear totem spirit to give them a bunch of temporary HP, as well.
This is especially strong when the druid takes Ritual Caster /Find Familiar. At 6th Level, your owl could have 13 HP. Not super strong, but much better than the 1hp it normally packs.
Umm guys druid you shape change for climb speed
I'm thinking about being shepherd druid/grave cleric. I'm thinking of playing like a shaman or whatever you'd call someone who helps spirits find peace
how long do the temp hit points last for from bear spirit? (i assume, until damage takes them away, no matter how long?)
Temp HP lasts until depleted or a long rest unless stated otherwise (which the ability doesn’t). Thanks for watching!
any preference of cantrips/spells as synergy or outside of conjuring? i have been told for example that using thorn whip as a cantrip makes your summoned animals make opportunity attacks against them... is that true? any other suggestions?
According to the rules, opportunity attacks are not given if the creature is pushed/pulled out of reach against their will: “You also don't provoke an opportunity attack when you teleport or when someone or something moves you without using your movement, action, or reaction.”
That being said, there are some spells that can still help zone control a bit with your summons. Tidal Wave is great because it deals damage to an area and has a Dex save to knock prone. Once prone, your summons (and party) have advantage on melee attacks.
You could also get something that creates difficult terrain. Position your summons on the edge of the terrain to keep the enemies pinned down on the rough movement or provoke opportunity attacks from the creatures if they try to run out of the terrain. Some examples of this are Ice Storm and Erupting Earth (both also deal area damage) or Plant Growth (only difficult terrain, no damage).
Hope that gives you some ideas! Thanks for watching!
It WOULD work with pulling enemies through something like Wall of Fire 🔥
Half orc just seems op with this now
Video for spore druid plz!
I like most the subclasses from Xanathar's, but with the druid subclasses, I can't really think of any reason I would want play either one. I mean with this you can be a good aoe healer, or like a real beast master with this I guess, but that seems like it would get old pretty quick -for all involved.
How? Life clerics are useful. Druids now have a healer subclass.
@@williamturner6192 the subclass mechanics reflect no play style or (more importantly) any archetype tropes that I am interested in -on a class I am already not really excited about. Mechanically, Dreams basically only provides one feature to use when you aren't taking a rest. And you're still left preparing all the healing/restoration spells for when for when your BA dice are exhausted -which will happen pretty quickly if you're the healer, in my experience.
I was excited for this class till my dm nerfed my abilities to summon. Basically, most dm's aren't going to allow the spell Conjure Woodland Beings to be used due to the exploit of the pixie polymorph spell. I personally believe it's wrong to do this and it ruined the class for me.
You say that bringing pets into the city is a bad idea but I can think of few social situations which would not be made more expedient and profitable if you show up with 6 mountain lions.
Trying to barter for a lower price on equipment? Start petting your favorite killer kitty and explain that you really need the armor but you also need money to get them food. They haven't eaten in over a day. That shop keep will likely become much more cooperative.