Druids Half-Orcs and Shamans

[Orchid]

So, there's obviously a lot of "shamans" in game with mobs, but based on spell usage it's fairly obviously they're arcane casters as opposed to being a druid or even a cleric. Lore-wise Shamans are an offshoot of Druids, so my question is what would people think/advise for wanting to RP as a half-orc Shaman, and what class would best suit this lore and RP-wise?

[Ascension]

Druid would easily be the best to me, stat wise, it wouldn't be that hard just to go full caster druid, and use shapes for fighting, but that is me for the whole "shaman" feel. Clerics don't get many nature based spells, even with domains, rangers don't get much shaman wise, and mages while fun to see operate that way, also.. don't usually feel very nature without a lot of work. I ran into this somewhat already with Telder.

[Orchid]

Apr 24, 2016 0:38:17 GMT -5 Ascension said:

Druid would easily be the best to me, stat wise, it wouldn't be that hard just to go full caster druid, and use shapes for fighting, but that is me for the whole "shaman" feel. Clerics don't get many nature based spells, even with domains, rangers don't get much shaman wise, and mages while fun to see operate that way, also.. don't usually feel very nature without a lot of work. I ran into this somewhat already with Telder.

Yea I was thinking Druid as well, and given the prevalence of Orc "shamans" I didn't think it'd be that big of a stretch for a half-orc Shaman(Druid), just curious what other people think

[appleseedy]

i expect sorcerer could fit the concept, course -2 to your casting stat would hurt. you get shapechange spells and you can pick spells to fit your theme

[Orchid]

Apr 24, 2016 1:54:29 GMT -5 appleseedy said:

i expect sorcerer could fit the concept, course -2 to your casting stat would hurt. you get shapechange spells and you can pick spells to fit your theme

I dunno that sorc would fit...and using CHA would just be weird and completely against the lore of a Shaman, they're renowned for being wise and posessing of great endurance, neither things befitting a sorc

[Ascension]

Apr 24, 2016 1:54:29 GMT -5 appleseedy said:

i expect sorcerer could fit the concept, course -2 to your casting stat would hurt. you get shapechange spells and you can pick spells to fit your theme

While Telder is not a shaman (however at times mistaken for one) this is what I did with him, and thus the nature theme, which can be done it just takes some times, and consideration.

I dunno that sorc would fit...and using CHA would just be weird and completely against the lore of a Shaman, they're renowned for being wise and posessing of great endurance, neither things befitting a sorc

While wisdom to a degree, endurance is not -generally- as much a case for every shaman in source that I recall. Most shaman classes posses D8s which is the high end of average, and the rest depends on the type/class of shaman generally I find. One specific shaman class comes to mind that -is- high endurance, but then again that specific class is also easy to break and become immune to death in any form, permanently.

[Orchid]

A shaman, sometimes called a spirit shaman, is a powerful primal leader who calls upon nature spirits for aid or guidance. Shamans, much like clerics or warlords, are often leaders or healers, though they lead most often by example and through wisdom than through inspiration or charisma. Shamans are also more durable than their divine or martial equivalents, gaining through their connection to the wild a powerful capacity for enduring pain

Snippet from forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Shaman

not saying I disagree, and maybe I shouldn't be using that wiki but it mentions more than once about endurance and wisdom specifically x.x


www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Shaman_(3.5e_Class)





Shaman here seems like a mix of cleric and druid spells, but again espouses wisdom and CON usage

[appleseedy]

I think charisma is a vital part of a druid/shaman build vis a vis animal empathy

[Orchid]

Apr 24, 2016 6:03:27 GMT -5 appleseedy said:

I think charisma is a vital part of a druid/shaman build vis a vis animal empathy

That's one skill, doesn't mean dumping into charisma casting and losing a slew of features druid would offer that sorc doesn't that are for more integral not to mention wisdom casting is better x.x

[Andros]

Are you trying to recreate the class as closely as possible, or just looking for roleplay tips to play a shaman flavored caster?

I think any caster can work for the second. If you want high HP you can get that, for example you can go 10 str, 8 dex, 16 con, 10 int, 18 wis, 6 cha (for druid, switch it to the right casting stat for the others) then take toughness as one of your feats. You will be getting 8 hp per level as an arcane which is the same as a 10 con shaman or cleric, or 10 hp as a druid same as a paladin with low con.

[Deleted]

How I see shamans are combination of druid and bard. They use drums and songs to cast their spells of nature. Druid can be replaced of ranger if needed. I base this on finlands lapplands shamans. They are herdsman and spiritualists.

[deadbeatbert]

Shamans stick out from the pack and are looked up to as spiritual advisors and community leaders. From a roleplay perspective I think you have to focus on the INT, WIS, CHA aspects for a cleric or druid build, maybe intelligence and charisma more, even if that's just 10 or 12 in each. The stat point system doesn't work too well with the idea of creating niche characters because an even playing field is the only goal. It's more attainable when rolling randomly in a pnp campaign.

The best thing about it is that at the end of the day it's my opinion and the only opinion that counts is your own. Find a build that fits your idea and make it work for you, mate. If you enjoy it, others will too.

[Syd's Blue Sky]

My shaman, Ancelime, is a low charisma pure cleric with appropriate domains.

[styxxbone1]

"They use drums and songs to cast their spells of nature." Never played one before but, could a Bard fit this concept?


styxx

[Animayhem]

May 11, 2016 18:04:47 GMT -5 styxxbone1 said:

"They use drums and songs to cast their spells of nature." Never played one before but, could a Bard fit this concept?


styxx

I do not see why not? Many bards do use instruments.