Happy Kitty Party - 22 Druid/2 Wizard/16 Shifter

[jillybean]

A herd of 3 kitties running around is the best, and Druid, Wizard, and Shifter gives me that (Panther Shape, Familiar Panther, and Animal Companion Panther). In the mean time, I want a character that can fit in well with a group on HG. Let me know what you think!
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-Race: Human(feel free to choose any subrace)
-Alignment: any druid restricted
(I choose neutral evil)

Animal Companion: Panther
Familiar: Panther

STARTING
STR: 8
DEX: 14
CON: 14
INT: 14
WIS: 16
CHA: 10

ENDING
STR: 8
DEX: 14
CON: 14
INT: 14
WIS: 31
CHA: 10

NAKED STATS (lvl 40)
AC: 16
HPs: 365
Attack Bonus: +23/+18/+13
Fort: 25
Reflex: 21
Will: 32
Base Attack: 24
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Lvl 01: DRUID; Alertness, Still Spell; Animal Empathy: 4, Concentration: 4, Disable Trap: 2, Heal: 4, Lore: 4, Open Lock: 2, Spellcraft: 4

Lvl 02: DRUID; Animal Empathy: 1, Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Lore: 1, Spellcraft: 1, Tumble: 1

Lvl 03: DRUID; Dodge; Animal Empathy: 1, Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Lore: 1, Spellcraft: 1, Discipline: 1

Lvl 04: DRUID; wisdom +1 (17), Animal Empathy: 1, Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Lore: 1, Spellcraft: 1, Tumble: 1

Lvl 05: DRUID; Animal Empathy: 1, Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Lore: 1, Spellcraft: 1, Discipline: 1

Lvl 06: WIZARD; Combat Casting; Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Lore: 1, Spellcraft: 1; General School

Lvl 07: WIZARD; Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Lore: 1, Spellcraft: 1, Tumble: 1

Lvl 08: SHIFTER; Wisdom +1 (18); Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Tumble: 1, Discipline: 1, Save: 1

Lvl 09: SHIFTER; Spell Penetration; Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Tumble: 1, Discipline: 1, Save: 2

Lvl 10: SHIFTER; Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Discipline: 1, Hide: 3, Tumble: 1

Lvl 11: SHIFTER; Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Discipline: 1, Hide: 1, Tumble: 1

Lvl 12: SHIFTER; Wisdom +1 (19); Toughness; Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Discipline: 1, Hide: 1, Save: 2

Lvl 13: SHIFTER; Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Discipline: 1, Hide: 1, Tumble: 1, Save: 2

Lvl 14: SHIFTER; Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Hide: 1, Open Lock: 1, Disable Trap: 1, Save: 2

Lvl 15: SHIFTER; Greater Spell Penetration; Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Discipline: 1, Hide: 1, Tumble: 1

Lvl 16: SHIFTER; Wisdom +1 (20); Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Hide: 1, Open Lock: 1, Disable Trap: 1

Lvl 17: SHIFTER; Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Discipline: 1, Hide: 1, Tumble: 1

Lvl 18: DRUID; Mobility; Animal Empathy: 2, Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Spellcraft: 5

Lvl 19: DRUID; Concentration: 1, Discipline: 1, Heal: 1, Spellcraft: 3

Lvl 20: DRUID; Wisdom +1 (21); Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Spellcraft: 5

Lvl 21: DRUID; Greater Wisdom I (22); Concentration: 1, Discipline: 1, Heal: 1, Spellcraft: 1, Tumble: 1, Save: 1

Lvl 22: SHIFTER; Concentration: 1, Heal: 1, Tumble: 1, Open Lock: 1, Save 1 {Epic Shifter}

Lvl 23: SHIFTER; Concentration: 1, Discipline: 1, Tumble: 1, Disable Trap: 1, Save: 1

Lvl 24: SHIFTER; Wisdom +1 (23); Undead Shape, Great Wisdom II (24); Concentration: 1, Open Lock: 1, Disable Trap: 1, Save: 3

Lvl 25: SHIFTER; Concentration: 1, Discipline: 1, Tumble: 1, Save 5

Lvl 26: DRUID; Concentration: 1, Spellcraft: 5, Disable Trap: 1, Open Lock: 1, Save: 2

Lvl 27: DRUID; Greater Wisdom III (25); Concentration: 1, Discipline: 1, Spellcraft: 1, Tumble: 1, Save 3

Lvl 28: DRUID; Wisdom +1 (26); Concentration: 1, Spellcraft: 1, Disable Trap: 2, Open Lock: 2

Lvl 29: DRUID; Concentration: 1, Discipline: 1, Spellcraft: 1, Tumble: 1, Save: 1

Lvl 30: SHIFTER; Outsider Shape, Concentration: 1, Disable Trap: 1, Open Lock: 1, Save 3

Lvl 31: DRUID; Concentration: 1, Discipline: 1, Spellcraft: 2, Tumble: 1, Save: 3

Lvl 32: DRUID; Wisdom +1 (27); Concentration: 1, Spellcraft: 1, Disable Trap: 2, Open Lock: 2

Lvl 33: SHIFTER; Construct Shape, Greater Wisdom IV (28); Concentration: 1, Discipline: 1, Tumble: 1, Save: 2

Lvl 34: DRUID; Concentration: 1, Spellcraft: 2, Open Lock: 1, Disable Trap: 1, Save: 2

Lvl 35: DRUID; Concentration: 1, Discipline: 1, Spellcraft: 1, Tumble: 1, Save: 3

Lvl 36: DRUID; Wisdom +1 (29); Greater Wisdom V (30); Concentration: 1, Spellcraft: 1, Save: 8

Lvl 37: DRUID; Concentration: 1, Discipline: 1, Spellcraft: 1, Tumble: 1, Open Lock: 2, Disable Trap: 2, Save: 1

Lvl 38: DRUID; Concentration: 1, Spellcraft: 1, Open Lock: 1, Disable Trap: 1, Save: 2

Lvl 39: DRUID; Dragon Shape; Concentration: 1, Discipline: 1, Spellcraft: 1, Tumble: 1, Save: 3 {Epic Druid}

Lvl 40: DRUID; Wisdom +1 (31); Concentration: 1, Spellcraft: 1, [8 Points Left over]
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FINAL SKILL POINT ALLOCATION
Animal Empathy: 10
Hide: 10
Concentration: 43
Lore: 10
Disable Trap: 15
Open Lock: 15
Discipline: 21
Spellcraft: 43
Heal: 25
Tumble: 21
By my calculations you have 293 total skill points with 8 points left over at lvl 40.
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I feel that most of the human based subraces for this build are secret, if you got a good one I say use it. You could also switch to one of the other races (gnome being my favorite) which you felt has a good subrace for this build, but you would lose a feat.

As I said in my introduction, I like that I get to walk around with two Panthers...its even funnier when I shift to a panther myself. That being said a panther pet is not all bad, although it does start to lose its effectiveness around levels 10-12. You could switch to another pet but in all honesty, in my short time on this server (month or so) I have noticed that at higher level players do not seem to use their animal companions/familiars much if at all. (The only use I have seen is the Pixie, see notes below for more on this). So I say choose what you like and stick with it...your summoned spell pet will be a much more effective tool for you then these will.

With this build you get Wizard spell levels 1-2 and Druid Spell Levels 1-9. You get 3 uses/day of Outsider Shape, Undead Shape, Construct Shape, Dragon Shape and Improved Elemental Shape (Druid). You get unlimited uses/day of Wildshape (Druid), Humanoid, Greater Wildshape IV, Greater Wildshape III, Greater Wildshape II, and Greater Wildshape I.

Final Skill points are outlined above and I think the skill point distribution is pretty solid but let me explain a few of the "lesser used" ones. I choose to put points into pick lock and disable trap because Higher Ground is filled with these items. There are places you can't access without picking a lock and many a good loot has been ruined by trying to smash open a chest. I put points into Lore for similar reasons, lots of unidentified stuff in HG. I put points into Animal Empathy because you are a druid for goodness sakes!! I put points into hide (only on shifter levels) because I think the skill, especially when standing around leveling or during downtime in between fights (if the mobs can't see you, you won't be the first one they hit. ) Finally, since HG has increased the value of heal skill and how items work off how much heal skill you have, I put more points into that then I would on another server.

In my opinion you can fiddle with the skill points a bit as long as you keep points in concentration, discipline, Spellcraft and Tumble, which I feel are the most important. Remember to only put points into Spellcraft on Druid or Wizard levels. One suggestion is to put less points into disable trap/pick lock and choose the Pixie as the Wizard's familiar - she only works to a certain level though (from what I have seen). If you do choose to do anything I suggesting dumping points into Appraise. From what I have seen you need about 13 or so points before you even start getting favorable on HG...and the higher the skill the better the prices. (Especially with a CHA of 10). According to my calculations you get 8 left over points for you to use as you wish. Just based on what you can get for 8 points, I'd say it's more economical to boost up a skill you have then starting a new one.

Not sure how to proceed into legendary levels, since I haven't been there yet. I guess you could keep raising wisdom though I am not sure how much this helps. You could also take some of the feats you missed out on when leveling Wis such as Improved Initiative, Armor Skin, Epic Prowess, and maybe Blind Fight. (I don't know if this helps with casting or in shifted form). I also like the automatic still spell feats, although I have never had a chance to use them myself, so I can not vouch for their usefulness.

I welcome your thoughts and comments!

[reelroleplayer]

I say you win the best RP award---a herd of three kitties is....hilarious. Who cares if it's powerful? You'd be the life of any party

[hiryuu]

It's a fun concept build but neither the Wizard levels, nor the panthers, offer anything useful long-term. The familiars and companions are based on your class level, so even the pixie would be a pretty worthless level 2 Rogue. You would also only have level 1 Wizard spells -- you don't get level 2 spells until class level 3.

I usually take 1 point of Open Lock and Disable Trap. That's enough to get the Levitation Ring and check the DCs, which is about all a non-Rogue will ever have. The skills you highlighted (Concentration, Discipline, Spellcraft and Tumble) are all excellent investments. Surprisingly, Animal Empathy is also useful long-term, and you should max it.

If you keep your pre-Epic levels to powers of 4 (12 Druid/8 Shifter), you can get BAB of 25, rather than 24.

In any build, pick your character's primary stat (Wisdom here) and put all stat increases into it, along with Great <stat> 10. Party play, which HG enforces, favors highly specialized roles, so pick something and take it to extreme. In this case, most of your spell DCs are determined by your Wisdom, and shifted forms override anything else you'd consider boosting, anyway.

The feats you mentioned (Armor Skin, Epic Prowess, and Blind Fight) are good investments if you spend much time in melee. Automatic Still Spell is interesting if you want to cast arcane spells in armor, but you lose Ethereal Visage in doing so. The Staffmaster quasiclass is the only build I can really see benefiting from that.

[jillybean]

Thanks for the feedback. I realize this is more of a RP character but I was hoping it would still be fun to play in a PvM setting. So far it is (my in game character is now lvl 15). I realize the wizard levels aren't helping much, but an exchange of 1 BAB for a herd of kitties is okay with me.

I totally agree Panthers aren't really worthwhile long term. As I said its more for me then anything. (what can I say I'm a cat lover!) I would use (and recommend) the summoned pet spell in a fight to add damage.

Also, I built this up in the test area several times, and debated whether to take 2 or 4 (or 8) levels of wizard. 4 levels does give you lvl 2 spells which includes CoB and some self buffs; all of which are helpful in a group. However dropping it down to 2 levels gives you the Dragon form, which you wouldn't get until LL otherwise.

I think your advice about pick locks/disable trap is good and am happy to hear that AE is worthwhile. I will definitely stop with the OL/DT points and max my AE.

Thanks!

[maljin]

You cannot summon a panther with one of the "summon creature" spells, can you? Maybe get a badger companion, summon creature I and use badger shape (wildshape I). You could use the wizard level for something else...maybe ranger :P (altough you can't have two companions)

[hiryuu]

Summon Creature V is a tiger. A momma cat for the crew.