Kensai -> Druid

[Assassin]

Totemic Druids are the king of summons in early game. Put up some Spiritual Animals, summon some Fire Elementals, Haste them all, and they can win most early-game fights by themselves. Add in a Cleric with Aerial Servant, and it's even better.

[Gimli]

I just got out of C.I. and headed over to Ribald's. Saved the game and then tried as a test dualing over to Druid, and bought a wakizashi and ninja-to.

I can not wield the ninja-to, but I *can* wield the wakizashi. Bug or not it doesn't bother me one bit from a roleplaying standpoint or feel like "cheese" either, especially with a Kensai -> Druid. I will mix n' match scimitars and wakizashis with this guy, most likely he'll have Belm in the offhand and the best of the other two types I come across in the main hand. Kinda even makes sense with the whole "curved blade" idea because ninja-tos are supposed to be straight bladed and wakizashis are curved.

[SixOfSpades]

Originally posted by mad=dog: In basic D&D the rule is as simple as you put it - no metal allowed at all.

Well, actually, no iron. Bronze was commonly used, and, as you quoted, gold and silver are all right. (But, since all the metal weapons in the game are made of steel, this loophole is never seen.)

The weapons allowed are Club, Dart, Spear, Sickle, Dagger, Scimitar, Sling and Staff.

And they all make sense, except the Scimitar. I'd be willing to bet that Daggers are included either because they, too, are a sacred blade, used to perform ceremonial sacrifices in the same was as a a sickle, or because TSR knew that nobody was going to include Sickle as a separate weapon proficiency just for Druids (and Ilyich). Of course, the concept of a sickle as a combat weapon is laughable anyway: They're built to be stronger than stalks of corn, not Plate armor.

[Morgeruat]

Originally posted by Gimli: I just got out of C.I. and headed over to Ribald's. Saved the game and then tried as a test dualing over to Druid, and bought a wakizashi and ninja-to. I can not wield the ninja-to, but I *can* wield the wakizashi. Bug or not it doesn't bother me one bit from a roleplaying standpoint or feel like "cheese" either, especially with a Kensai -> Druid. I will mix n' match scimitars and wakizashis with this guy, most likely he'll have Belm in the offhand and the best of the other two types I come across in the main hand. Kinda even makes sense with the whole "curved blade" idea because ninja-tos are supposed to be straight bladed and wakizashis are curved.

Makes sense, a ninja-to is a ninja's weapon, hence the name of that profession/class in the item's name, it is also a straight edged weapon and more similar to a shortsword than a wakizashi, a wakizashi is in essence a mini-katana, a curved edge blade, makes sense to me.

[Morgeruat]

Originally posted by SixOfSpades: quote: Originally posted by mad=dog: In basic D&D the rule is as simple as you put it - no metal allowed at all.

Well, actually, no iron. Bronze was commonly used, and, as you quoted, gold and silver are all right. (But, since all the metal weapons in the game are made of steel, this loophole is never seen.)

The weapons allowed are Club, Dart, Spear, Sickle, Dagger, Scimitar, Sling and Staff.

And they all make sense, except the Scimitar. I'd be willing to bet that Daggers are included either because they, too, are a sacred blade, used to perform ceremonial sacrifices in the same was as a a sickle, or because TSR knew that nobody was going to include Sickle as a separate weapon proficiency just for Druids (and Ilyich). Of course, the concept of a sickle as a combat weapon is laughable anyway: They're built to be stronger than stalks of corn, not Plate armor. [/QUOTE]The rule my GM always played by was no manufactured armor, meaning if you as a druid mined the ore, smelted it, and made it yourself you could wear any type of armor, as you would presumably have the knowledge of how to go about doing so with the least environmental impact, ie building a mine vs panning for gold. This rule also would apply to non-metal armors such as leather that are manufactured (the tanner down the street could be dumping his chemicals into the streams and destroying wildlife), and seems more in keeping with the druid's role in an AD&D game. Also many daggers are curved like sickles (take a look at nearly all middle eastern daggers) much like the scimitar, the main different is the cutting edge. Given the importance of nature, and by logical extension the moon, on druids a weapon that emulates the moon in it's crescent phase would seem to be sacred, and thus kosher. The primary reason shamshirs (or scimitars) were not used by druids can likely be explained away by lack of exposure.

(from the arms and equipment guide - The sabre was initially developed in Central Asia, used by tribes that wandered the steppes. By the 9th century, the Slavs, who battled the Asians, had adopted the weapon. The term sabre is Slavic-Hungarian. Sabres were used extensively in central and eastern Europe and by the Turks. The Persian style of the sabre was discovered by Napoleon's troops. This version was known as the shamshir, which is commonly called the scimitar. This blade has a greater curve to it and is tapered to an elongated, sharp point. Copyright 1998 TSR Inc.)

[krunchyfrogg]

I know this is skewing into a alignment topic, and I apologize for throwing fuel on this little off-topic fire, but I just want to quote the AD&D 2E DM's Guide:

Alignment is a tool, not a straightjacket.

Good job on the posts above mine. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Azred]

AD&D druids are not real druids, so anything that applies to real druids doesn't necessarily apply to game druids. It is only a game, after all.... [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img]

Interestingly, the mezzo-soprano with whom I was involed back in college played a druid whose weapon of choice was a lasso.

[Gimli]

Very true - I doubt many real Druids were casting Barkskin and Call Lightning after all

[Gimli]

Hey all - I have just finished up Nalia's quest and taken over lordship of the Keep. I would really also like to get the Druid's Grove later on as a second stronghold. I don't believe that I had the "multiple strongholds" mod installed before I did the Keep. If I install it now will it allow me to get the Grove later on? If not is there some other method that will work?

I just hit 9th level as a Kensai (basically headed over to the Keep before any other quests which made it pretty challenging for a change with such a low level party). If I have enough gold I am going to buy the shield of balduran next and try to take out that beholder cult next.

I have Anomen, Keldorn, Jaheria (couldn't resist romancing her), Nalia and my Dwarven Berserker. Nalia is a pretty crappy thief so I am thinking of ditching her for Jan - will I have Keep problems if I dump her right after I get the Keep?

[ZFR]

Originally posted by Gimli: Hey all - I have just finished up Nalia's quest and taken over lordship of the Keep. I would really also like to get the Druid's Grove later on as a second stronghold. I don't believe that I had the "multiple strongholds" mod installed before I did the Keep. If I install it now will it allow me to get the Grove later on? If not is there some other method that will work?

There is no need for any mod. Simple CLUA will do.
Before talking to the guy who gives you the stronghold do:


CLUAConsole:SetGlobal("PlayerHasStronghold","GLOBAL",0)


This will make allow you to take multiple strongholds when playing a multiclass

[ 07-04-2005, 01:53 PM: Message edited by: ZFR ]