Druid, Blight Druid; Human

Self-Interested Preface: This is a melee shapeshifter druid!  Through the Blight Druid archetype, it gets to exude and aura of sickening from level 5 and retaliate against melee attackers with diseases from level 13 in exchange for some abilities it was literally never going to use.  This character isn't really a caster, and actually has a base WIS score too low to progress past 4th level spells.  As such, it requires a Headband of Inspiring Wisdom +2 at level 9, +4 at level 14, and +6 at level 17 to continue spellcasting progression.  It also requires a Ring of Eloquence to communicate while shifted.

Through the religion trait Light-Bringer (which doesn't specify the magical source, so this character chooses the arcane form of Light), it qualifies for Arcane Strike, adding damage to all of its attacks as a swift action.  This will be each of this character's swift actions that weren't used in the last round for Divine Interference.  This character is meant to transform and stay transformed into any creature with multiple, hard-hitting attacks, likely starting with the Deinonychus and progressing as desired.  I've never played a shapeshifter (though I'm confident this character's powerful) so I can't relate any personal experiences or direct you towards much more than that.  That said, this character should remain extremely tough to kill and a powerful tank through Diehard, the Heart Of The Wilderness bonus, Toughness, and its reasonable 16 CON, as well as the DR granted by Planar Wild Shape at level 13.  It's a little lame, but I can't really advise on spells, either, though I'm certain there are a bunch like Magic Fang and healing spells which improve this character's combat ability and tanking capability.  Below the build is a chart of hitpoint progression, ability progression, and blight druid DCs which should help illustrate some of its strengths.  The Eyes Of Darkness domain ability lets this character cast Deeper Darkness (domain spell) on itself without penalty, turning it into a roaming field of supernatural darkness untouchable by darkvision.

All in all, I believe this is a strong wild shape build, even if I don't have any experience playing a druid.  I think with a little support and cleverness it could replace a fighter and remain a supplemental out-of-combat spellcaster, with all the buffs and healing spells a druid's known for.  This character, after a little wild shape research, would be a good time.

This build created in January of 2016.

Druid (Blight Druid), Level 20

Race: Human, +2 STR (+1 Hit Point/+1 Skill Point/+½ to Diplomacy/Intimidate to improve a creature’s attitude)

Racial Traits

Bonus Feat

Heart Of The Wilderness [+½ level(scaling) to Survival, +5 to stabilization checks, +½ level(scaling) to negative CON score damage required to cause death]

Character Traits/Drawbacks

Drawback: (Detriment, Circumstance)

Combat: Reactionary (+2 to Initiative)

Magic: Transmuter Of Korada (+1 CL when casting any transmutation spell; once per day, cast Bull’s Strength as an extended spell)

Religion: Light-Bringer [Verbatim: “Once per day, you can use light as a spell-like ability. Your caster level is equal to your character level.”  (Qualifies for Arcane Strike damage increase.)]

Class Skills: Climb, Craft (Any), Fly, Handle Animal, Heal, Knowledge (Geography), Knowledge (Nature), Perception, Profession (Any), Ride, Spellcraft, Survival, and Swim.

Known Languages: Common, Druidic

1: Druid (Blight Druid) 1, (d8 Hit Die), +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +0

            Base Saves: +5/+2/+3

New Feats: Druid Weapon Proficiencies, Druid Light and Medium Armor Proficiencies, Druid Shield Proficiency, Druid Spellcasting, Druid Spontaneous Casting, Blight Druid Nature Bond (Night Domain), Blind-Fight, Night Hunter, Nature Sense, Vermin Empathy, [1^st Level Feat] Toughness, [Human] Endurance, [Anti-Hero] Die Hard

Skills(2): Climb, Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 3 Lvl. 0, 2 Lvl. 1

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

2: Druid (Blight Druid) 2, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +1

            Base Saves: +6/+2/+4

New Feats: Woodland Stride

Skills(2): Survival, Swim

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 3 Lvl. 1

*Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

 

3: Druid (Blight Druid) 3, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +2

            Base Saves: +6/+3/+4

New Feats: [3^rd Level Feat] Arcane Strike (+1)

Skills(2): Knowledge (Nature), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 3 Lvl. 1, 2 Lvl. 2

*Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

4: Druid (Blight Druid) 4, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +3

            Ability Score Increase: WIS +1 (14)

            Base Saves: +7/+3/+6

New Feats: Wild Shape (4^th) (1/day)

Skills(2): Fly, Knowledge (Nature)

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 4 Lvl. 1, 3 Lvl. 2

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

5: Druid (Blight Druid) 5, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +3

            Base Saves: +7/+3/+6

New Feats: Arcane Strike (+2), Miasma, [5^th Level Feat] Natural Spell

Skills(2): Knowledge (Nature), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 4 Lvl. 1, 3 Lvl. 2, 1 Lvl. 3

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

6: Druid (Blight Druid) 6, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +4

            Base Saves: +8/+4/+7

New Feats: Wild Shape (6^th) (2/day)

Skills(2): Knowledge (Nature), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 4 Lvl. 1, 4 Lvl. 2, 2 Lvl. 3

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

7: Druid (Blight Druid) 7, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +5

            Base Saves: +8/+4/+7

New Feats: [7^th Level Feat] Multiattack

Skills(2): Knowledge (Nature), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 5 Lvl. 1, 4 Lvl. 2, 2 Lvl. 3, 1 Lvl. 4

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

8: Druid (Blight Druid) 8, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +6/+1

            Ability Score Increase: STR +1 (19)

            Base Saves: +9/+4/+8

New Feats: Eyes Of Darkness, Wild Shape (8^th) (3/day)

Skills(2): Knowledge (Nature), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 5 Lvl. 1, 4 Lvl. 2, 3 Lvl. 3, 2 Lvl. 4

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

 

9: Druid (Blight Druid) 9, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +6/+1

            Base Saves: +9/+5/+9

New Feats: Blightblooded, [9^th Level Feat] Powerful Shape

Skills(2): Knowledge (Planes), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 5 Lvl. 1, 5 Lvl. 2, 4 Lvl. 3, 2 Lvl. 4, 1 Lvl. 5

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

NOTE: Must have WIS-boosting item by this level to continue spellcasting progression.  Assume minimum possible bonus (+2), for a current minimum total of 16 WIS.

10: Druid (Blight Druid) 10, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +7/+2

            Base Saves: +10/+5/+10

New Feats: Arcane Strike (+3), Wild Shape (10^th) (4/day)

Skills(2): Knowledge (Planes), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 5 Lvl. 1, 5 Lvl. 2, 4 Lvl. 3, 3 Lvl. 4, 2 Lvl. 5

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

11: Druid (Blight Druid) 11, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +8/+3

            Base Saves: +10/+5/+10

New Feats: [11^th Level Feat] Divine Interference

Skills(2): Knowledge (Planes), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 5 Lvl. 1, 5 Lvl. 2, 5 Lvl. 3, 3 Lvl. 4, 2 Lvl. 5, 1 Lvl. 6

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

12: Druid (Blight Druid) 12, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +9/+4

            Ability Score Increase: STR +1 (20)

            Base Saves: +11/+6/+11

New Feats: Wild Shape (12^th) (5/day)

Skills(2): Knowledge (Planes), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 5 Lvl. 1, 5 Lvl. 2, 5 Lvl. 3, 3 Lvl. 4, 3 Lvl. 5, 2 Lvl. 6

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

13: Druid (Blight Druid) 13, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +9/+4

            Base Saves: +11/+6/+12

New Feats: Plaguebringer, [13^th Level Feat] Planar Wild Shape

Skills(2): Knowledge (Planes), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 5 Lvl. 1, 5 Lvl. 2, 5 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 3 Lvl. 5, 2 Lvl. 6, 1 Lvl. 7

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

NOTE: Must have WIS-boosting item by this level to continue spellcasting progression.  Assume minimum possible bonus (+4), for a current minimum total of 18 WIS.

14: Druid (Blight Druid) 14, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +10/+5

            Base Saves: +12/+6/+13

New Feats: Wild Shape (6/day)

Skills(2): Knowledge (Nature), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 5 Lvl. 1, 5 Lvl. 2, 5 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 3 Lvl. 5, 3 Lvl. 6, 2 Lvl. 7

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

15: Druid (Blight Druid) 15, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +11/+6/+1

            Base Saves: +12/+7/+13

New Feats: Arcane Strike (+4), Timeless Body, [15^th Level Feat] Power Attack

Skills(2): Knowledge (Nature), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 5 Lvl. 1, 5 Lvl. 2, 5 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 4 Lvl. 5, 3 Lvl. 6, 2 Lvl. 7, 1 Lvl. 8

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

16: Druid (Blight Druid) 16, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +12/+7/+2

            Ability Score Increase: STR +1 (21)

            Base Saves: +13/+7/+14

New Feats: Wild Shape (7/day)

Skills(2): Knowledge (Nature), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 5 Lvl. 1, 5 Lvl. 2, 5 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 4 Lvl. 5, 3 Lvl. 6, 3 Lvl. 7, 2 Lvl. 8

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

17: Druid (Blight Druid) 17, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +12/+7/+2

            Base Saves: +13/+7/+15

New Feats: [17^th Level Feat] Defensive Combat Training

Skills(2): Knowledge (Nature), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 5 Lvl. 2, 5 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 5 Lvl. 5, 4 Lvl. 6, 3 Lvl. 7, 2 Lvl. 8, 1 Lvl. 9

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

NOTE: Must have WIS-boosting item by this level to continue spellcasting progression.  Assume minimum possible bonus (+6), for a current minimum total of 20 WIS.

18: Druid (Blight Druid) 18, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +13/+8/+3

            Base Saves: +14/+8/+16

New Feats: Wild Shape (8/day)

Skills(2): Knowledge (Nature), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 5 Lvl. 2, 5 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 5 Lvl. 5, 4 Lvl. 6, 3 Lvl. 7, 3 Lvl. 8, 2 Lvl. 9

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

19: Druid (Blight Druid) 19, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +14/+9/+4

            Base Saves: +14/+8/+16

New Feats: [19^th Level Feat] Riving Strike

Skills(2): Knowledge (Nature), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 5 Lvl. 2, 5 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 5 Lvl. 5, 4 Lvl. 6, 4 Lvl. 7, 3 Lvl. 8, 3 Lvl. 9

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

 

20: Druid (Blight Druid) 20, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +15/+10/+5

            Ability Score Increase: STR +1 (22)

            Base Saves: +15/+8/+17

New Feats: Arcane Strike (+5), Wild Shape (infinite)

Skills(2): Knowledge (Nature), Perception

Base Spells Per Day*: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 5 Lvl. 2, 5 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 5 Lvl. 5, 4 Lvl. 6, 4 Lvl. 7, 4 Lvl. 8, 4 Lvl. 9

            *Also, one specific domain spell per spell level above 0.

Domain Spells

1st—sleep

2nd—blindness/deafness (only to cause blindness),

3rd—deeper darkness

4th—shadow conjuration

5th—summon monster V (summons 1d3 shadows)

6th—nightmare

7th—power word blind

8th—shadow evocation (greater)

9th—shades

Domain Abilities

Blind-Fight: In melee, every time you miss because of concealment, you can reroll your miss chance percentile roll one time to see if you actually hit.
An invisible attacker gets no advantages related to hitting you in melee. That is, you don't lose your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class, and the attacker doesn't get the usual +2 bonus for being invisible. The invisible attacker's bonuses do still apply for ranged attacks, however.
You do not need to make Acrobatics skill checks to move at full speed while blinded.

Night Hunter (Su): As a standard action, you can blend into the shadows of the night, becoming nearly invisible. As long as you are in an area of dim light or darkness, you are invisible (as per invisibility) to creatures without darkvision.
This ability lasts for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 your cleric level (minimum 1). You can use this ability for a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier.

Eyes of Darkness (Su): At 8th level, your vision is not impaired by lighting conditions, even in absolute darkness and magic darkness.
You can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to 1/2 your cleric level. These rounds do not need to be consecutive.

*Miasma obtained at level 5, Plaguebringer obtained at level 13, though their DC is calculated the same way.

**DC is based on WIS, which remains static pointwise throughout character’s career.  However, a higher WIS is required to continue spell progression at levels 9, 13, and 17, necessitating a stat-boosting item at those levels.  Therefore, though I don’t like to factor in items on these charts, it can be assumed that something like a Headband of Inspired Wisdom has been obtained and upgraded at those times.