Squishy druid

[Donruss]

I spent my first 6 hours ever in the bear pits with a buddy. We had a blast!

However, the Bears taught me 1 thing. I am very very squishy. My gear has always been mediocre at best. I felt like I could charm bats in solB naked if I had to, but these bears are on a different lvl.

I need high LVL druid advice. Are the returns on stamina worth it? Or should I go for hit points mostly? Agi effects AC, but how much? What are some popular "battle druid" items? For example, I see ballers with a sarnak shield.

[Schwing]

They should only ever get a round or two of hits on you. Use chloro over regrowth, will top you off fast enough for cheaper. You should be at or near 100% health most of the time.

[Donruss]

I get hit more than I should. I am not THAT great of an eq player. Sometimes when I send a pet in against 4 and start rooting I miss one and am suprised by it when I break my pet. Or occasionally charm breaks before I am done rooting them all. I understand I shouldn't get hit, but IF I do. What can a druid do gear wise to minimize the damage?

I plan on trying to learn kedge some day too. There is lots of charming in my future and I know imma be taking hits.

[Schwing]

It wasn't meant as an insult at all. I take plenty of hits, too. I just don't know how efficient it would be to gear for it. You'll still want to play the same way and avoid the hits entirely, you still won't be able to survive 4 bears hitting you, and you'll still want to use your spells to recuperate.

That said, go for extra HP on your gear and try not to sacrifice mana. An extra couple hundred HP should increase your margin for error quite a bit.

[Daldaen]

Gearing for HP generally isn't a good use of your time and money. *generally*.

Those mobs hit for 140s~ right? Stamina returns for a druid are terrible (3HP per STA pre-115, half that over 115) and to account for just 1 hit of their swings you need to devote atleast 2 slots of raw HP gear. So something like 2 Fire Opal rings being 110 HP would save you from 1 hit. Is that worth 2 bag slots and swapping around rings mehh. Plus you really should be having a Goblin Gazughi Ring at that point IMO.

Instead of trying to gear towards being more durable just try to practice being more elusive. The early breaks on 4-bear rooms are almost impossible to recover from regardless of your gear. That is where you want a charged Leatherfoot Raider's Skullcap at all times. Your money/time is better invested in buying/questing a WC Cap and paying people to help you recharge it. That instant-port out of a sticky situation saves you an unnecessary death and the hassle of bribing a cleric to travel to Perma.

As far as charming/bear pits goes:

1. Always have a WC Cap to save yourself the hassle of death.
2. Get a Goblin Gazughi Ring. Having an instant charm break mechanism that is guaranteed is IMMENSELY helpful. Once you have one, you will wonder how you did it before.
3. ALWAYS keep everything rooted. Starting every fight, you want to root all enemy mobs. 56 helps a lot cause Engorging Roots is very efficient at this.
4. Glamour mobs after roots to ensure they stay rooted for longer durations.
5. Keep your best HP buff (SLN or Natureskin) and Regrowth on permanently. That 20~ HP a tick you regen will be a lifesaver more than once. It isn't something you will notice until you try to exp without maintaining these buffs.

[Technique]

Originally Posted by Daldaen [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Stamina returns for a druid are terrible (3HP per STA pre-115, half that over 115)

There's no softcap on stamina.

[Synthlol]

Originally Posted by Technique [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

There's no softcap on stamina.

I guess Daldaen has never actually tested STA returns. Disappointing.

[Schwing]

They're really bad. That's enough info for me.

[Donruss]

Right on. What about AC / agi. Could I be on to something there? The reason I don't mind losing a slot or two is because I plan on getting some vermiculated soon, and will have extra wis..

I do have a ring, and a hat. I cap'd out with 17hps left last night! Was down there for a couple hours. But sometimes charm just breaks at the wrong time

[Donruss]

I see some baller Druids with a sarnak battle shield. Is that a good place to start? 25 AC has to help at least a little bit right?