I’m a second level barbarian and I think I want to dip into druid for two levels and take path of the moon. Any thoughts on when it’s the best time to jump into the second class?
First check what your DM is prepared to allow transfering from Barbarian to Druid (always a good idea)
Second - if its still worth it, decide what your doing this for? An early HP sink animal and going mostly barbarian, (debatably not worth it?) or a longhaul druid who is giving up potential of unlimited wildshaping at 20 for the ability to rage twice? Or something.... other? Mostly barb? Not sure, when to make a switch. Mostly druid, Barb 1, you dont want to have access to CR 1 forms when your 8th level, when your 14th if you have them its just mass damage instant kill baiting yourself.
Third - The other, other Barb druid, For the long haul game, Barb 2 you are, so druid 2 next then barb till you gain two attacks (5th) and +10 of movement because whats better than a fast animal? a faster animal with a single melee attack instead using two (extra attack is a class ability) Now your off to druid hoping for the 6th level ability to use cr 2 forms, (constrictor snake coil and crush combo) and the level 8 ability for flight (the dive bombing Quetzacoatlus with two attacks threatening 6d6 on a hit?) elemental form is not so great, they have two attacks with multiattack so extra attack will duplicate rather than increase attacks. However - IF you were a berserker, exhausting your animal forms with frenzy will not necesarily have applied to you, but even if it does Elementals are immune to exhaustion - frenzy away if your a berserker!
As always if your going the route of the animal warrior you only need the Multiclass prerequisites of the class, not high casting stats, take advantage of that for spells like longstrider, and precast and goodberries you drop when you transform in case you need to chow down to restore some health after, but dont want to go back to your civilian identity. Many of a druids spells are concentration, something your rage makes a liability.
Thank you for the response. This is my first 5e character. I really like the third option. I’ll talk with my dm about how far this campaign is going to go.
My first full campaign, we had a character play a Moon Druid who took 3 levels of Bear Totem Barbarian specifically to give him that sweet sweet damage resistance to let him stay in Wild Shape longer. It was a fun combo that worked out pretty well in combat. If that's your goal, to use Rage to make your Wild Shapes sturdier, I would recommend putting most of your levels in Druid so you can access higher CR beasts. A CR 1 Dire Wolf is no slouch, but won't be nearly as effective at higher levels. Getting to Moon Druid 10 and gaining access to those Elemental forms is pretty awesome. Imagine being a Raging Earth Elemental :)
depending on how long your game is, keep going barb until 3rd lvl for totem the most utility subclass for barb, then switch for druid for the rest. Cause most adventure end on 10th - 15th lvl.
Yeah, I always go with what is fun now, rather than mapping things out for what will give the optimal at highest levels... if you aren't going to reach level 20, keeping pure druid intact might mean you miss out on things you'd enjoy at lower levels.
I had a player in one of my games who went Druid 2, then Barbarian 2, but ended up being killed. I'm convinced his main reason for the build was pun based, so that he could truly be a Bearbarian.
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DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Yeah, I always go with what is fun now, rather than mapping things out for what will give the optimal at highest levels... if you aren't going to reach level 20, keeping pure druid intact might mean you miss out on things you'd enjoy at lower levels.
I had a player in one of my games who went Druid 2, then Barbarian 2, but ended up being killed. I'm convinced his main reason for the build was pun based, so that he could truly be a Bearbarian.
I’m a second level barbarian and I think I want to dip into druid for two levels and take path of the moon. Any thoughts on when it’s the best time to jump into the second class?
First check what your DM is prepared to allow transfering from Barbarian to Druid (always a good idea)
Second - if its still worth it, decide what your doing this for? An early HP sink animal and going mostly barbarian, (debatably not worth it?) or a longhaul druid who is giving up potential of unlimited wildshaping at 20 for the ability to rage twice? Or something.... other? Mostly barb? Not sure, when to make a switch. Mostly druid, Barb 1, you dont want to have access to CR 1 forms when your 8th level, when your 14th if you have them its just mass damage instant kill baiting yourself.
Third - The other, other Barb druid, For the long haul game, Barb 2 you are, so druid 2 next then barb till you gain two attacks (5th) and +10 of movement because whats better than a fast animal? a faster animal with a single melee attack instead using two (extra attack is a class ability) Now your off to druid hoping for the 6th level ability to use cr 2 forms, (constrictor snake coil and crush combo) and the level 8 ability for flight (the dive bombing Quetzacoatlus with two attacks threatening 6d6 on a hit?) elemental form is not so great, they have two attacks with multiattack so extra attack will duplicate rather than increase attacks. However - IF you were a berserker, exhausting your animal forms with frenzy will not necesarily have applied to you, but even if it does Elementals are immune to exhaustion - frenzy away if your a berserker!
As always if your going the route of the animal warrior you only need the Multiclass prerequisites of the class, not high casting stats, take advantage of that for spells like longstrider, and precast and goodberries you drop when you transform in case you need to chow down to restore some health after, but dont want to go back to your civilian identity. Many of a druids spells are concentration, something your rage makes a liability.
However you end up playing, enjoy the game!
Thank you for the response. This is my first 5e character. I really like the third option. I’ll talk with my dm about how far this campaign is going to go.
My first full campaign, we had a character play a Moon Druid who took 3 levels of Bear Totem Barbarian specifically to give him that sweet sweet damage resistance to let him stay in Wild Shape longer. It was a fun combo that worked out pretty well in combat. If that's your goal, to use Rage to make your Wild Shapes sturdier, I would recommend putting most of your levels in Druid so you can access higher CR beasts. A CR 1 Dire Wolf is no slouch, but won't be nearly as effective at higher levels. Getting to Moon Druid 10 and gaining access to those Elemental forms is pretty awesome. Imagine being a Raging Earth Elemental :)
Thank you!
depending on how long your game is, keep going barb until 3rd lvl for totem the most utility subclass for barb, then switch for druid for the rest. Cause most adventure end on 10th - 15th lvl.
Yeah, I always go with what is fun now, rather than mapping things out for what will give the optimal at highest levels... if you aren't going to reach level 20, keeping pure druid intact might mean you miss out on things you'd enjoy at lower levels.
I had a player in one of my games who went Druid 2, then Barbarian 2, but ended up being killed. I'm convinced his main reason for the build was pun based, so that he could truly be a Bearbarian.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Wouldn't that have made him a Barbearian?
I may have mis-quoted his pun. :lol:
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock