I’ve recently been playing the Botania mod on Minecraft, and I was wondering why some kind of plant-based Druid doesn’t exist. The closest thing is Circle of the Land and Circle of Spores which is more based off of Druid Location and Mushrooms respectively. I had come up with an idea, Circle of Seeds, which was similar to an Artificer with a far more Druidic feel, but I don’t think it’s creation would reach the people who can do something about it, so I’m gonna make a Forum about it.
So far the main idea is planting... well... plants, with various abilities, ranging from a fire whip called the Flamelash Weed to a Barbarian’s best friend, the Mighty Maple and it’s surprisingly deadly seeds. I have a few more, like the Bell Thorn that’s a combination of a Prestidigitation sound/smell cast and a bear-trap, or the Spore Shot Mushroom which is good at longer ranges but falls off at shorter ranges.
Well, by definition, all druids are plant based and have the sort of 'botanist' theme you want. Their spell list is the greatest in terms of plant based spells objectively. But the manipulation of plants, known as chlorokinesis, is not a power specifically given to druids because it is REALLY powerful. Spells like Grasping Vine, Entangle, and Speak with Plants do a great job in doing what you desire. In reality, being a botanist class would be underwhelming. Magical abilities that you could be given are similar to things you could do with a spell. Circle of the Land druid already gives a druid immunity to plant based hazards and advantage versus magical plant based hazards. Nonmagical abilities given by a botanist druid would be similar to things done with an herbalism kit.
So I love the idea, and I do agree that plants and such aren't stressed enough in at least on of the classes, but if you want to be a true botanist, be a druid of the land and take the skilled feat if your DM allows the optional feat rule. This allows any combination of 3 skills or tools. Thus, choose the poisoner's kit, the alchemist's kit, and likely nature or medicine as the skill if you don't have it. So in the end, you have a druid of the forest (or whatever you want it to be) proficient in poisoner's supplies, alchemist's supplies, the herbalism kit, and probably medicine with all the botany things you could ever want by level 5.
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A plant-themed subclass would definitely be a great addition to the druid. One thing that jumps out at me is we are getting a bunch of new summoning spells with scaling stat blocks, but there is no summon plant options. Similar to the other summon spells being added in Tasha's, summon plant could give the player choices for which version of creature to summon.
I'd love to see them bring back the Primeval Guardain ranger subclass concept, but in druid form. Shapeshifting into a Treant just seems like it fits Druids perfectly, and would likely just eat up a wild shape usage, similar to how circle of stars works. Could give the Druid a fun melee battlefield control playstyle option. And the rest of the subclass could be focused on plants like the OP suggests.
I'd love to see them bring back the Primeval Guardain ranger subclass concept, but in druid form. Shapeshifting into a Treant just seems like it fits Druids perfectly, and would likely just eat up a wild shape usage, similar to how circle of stars works.
I might also make a subclass about this. Much like the Circle of the Moon allows 10th level druids to use 2 wildshapes to turn into elementals, it could be similar. In this subclass, instead of the druid turning into a plant like it could a beast, it could gain plant like benefits based on the a choice. If it chooses a Tree, maybe roots could shoot out within 10 feet of the druid and make it difficult terrain, or it could choose a thorn vine and grow grappling appendages with thorns and such with an extended range.
About the melee druid, I've made a subclass for druid that makes it a little more martial, what me and my friends call the circle of the Undeath. I'll post it on here later on, but these are all really good druid subclass ideas.
So far my current druid subclass ideas are: Circle of the Undeath, Circle of the Plants, Circle of the Shaman, and Circle of Life. In my friend group, Im in charge with druid subclasses, so I think that my friends will really like these ideas-
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I’ve recently been playing the Botania mod on Minecraft, and I was wondering why some kind of plant-based Druid doesn’t exist. The closest thing is Circle of the Land and Circle of Spores which is more based off of Druid Location and Mushrooms respectively. I had come up with an idea, Circle of Seeds, which was similar to an Artificer with a far more Druidic feel, but I don’t think it’s creation would reach the people who can do something about it, so I’m gonna make a Forum about it.
So far the main idea is planting... well... plants, with various abilities, ranging from a fire whip called the Flamelash Weed to a Barbarian’s best friend, the Mighty Maple and it’s surprisingly deadly seeds. I have a few more, like the Bell Thorn that’s a combination of a Prestidigitation sound/smell cast and a bear-trap, or the Spore Shot Mushroom which is good at longer ranges but falls off at shorter ranges.
I’d just love to play a Botanist.
Well, by definition, all druids are plant based and have the sort of 'botanist' theme you want. Their spell list is the greatest in terms of plant based spells objectively. But the manipulation of plants, known as chlorokinesis, is not a power specifically given to druids because it is REALLY powerful. Spells like Grasping Vine, Entangle, and Speak with Plants do a great job in doing what you desire. In reality, being a botanist class would be underwhelming. Magical abilities that you could be given are similar to things you could do with a spell. Circle of the Land druid already gives a druid immunity to plant based hazards and advantage versus magical plant based hazards. Nonmagical abilities given by a botanist druid would be similar to things done with an herbalism kit.
So I love the idea, and I do agree that plants and such aren't stressed enough in at least on of the classes, but if you want to be a true botanist, be a druid of the land and take the skilled feat if your DM allows the optional feat rule. This allows any combination of 3 skills or tools. Thus, choose the poisoner's kit, the alchemist's kit, and likely nature or medicine as the skill if you don't have it. So in the end, you have a druid of the forest (or whatever you want it to be) proficient in poisoner's supplies, alchemist's supplies, the herbalism kit, and probably medicine with all the botany things you could ever want by level 5.
I love roleplaying, message me so we can set something up.
I talk everything D&D, message me for questions, chat, arguements, or roleplay!
A plant-themed subclass would definitely be a great addition to the druid. One thing that jumps out at me is we are getting a bunch of new summoning spells with scaling stat blocks, but there is no summon plant options. Similar to the other summon spells being added in Tasha's, summon plant could give the player choices for which version of creature to summon.
Bramble- some kind of thorns effect.
Vines- ability to grapple/restrain
Tree- resistance to bludgeoning/piercing damage.
It could be some sort of Artificer subclass instead of a Druid subclass, as the Botanical Druid I've though up of has a large Artificer feel
I really really REALLY REALLY like this idea, I'll see if I can make a subclass for druid/artificer that does this. If it works, Ill post it on here.
I love roleplaying, message me so we can set something up.
I talk everything D&D, message me for questions, chat, arguements, or roleplay!
I'd love to see them bring back the Primeval Guardain ranger subclass concept, but in druid form. Shapeshifting into a Treant just seems like it fits Druids perfectly, and would likely just eat up a wild shape usage, similar to how circle of stars works. Could give the Druid a fun melee battlefield control playstyle option. And the rest of the subclass could be focused on plants like the OP suggests.
Old UA of the ranger sublcass for reference:
https://media.wizards.com/2016/dnd/downloads/2017_01_UA_RangerRogue_0117JCMM.pdf
I might also make a subclass about this. Much like the Circle of the Moon allows 10th level druids to use 2 wildshapes to turn into elementals, it could be similar. In this subclass, instead of the druid turning into a plant like it could a beast, it could gain plant like benefits based on the a choice. If it chooses a Tree, maybe roots could shoot out within 10 feet of the druid and make it difficult terrain, or it could choose a thorn vine and grow grappling appendages with thorns and such with an extended range.
About the melee druid, I've made a subclass for druid that makes it a little more martial, what me and my friends call the circle of the Undeath. I'll post it on here later on, but these are all really good druid subclass ideas.
So far my current druid subclass ideas are: Circle of the Undeath, Circle of the Plants, Circle of the Shaman, and Circle of Life. In my friend group, Im in charge with druid subclasses, so I think that my friends will really like these ideas-
I love roleplaying, message me so we can set something up.
I talk everything D&D, message me for questions, chat, arguements, or roleplay!
Would love to see the verdant lord prestige class from 3.5 make it's way to 5e as a subclass