Hey everyone! I’m building a new druid character and I’m looking for feedback, advice, or just general thoughts! I’m still deciding on some key aspects of the character, like race and personality, but here are a few things I’ve been considering:
Race: I’m torn between Wood Elf (nature-focused, stealthy, with some solid movement and perception boosts) and Satyr (Feywild vibes, playful, and some unique mobility perks). What do you all think about these two races for a druid? Any suggestions for other races that might be a fun fit?
Backstory: I’m thinking of giving this druid a backstory tied to protecting a sacred forest or being a guardian of a specific natural place. Maybe something involving a personal connection to the Feywild? What kind of backstory would really mesh with the druid class and those races?
Personality: Should I lean into the nature-loving, peaceful protector vibe, or would it be more fun to go for a chaotic, trickster character? A satyr druid could be a blast to roleplay with that playful energy, but the wood elf would probably be more solemn and serious. Thoughts?
Character Development: I’m curious about what kind of challenges you think would be interesting for a druid to face. What’s something you think could push the boundaries of the character? Should they be more tied to nature or the Feywild? What about their relationship with the rest of the party—should they be more of a healer/support or a front-line spellcaster?
I’m open to anything—whether it’s tips, ideas, or general thoughts! Can’t wait to hear what you all think!
1: It depends on whether or not you have the customize ability scores feature from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything or not. If you do, you can give the Sayte whatever stat boosts you want, making it superior. Without that, the Wood Elf is much closer to what stat boosts you want naturally.
2. It really depends on your DM and what story they have created. Ask them. If they have a place in mind that already exists in their adventure, they can just say you are from there. If not, you both cane hopefully create one that fits (or at least doesn’t go against) the narrative.
3. Why not both? One can still love something and use tricks with ir without delight on enemies or potential threats. Just keep in mind you typically don’t want to cause drama within your adventuring party by tricking them.
4. There’s always the classic friend or foe with new people or settlers coming into your territory. Do you learn from being around others in your party that not all outsiders are a threat? Is there an army of other people trying to destroy nature for their own gain? That might depend more on the story setting and talking with your DM.
As for party role, it really depends on the subclass, but typically druids fall under healer/support unless they are moon druids. Wild Shape is more for utility rather than becoming something stronger.
Oh, and the picture looks great! I’m not sure how you did it, but it might be possible to go over the horns should you choose to go Wood Elf instead. Are you playing digitally or in person with miniatures? Either way, you might get a kick at least out of going to Heroforge.com to customize your own miniature with their program/technology. They can offer 3D print blueprints for you or someone you know to create it yourself or sell figures in a variety of materials (even colored plastic!) They are currently having a sale until November 13 for the Holidays. Just keep in mind it takes a lot of time for them to make it. A figure like your character should be average size, so a colored version should go for around $40.
Thanks so much for all the awesome feedback! You’ve given me a lot to think about. Here’s where I’m at after reading through everything:
Race: I’m leaning toward Wood Elf for now, since it seems like a good fit mechanically with the stat boosts, but I really like the idea of customizing with a Satyr if we’re using Tasha’s rules. I’ll definitely talk with my DM about it!
Backstory: I love the idea of creating a unique location with my DM or tying my druid’s origin to a sacred place in the campaign. I think it’d be cool if she’s protecting a special forest or nature site, maybe even one that’s under threat from outsiders—this could give her some great character growth moments.
Personality: I’m definitely going to mix both the nature-loving protector vibe with a bit of a chaotic trickster side. I think she’ll be someone who loves nature deeply but isn’t afraid to have a little fun with pranks—just as long as they don’t cause too much drama in the party!
Party Role: I like the idea of exploring friend or foe dynamics with the party, especially if my druid is initially skeptical about outsiders but learns to trust them. As for subclass, I’m still deciding, but Circle of the Land sounds great for support/healing. I’ll take a closer look at Circle of the Moon if I want to go more combat-focused.
And wow, thanks for the mini suggestion! I’ll definitely check out Heroforge.com. That sounds like a fun way to bring my character to life.
Looking forward to hearing more thoughts from you all if you have them!"
Thanks so much for all the awesome feedback! You’ve given me a lot to think about. Here’s where I’m at after reading through everything:
Race: I’m leaning toward Wood Elf for now, since it seems like a good fit mechanically with the stat boosts, but I really like the idea of customizing with a Satyr if we’re using Tasha’s rules. I’ll definitely talk with my DM about it!
If you’re using the 2024 rules, you don’t need to worry about species-specific stat boosts (“ability score increases “). In the 2014 rules, Wood Elves got +2 DEX and +1 WIS, which works pretty well for Druids, but now the ability score increases (ASIs) at character creation are linked to background, not species.
(The reference to Tasha is to the sourcebook Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, which introduced an optional rule which allowed players to place the ASIs on any ability scores at character creation. Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse, which contains the most recent version of the Satyr, then standardised that approach for all the playable species in it. If you do use the 2024 Players Handbook and Monsters of the Multiverse, you only get one set of ASIs, either from your species or from your background, not both. So, you can increase either three scores by +1 or one score by +2 and one by +1.)
(HeroForge is definitely fun: you can do an awful lot just with the free functions on the site.)
Thanks for the detailed explanation! It’s really helpful to know the difference between the older rules and the 2024 ones, especially with the ASI changes. I didn’t realize that the 2024 rules tie the ASIs to the background instead of species, which gives me a lot more flexibility. I’ll definitely have to check out the Monsters of the Multiverse version of the Satyr! And yeah, HeroForge is amazing—I love how customizable the figures are, even with the free options!
One last question—if I end up going with a Folk Hero background and a trickster Satyr vibe, would you still suggest putting a lot of points into Wisdom for the Druid role, or should I try to balance out my Charisma for the roleplaying side while still focusing on my main Druid stats?
Thanks for the detailed explanation! It’s really helpful to know the difference between the older rules and the 2024 ones, especially with the ASI changes. I didn’t realize that the 2024 rules tie the ASIs to the background instead of species, which gives me a lot more flexibility. I’ll definitely have to check out the Monsters of the Multiverse version of the Satyr! And yeah, HeroForge is amazing—I love how customizable the figures are, even with the free options!
One last question—if I end up going with a Folk Hero background and a trickster Satyr vibe, would you still suggest putting a lot of points into Wisdom for the Druid role, or should I try to balance out my Charisma for the roleplaying side while still focusing on my main Druid stats?
You definitely want Wisdom to be your highest stat as a Druid, as it determines how effective most of your spells are. Having a decent Charisma is great, but Wisdom is more important for Druids.
Thanks for the clarification! I’ll definitely prioritize Wisdom for the spells and overall effectiveness—makes sense that it’s the most important stat for a Druid. I’m still really excited about balancing the charismatic trickster side of my character, so I’ll make sure to keep Charisma decent without sacrificing the core stats for being a Druid.
Thanks again for all the help! I feel like I’m getting closer to locking down the build and backstory.
I think that, in another thread, you said you were playing with the 2024 rules? If so, then just a bit of clarification about the Folk Hero background: the Folk Hero background is one which is in the 2014 but not 2024 PHB. That’s not a problem, as the developers have specifically said that anything in the 2014 PHB which hasn’t been updated is still valid for use in games using the 2024 PHB. However, if using an older background like Folk Hero, you need to add the Ability Score Improvements (as above) and an Origin Feat, if using it for a character that’s otherwise using the 2024 PHB. That actually gives you more flexibility than with the standard backgrounds in the 2024 PHB, as those have fixed choices for the ASIs and the Feat.
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Hey everyone! I’m building a new druid character and I’m looking for feedback, advice, or just general thoughts! I’m still deciding on some key aspects of the character, like race and personality, but here are a few things I’ve been considering:
Race: I’m torn between Wood Elf (nature-focused, stealthy, with some solid movement and perception boosts) and Satyr (Feywild vibes, playful, and some unique mobility perks). What do you all think about these two races for a druid? Any suggestions for other races that might be a fun fit?
Backstory: I’m thinking of giving this druid a backstory tied to protecting a sacred forest or being a guardian of a specific natural place. Maybe something involving a personal connection to the Feywild? What kind of backstory would really mesh with the druid class and those races?
Personality: Should I lean into the nature-loving, peaceful protector vibe, or would it be more fun to go for a chaotic, trickster character? A satyr druid could be a blast to roleplay with that playful energy, but the wood elf would probably be more solemn and serious. Thoughts?
Character Development: I’m curious about what kind of challenges you think would be interesting for a druid to face. What’s something you think could push the boundaries of the character? Should they be more tied to nature or the Feywild? What about their relationship with the rest of the party—should they be more of a healer/support or a front-line spellcaster?
I’m open to anything—whether it’s tips, ideas, or general thoughts! Can’t wait to hear what you all think!
How do I show pictures? I would love to show you my D&D portrait!
Edit: Figured it out. Here's my portrait link: https://ibb.co/grNKP5K
1: It depends on whether or not you have the customize ability scores feature from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything or not. If you do, you can give the Sayte whatever stat boosts you want, making it superior. Without that, the Wood Elf is much closer to what stat boosts you want naturally.
2. It really depends on your DM and what story they have created. Ask them. If they have a place in mind that already exists in their adventure, they can just say you are from there. If not, you both cane hopefully create one that fits (or at least doesn’t go against) the narrative.
3. Why not both? One can still love something and use tricks with ir without delight on enemies or potential threats. Just keep in mind you typically don’t want to cause drama within your adventuring party by tricking them.
4. There’s always the classic friend or foe with new people or settlers coming into your territory. Do you learn from being around others in your party that not all outsiders are a threat? Is there an army of other people trying to destroy nature for their own gain? That might depend more on the story setting and talking with your DM.
As for party role, it really depends on the subclass, but typically druids fall under healer/support unless they are moon druids. Wild Shape is more for utility rather than becoming something stronger.
Oh, and the picture looks great! I’m not sure how you did it, but it might be possible to go over the horns should you choose to go Wood Elf instead. Are you playing digitally or in person with miniatures? Either way, you might get a kick at least out of going to Heroforge.com to customize your own miniature with their program/technology. They can offer 3D print blueprints for you or someone you know to create it yourself or sell figures in a variety of materials (even colored plastic!) They are currently having a sale until November 13 for the Holidays. Just keep in mind it takes a lot of time for them to make it. A figure like your character should be average size, so a colored version should go for around $40.
Thanks so much for all the awesome feedback! You’ve given me a lot to think about. Here’s where I’m at after reading through everything:
Race: I’m leaning toward Wood Elf for now, since it seems like a good fit mechanically with the stat boosts, but I really like the idea of customizing with a Satyr if we’re using Tasha’s rules. I’ll definitely talk with my DM about it!
Backstory: I love the idea of creating a unique location with my DM or tying my druid’s origin to a sacred place in the campaign. I think it’d be cool if she’s protecting a special forest or nature site, maybe even one that’s under threat from outsiders—this could give her some great character growth moments.
Personality: I’m definitely going to mix both the nature-loving protector vibe with a bit of a chaotic trickster side. I think she’ll be someone who loves nature deeply but isn’t afraid to have a little fun with pranks—just as long as they don’t cause too much drama in the party!
Party Role: I like the idea of exploring friend or foe dynamics with the party, especially if my druid is initially skeptical about outsiders but learns to trust them. As for subclass, I’m still deciding, but Circle of the Land sounds great for support/healing. I’ll take a closer look at Circle of the Moon if I want to go more combat-focused.
And wow, thanks for the mini suggestion! I’ll definitely check out Heroforge.com. That sounds like a fun way to bring my character to life.
Looking forward to hearing more thoughts from you all if you have them!"
Edit: I made the picture using AI.
If you’re using the 2024 rules, you don’t need to worry about species-specific stat boosts (“ability score increases “). In the 2014 rules, Wood Elves got +2 DEX and +1 WIS, which works pretty well for Druids, but now the ability score increases (ASIs) at character creation are linked to background, not species.
(The reference to Tasha is to the sourcebook Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, which introduced an optional rule which allowed players to place the ASIs on any ability scores at character creation. Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse, which contains the most recent version of the Satyr, then standardised that approach for all the playable species in it. If you do use the 2024 Players Handbook and Monsters of the Multiverse, you only get one set of ASIs, either from your species or from your background, not both. So, you can increase either three scores by +1 or one score by +2 and one by +1.)
(HeroForge is definitely fun: you can do an awful lot just with the free functions on the site.)
Thanks for the detailed explanation! It’s really helpful to know the difference between the older rules and the 2024 ones, especially with the ASI changes. I didn’t realize that the 2024 rules tie the ASIs to the background instead of species, which gives me a lot more flexibility. I’ll definitely have to check out the Monsters of the Multiverse version of the Satyr! And yeah, HeroForge is amazing—I love how customizable the figures are, even with the free options!
One last question—if I end up going with a Folk Hero background and a trickster Satyr vibe, would you still suggest putting a lot of points into Wisdom for the Druid role, or should I try to balance out my Charisma for the roleplaying side while still focusing on my main Druid stats?
You definitely want Wisdom to be your highest stat as a Druid, as it determines how effective most of your spells are. Having a decent Charisma is great, but Wisdom is more important for Druids.
Thanks for the clarification! I’ll definitely prioritize Wisdom for the spells and overall effectiveness—makes sense that it’s the most important stat for a Druid. I’m still really excited about balancing the charismatic trickster side of my character, so I’ll make sure to keep Charisma decent without sacrificing the core stats for being a Druid.
Thanks again for all the help! I feel like I’m getting closer to locking down the build and backstory.
I think that, in another thread, you said you were playing with the 2024 rules? If so, then just a bit of clarification about the Folk Hero background: the Folk Hero background is one which is in the 2014 but not 2024 PHB. That’s not a problem, as the developers have specifically said that anything in the 2014 PHB which hasn’t been updated is still valid for use in games using the 2024 PHB. However, if using an older background like Folk Hero, you need to add the Ability Score Improvements (as above) and an Origin Feat, if using it for a character that’s otherwise using the 2024 PHB. That actually gives you more flexibility than with the standard backgrounds in the 2024 PHB, as those have fixed choices for the ASIs and the Feat.