I haven't played AD&D in years due to not knowing any PnP groups in my area but I do play MMOs. One of my favorite classes in all of the MMOs I've played since Ultima Online was the Bear Shaman. I really loved that class. it wielded a 2 handed hammer and had nature spells including heals. In AD&D and it's games like Baldur's Gate (1&2) and the others I always play a druid yet I really like to mix it up in melee and not just in animal form. My question to all of you experienced AD&D players, with the nature theme and healing, and really preferring to fight in melee vs ranged casting what class fits me best? Druid, Nature Cleric, some form of Shaman I haven't heard about? Can a druid even wield a 2 handed maul/club within the current ruleset? I mean he can use a 2 handed staff or spear so why not? Why be limited to just a club or mace. Any answers from people who know way more than me is greatly appreciated as it helps when I RP in MMOs and flesh out my playing style. Thanks in advance.
2. Do you want to wield a maul (that does 2d6 damage + STR mod)?
If you want to be able to turn into an animal, yet still mix it up as a humanoid, you’re going to have to talk to your DM. The caveat that "druids will not wear armor or use shields made from metal" can be rough on your AC, especially if you want to wield a 2 handed weapon, unless your DM is is willing to waive it or work with you to make a breast plate out of ironwood, etc. Even if you were to multiclass into another class that gives you proficiency in heavy armor, it would still be a DM fiat on whether or not you could use it.
Speaking of multiclassing, it’s one of the ways you can become proficient with a maul. Which isn’t necessary if you don’t mind running around with a greatclub (doing 1d8 damage + WIS mod via shillelagh) and calling it a maul. (You could also pick up the Weapon Master feat which raises your STR or DEX by 1 and gives your proficiency in 4 weapons) Barbarian/Druid is probably your best bet. Gives you access to Maul proficiency, Wildshape, Unarmored Defense, Spell Casting and Rage (Bear Totem resistances will come in handy) although Spell casting and rage aren’t super compatible. That being said you’ll need at least a 13 in STR and WIS, plus decently high scores in DEX and CON if you want Unarmored Defense to be more useful than hide armor when you’re not raging or wild shaped. Although if you can convince you DM that studded leather isn’t made of metal Ranger/Druid could feel right, although you’re still going to need at least a 13 in DEX and WIS and you’ll want a decent STR for bonuses to your maul and always CON.
If you don’t care about Wildshape and want to use an actual maul I’d go with Tempest Cleric or Oath of the Ancients Paladin, depending on the level of spell casting you want. Both will let you focus on STR, WIS or CHA, and CON. If you don’t mind pretending you’re great club is a maul Nature Cleric works too.
You could also hope and pray you catch a case of werebear lycanthropy...
Wow Acme, thank you very much for the extensive write up. As I mentioned it's been awhile since I played PnP and I've never heard much of the Ancients Paladin. I need to do a bit of reading on that. I always enjoy playing a druid. Maybe I'll stick with the great club as you mentioned and RP a dual class Barb/Druid so at least i can feel like I can use it if need be. I appreciate it!
No problem! I had always assumed that being proficient in clubs included greatclubs, I should have known better. Regardless, wielding a quarter staff in both hands does the same damage as a greatclub (which incidentally requires 2 hands) so you can go full Druid and run around with a quarterstaff reskinned as a greatclub reskinned as a maul 🤣 In the end though, if you want to go full Druid, you're probably better off with a shield, club/one handed quarterstaff and shillelagh.
I haven't played AD&D in years due to not knowing any PnP groups in my area but I do play MMOs. One of my favorite classes in all of the MMOs I've played since Ultima Online was the Bear Shaman. I really loved that class. it wielded a 2 handed hammer and had nature spells including heals. In AD&D and it's games like Baldur's Gate (1&2) and the others I always play a druid yet I really like to mix it up in melee and not just in animal form. My question to all of you experienced AD&D players, with the nature theme and healing, and really preferring to fight in melee vs ranged casting what class fits me best? Druid, Nature Cleric, some form of Shaman I haven't heard about? Can a druid even wield a 2 handed maul/club within the current ruleset? I mean he can use a 2 handed staff or spear so why not? Why be limited to just a club or mace. Any answers from people who know way more than me is greatly appreciated as it helps when I RP in MMOs and flesh out my playing style. Thanks in advance.
I’d say the 2 questions to ask yourself are:
1. Do you want to be able to turn into an animal?
2. Do you want to wield a maul (that does 2d6 damage + STR mod)?
If you want to be able to turn into an animal, yet still mix it up as a humanoid, you’re going to have to talk to your DM. The caveat that "druids will not wear armor or use shields made from metal" can be rough on your AC, especially if you want to wield a 2 handed weapon, unless your DM is is willing to waive it or work with you to make a breast plate out of ironwood, etc. Even if you were to multiclass into another class that gives you proficiency in heavy armor, it would still be a DM fiat on whether or not you could use it.
Speaking of multiclassing, it’s one of the ways you can become proficient with a maul. Which isn’t necessary if you don’t mind running around with a greatclub (doing 1d8 damage + WIS mod via shillelagh) and calling it a maul. (You could also pick up the Weapon Master feat which raises your STR or DEX by 1 and gives your proficiency in 4 weapons) Barbarian/Druid is probably your best bet. Gives you access to Maul proficiency, Wildshape, Unarmored Defense, Spell Casting and Rage (Bear Totem resistances will come in handy) although Spell casting and rage aren’t super compatible. That being said you’ll need at least a 13 in STR and WIS, plus decently high scores in DEX and CON if you want Unarmored Defense to be more useful than hide armor when you’re not raging or wild shaped. Although if you can convince you DM that studded leather isn’t made of metal Ranger/Druid could feel right, although you’re still going to need at least a 13 in DEX and WIS and you’ll want a decent STR for bonuses to your maul and always CON.
If you don’t care about Wildshape and want to use an actual maul I’d go with Tempest Cleric or Oath of the Ancients Paladin, depending on the level of spell casting you want. Both will let you focus on STR, WIS or CHA, and CON. If you don’t mind pretending you’re great club is a maul Nature Cleric works too.
You could also hope and pray you catch a case of werebear lycanthropy...
Wow Acme, thank you very much for the extensive write up. As I mentioned it's been awhile since I played PnP and I've never heard much of the Ancients Paladin. I need to do a bit of reading on that. I always enjoy playing a druid. Maybe I'll stick with the great club as you mentioned and RP a dual class Barb/Druid so at least i can feel like I can use it if need be. I appreciate it!
No problem! I had always assumed that being proficient in clubs included greatclubs, I should have known better. Regardless, wielding a quarter staff in both hands does the same damage as a greatclub (which incidentally requires 2 hands) so you can go full Druid and run around with a quarterstaff reskinned as a greatclub reskinned as a maul 🤣 In the end though, if you want to go full Druid, you're probably better off with a shield, club/one handed quarterstaff and shillelagh.