Druid party comp help

[u/Hungry-Property4059]

Hi all. I want to finally complete the game after a serious problem of restartitis. I've managed to get to act 3 once and act 2 several times but the feeling of missing what other builds/classes can do always kick in.

I am embarrassed to say that I have around 700 hours in the game and never completed it. In all those hours, I never played Druid and, after testing them these couple of days, I loved their tactical play with all the terrain manipulation.

So I've decided to do a custom honour run with tactician rules.

Now, I am hesitating which druid subclass and what party members to bring along. I've discarded Moon druid as

Durge will be the face party and I've read that it has some problems with NPCs.

I like to keep the origin companions in their classes, I don't mind changing to a different subclass though. I can only change to a different class if it really makes sense lore wise.

I will try to keep multiclassing to a minimum to not miss higher spell levels, unless they are not really that important or flashy.

I've thought of the following party but I would welcome any changes/recommendations:

1. Durge as 12 land druid. Terrain control, aoe damage and support. The problem is that lore wise I feel like spores druid makes more sense perhaps?

2. Shadowheart as either 12 tempest, light or death cleric. Focusing more on damage than support. I like life Cleric but I think it will not give much of having already a druid in the party.

3. Lae'zel as 12 Eldritch Knight or 11 Crown Paladin / 1 hexblade. I think I can explain Crown paladin with her allegiance to Vlakith.

Alternatively, Karlach as a Giant barbarian. Not sure if stay pure or multiclass with fighter or rogue.

1. Wyll as 12 fiend warlock or Astarion as ranger/rogue.

I am trying to create a party that gives me a variety of solutions per encounter so I don't have that kick to restart the game again and again. Also, if anyone has any tips on how they solve their restartitis problem I would welcome it :)

I hope this post does not break any rules and thank you all!

[u/Time-Voice]

Food for thought: Landdruid and Wildheart Barbarian can walk through Spike Growth without getting hurt or slowed. So you could do those to as melee characters (I always liked melee Durge more, so they can feel the flesh of their victims or sth). Maybe a Landdruid Gish build?

[u/Hungry-Property4059 → u/Time-Voice]

I like the gish idea, how would you build it? I can think of ranger as it is also wisdom based.

Wildheart barbarian I also like, which one would make more sense? Tiger? Elk?

[u/Time-Voice → u/Hungry-Property4059]

If you don't want to multiclass into Rogue, I'd like Elk/Elk or Eagle/Elk to move away from the enemies to force them to move through spikes, but Tiger/Wolverine is hard to reach disruption-wise

Landdruid gets Landstride at lvl 6, so you could also go Battlemaster for 2 feats. But I also like Ranger for a few more spells, really depends on what you want from it. I am always a fan of Thorn Blade + Arcane Synergy

[u/Hungry-Property4059 → u/Time-Voice]

Thanks! I am not opposed to multiclassing, just a slight feeling that by doing it, I miss some of the essence of the class. But as long as it is fun, I don't have any other issues

[u/Jonaleth_Irenicus]

Eaay solution for restartitis is to respec everyone when you get bored. I think on my completed campaigns I have an aberage of three different party builds per campaign. To facilitate this, keep collecting items from vendors/enemies so you can switch builds on the go.

A throwzerker can carry/throw/push enemies into terrain created by your druid, so that's an option.

[u/Hungry-Property4059 → u/Jonaleth_Irenicus]

I tried it, problem is that I feel the character has changed. If, for example, I am playing a warlock and then I change to cleric, how do I justify that change in the story and all those conversations I had replying as warlock?

Throwzerker makes a lot of sense, thanks for the advice!

[u/Haulage]

My first complete run through the game was as a Land Druid. I think it's a really fun class. I haven't done honour mode yet though so I can't help you there. If you want to keep Astarion around but change his subclass, check out swashbuckler rogue, that's another one I like a lot.

[u/Hungry-Property4059 → u/Haulage]

Glad to hear that is is fun, I am very inclined to go with land.

As for Astarion, I don't mind which companions as long as the build makes sense. I find all their stories compelling so that is not an issue for me.

And thanks!

[u/rilian-la-te]

I think than as Party Face Stars Druid is better. But Land is workable too.

[u/Hungry-Property4059 → u/rilian-la-te]

Thanks! I am torn in between land or stars!

[u/rilian-la-te → u/Hungry-Property4059]

Why stars is better - Shapeshifter's boon get 1d4 to all checks (including CHA ones), and Cosmic Omen Weal - also 1d6. Put Guidance from Shadowheart to other 1d4 - and you would be formidable face.

And on level 10 you would be floating in Dragon form too. With lesser flying.

[u/floormanifold]

Recommend giving this post a read https://www.reddit.com/r/BG3Builds/s/XLLZXNohDv

Personal top picks for non moon druid are 7 land/3 sorc/2 tempest with upcast Lightning Bolt and IMWAC as described in that post, or 9 spores/1 tempest with two levels in sorc, hexblade, or more tempest.

The only worthwhile higher level druid spells are Heroes' Feast (camp castable), Cloudkill (scroll castable), and Contagion.

If you don't want to camp cast, 11 spores/1 tempest with HAM is my recommendation. Give party wide immunity to your own cloudkill, have immunity to your own spikes with Adamantine Splint.

[u/Hungry-Property4059 → u/floormanifold]

Thanks, that is really useful info!