Want to play a Druid, but...

[Lux007]

Hey guys,

I played EQ way back in the day around 2002, so while I'm not completely new to the game, I definitely was not a part of the original, vanilla game.

Anyway, I've always loved the Druid class and am really keen to roll one here. I just love the lore and story behind the magic of the class. However, based on posts I've seen that depict the percentages of each class on Green and Teal, it seems like the population is flooded with Druids currently.

Could someone explain why there is such a crazy amount of Druids?
I don't think they are incredibly OP in classic, but I didn't play back then, so please correct me if I'm wrong.
My guess is that people are rolling Druids to PL other characters and to make some coin play taxi, but I'm really unsure...

Secondly, to any Druids that are currently playing, are you experiencing any difficulties with finding a group? I know Druids solo well, but I always thought half the fun of the game was playing with others.



TLDR - I want to be a druid, but I'm worried about being shunned from groups and feeling extremely common haha

Thanks!

[Tecmos Deception]

It's not a flood really. They're very popular but still only maybe 15% of the population, and many are pretty exclusively solo.

[Meiva]

Play what you love. There is plenty of room in groups as there is no way we can group with hybrids for a few years.

[Shimring]

Agreed with play what you want.

I assume the reason for so many druids is the potential for port money and the powerleveling capabilities.

Currently, I have a level 15 Druid. I decided on this class because I have never played one before. So far, I have had no issues finding groups on Teal and I am having a ton of fun playing one. Since everyone is running around pretty much naked, most groups require multiple healers so having many druids is a great thing. Although, as stated above, many are flying solo, so while I have seen them LFG, there doesn't seem to be a ton of them compared to any other class.

[whitebandit]

"people are rolling Druids to PL other characters and to make some coin play taxi"

You basically answered your own question there, that is likely why the number is so high. They are easily one of the easiest solo classes with no gear and have the ability to easily traverse the world in a few minutes.

Druids will almost always have trouble finding a group unless you know people, an LFG druid is not high on the priority list for almost any groups ever, This is coming from a long time druid. Druids certainly arent horrible in groups by any measure but people are looking for classes that excel in something, druids are jack of all trades to an extent.

[Kron]

I play an ENC a class that according to polls is been over played and I have 0 issues finding group.

Groups need heals and you will always have plenty of groups looking for a healer class. Most of the time if groups are full you ask the group leader to put you on list and you go do something else and when spot opens they PM you can boom your in.

It's not as complicated as some people make it out to be and just about any class is more then welcome into groups.

[Meiva]

I play an ENC a class that according to polls is been over played and I have 0 issues finding group.

Groups need heals and you will always have plenty of groups looking for a healer class. Most of the time if groups are full you ask the group leader to put you on list and you go do something else and when spot opens they PM you can boom your in.

It's not as complicated as some people make it out to be and just about any class is more then welcome into groups.

Enchanter isn't a fair comparison. A decent enchanter is equal to two or more mediocre dps class. A group of just enchanter is perfectly viable.

[casiof91w]

Play what you love.

This. Play something you like the idea of, and you can't go wrong :)

[Cen]

This. Play something you like the idea of, and you can't go wrong :)

I always wanted a DE SK.. but we all know many truths about making one.. Penalty, No groups, and lack of innate bash and super op racials ;p

[casiof91w]

Wait I'm confused. Why wouldn't hybrids get groups? Does their xp penalty effect the entire group?

[curtischoy]

Wait I'm confused. Why wouldn't hybrids get groups? Does their xp penalty effect the entire group?

Yes. So does race iirc.

[Cen]

Wait I'm confused. Why wouldn't hybrids get groups? Does their xp penalty effect the entire group?

Yep.

[Pilgrimzero]

Yep.

And that doesnt go away until Velious right?

[Lux007]

Thanks for the advice every one.

I created a cleric the other day but kept looking at all the druids with envy so I think I'll be making the switch!

[casiof91w]

I had no idea that it effected the group. I thought it only effected the individual. Wow.

[Grimstrike]

I had no idea that it effected the group. I thought it only effected the individual. Wow.

The group shares the load of the hybrid/racial penalties (it is percentage based) as more exp total will be needed to level up and it isn't as bad as people make it sound, since your group can kill faster with a tank that can hold aggro. Bards count as hybrids too, but people always pick on Paladins and Shadowknights.

[Graventhel]

I always wanted a DE SK.. but we all know many truths about making one.. Penalty, No groups, and lack of innate bash and super op racials ;p

Wut? Groups need tanks and DE's have no racial penalty to compound the hybrid tax.

[fadetree]

yeah, so play anything you love...unless its a hybrid, in that case go pound sand is what I'm hearing.

[Graventhel]

yeah, so play anything you love...unless its a hybrid, in that case go pound sand is what I'm hearing.

No. Tank hybrids are just fine because people need tanks.

[kaluppo]

Druids are popular for many reasons but two stick out more then others. One is they are a great solo class. This is great for people with limited time to play because they don't need a group to get XP but are still welcomed to groups when a healer or harmony puller is needed.

Two is that they become an EQ ATM at higher levels. Porting for donation, power leveling for donation and eventually PotG for donation can make you a LOT of PP. So a lot of the Druids you see will not be mains. Many are around just to finance other toons and port/buff guildies.

I love the class and enjoy playing my Druid. But I also acknowledge that they are not very useful at end game which is why I play a Cleric. I love the cleric class too and that's one class no guild can have too many of.

[Pyrion]

Before i start my other classes i want a druid with at least basic porting abilities (level 19). I want to make a bard next, and bard songs are all over norrath.

Btw.: In a lot of the current leveling areas, druids can be a very good DPS class if there is no need for a healer. Druid animal charm is really great.

[Aveenia]

I always main a Druid and honestly there is always a lot of us. You just learn to deal with it. Luckily if no groups surface one can almost always solo.

[cd288]

Hey guys,

I played EQ way back in the day around 2002, so while I'm not completely new to the game, I definitely was not a part of the original, vanilla game.

Anyway, I've always loved the Druid class and am really keen to roll one here. I just love the lore and story behind the magic of the class. However, based on posts I've seen that depict the percentages of each class on Green and Teal, it seems like the population is flooded with Druids currently.

Could someone explain why there is such a crazy amount of Druids?
I don't think they are incredibly OP in classic, but I didn't play back then, so please correct me if I'm wrong.
My guess is that people are rolling Druids to PL other characters and to make some coin play taxi, but I'm really unsure...

Secondly, to any Druids that are currently playing, are you experiencing any difficulties with finding a group? I know Druids solo well, but I always thought half the fun of the game was playing with others.



TLDR - I want to be a druid, but I'm worried about being shunned from groups and feeling extremely common haha

Thanks!

Couple of different reasons.

One is of course the ability to raise funds via ports and PLing others. Not only does this make life easier on your Druid if you choose it as your main, but it allows you to spend money buying stuff to twink other characters you create. I think a decent number of people who would otherwise play a melee class are starting with a Druid on a fresh server to raise money for their melee class so they don't have to start with nothing on that character.

Another is the great ability to be both a solo and group class through like the first 35 levels of the game. And then once you stop being an effective group member in your 30s, you can quad kite and level extremely fast compared to most other classes.

In the classic era, no EXP penalty is pretty nice too. Some people are possibly waiting until Kunark to roll other classes such as hybrids, so they're playing a Druid in the meantime since it's a flexible and money-making class.

[unleashedd]

was grouped for about 2 hours yesterday, same spot but two different group comps:

1. 4 players, between 15 and 18 (me being highest)
2. 6 players, between 15 and 19 (including a paladin)

while the exp gain yellow text was much faster with full group, i gained about 400% more exp in scenario 1

dont play hybrid and dont play in full groups

[Kendir]

I always wanted a DE SK.. but we all know many truths about making one.. Penalty, No groups, and lack of innate bash and super op racials ;p

Dark Elves have the MOST op racial...they look great in everything!!

[cd288]

Before i start my other classes i want a druid with at least basic porting abilities (level 19). I want to make a bard next, and bard songs are all over norrath.

Btw.: In a lot of the current leveling areas, druids can be a very good DPS class if there is no need for a healer. Druid animal charm is really great.

Just FYI, if the porting abilities you're looking for are the first round of group ports, those are level 29.

[BlackBellamy]

(me being highest)


dont play hybrid and dont play in full groups

I thought you were going to say "only group when you're the highest level" which is yea, spot on, but then you kind of veered off... As an Ogre SK, when I form a group everyone has to be two levels lower...for me to be able to hold aggro properly.