Bow Druid Leveling Discussion

[Sprow]

summon bear is so good that you follow him and not he follows you

[Ruubel]

Anyone else finding bow druid a bit clunky with Steady Shot being needed before using another bow skill?


I have Steady Shot on let click and Cascade/Heartseeker on right click. I also have Stand Still bound to spacebar so I just spacebar+L Click then immediately right click.

This "stand still " keyboard button is the key. Both heartseeker and cascade are aimless shots, so standstill + lmb = prepared steady shotis really good idea. Have a cookie.

We'll see hou this "stopnshot" char could handle either kabraxis or astrogha for instance ( but its a loooooong shot from here now )

[Crash]

that bow doesn't have ied. ied doesn't exist as a stat on weapons until sacred bases. tiered bases were given flat ele damage because ied cant scale properly at low levels.

Ok. So, does IED from Pathfinder only kick in on a sacred base?

yes. ied stat only scales the ied dmg bonus, so it IED stacking has no value until you get to sacred bases that actually have "60% of dex added as fire damage", etc.

[CircaG]

Just an update for skills since we have leveling items out of the way mostly.

At lvl 90, I have maxed everything in the Hunter tree, have been maxing Barkskin, and have leveled Harvesters once. At lvl 90, harvesters are starting to die pretty quickly, but I doubt leveling them more would do much.

What is everyone putting for their reward?
I would assume Survival Instinct or Vine Companion for max life.
Survival Instinct gives some nice cold dmg, chance to freeze, and 10% PR. However, it would remove all flat elemental damage, which would make things like

Wasp Sting

Wasp Sting
Maple Bow (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 7
Required Dexterity: 84
Item Level: 19
Innate Fire Damage: (16.0% of Dexterity)
5% Chance to cast level 10 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
20% Attack Speed
Adds 7-9 Fire Damage
Adds 50-100 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-5% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-5% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+25 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (7 to 10)%
Socketed (2)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 26
Required Dexterity: 126
Item Level: 40
Innate Fire Damage: (24.0% of Dexterity)
6% Chance to cast level 20 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
30% Attack Speed
Adds 20-25 Fire Damage
Adds 100-200 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-10% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-10% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+50 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (15 to 18)%
Socketed (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 44
Required Dexterity: 249
Item Level: 59
Innate Fire Damage: (32.0% of Dexterity)
8% Chance to cast level 30 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
45% Attack Speed
Adds 60-80 Fire Damage
Adds 200-400 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-15% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-15% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+75 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (23 to 26)%
Socketed (5)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 53
Required Dexterity: 492
Item Level: 85
Innate Fire Damage: (40.0% of Dexterity)
10% Chance to cast level 40 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
60% Attack Speed
Adds 150-210 Fire Damage
Adds 400-600 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-20% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-20% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+100 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (27 to 30)%
Socketed (6)

pointless since it would remove the 360-500 fire damage. Am I thinking this correctly, or wrong?

If this is the case, I think Vine Companion would have to be the choice UNLESS using

Vipercast

Vipercast
Serpent Bow (4)
Two-Hand Damage: (10 - 12) to (29 - 40)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 6
Required Dexterity: 71
Item Level: 19
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.19 per Dexterity)%
10% Chance to cast level 20 Venomous Spirit on Kill
+(16 to 25) to Maximum Damage
(3 to 6)% Life stolen per Hit
+(31 to 50)% Enhanced Damage
+(11 to 13)% to Poison Spell Damage
Slow Target (3 to 5)%
(6 to 10)% to Dexterity
Socketed (2)
Two-Hand Damage: (34 - 38) to (73 - 97)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 25
Required Dexterity: 109
Item Level: 36
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.19 per Dexterity)%
15% Chance to cast level 30 Venomous Spirit on Kill
+(31 to 50) to Maximum Damage
(11 to 14)% Life stolen per Hit
+(71 to 90)% Enhanced Damage
+(16 to 18)% to Poison Spell Damage
Slow Target (9 to 11)%
(16 to 20)% to Dexterity
Socketed (4)
Two-Hand Damage: (76 - 83) to (147 - 175)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 43
Required Dexterity: 218
Item Level: 59
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.19 per Dexterity)%
20% Chance to cast level 40 Venomous Spirit on Kill
+(51 to 70) to Maximum Damage
(19 to 22)% Life stolen per Hit
+(101 to 120)% Enhanced Damage
+(21 to 23)% to Poison Spell Damage
Slow Target (15 to 17)%
(26 to 30)% to Dexterity
Socketed (5)
Two-Hand Damage: (103 - 112) to (202 - 232)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 53
Required Dexterity: 431
Item Level: 85
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.19 per Dexterity)%
25% Chance to cast level 50 Venomous Spirit on Kill
+(71 to 90) to Maximum Damage
(23 to 26)% Life stolen per Hit
+(131 to 150)% Enhanced Damage
+(23 to 25)% to Poison Spell Damage
Slow Target (18 to 20)%
(31 to 35)% to Dexterity
Socketed (6)

What do you think?

[Lookadrood]

I switched to vipercast and i am using survival instinct. Seems like its treating me well

[Johnny Impak]

I think I will go Vine Companion on this one. Survival Instinct only have one stat useful for physical build, which is physical resistance. Freeze chance sounds nice, but mobs die quickly. Perhaps is Fauztinville this is the better choice.

Vine Companion raises max life, and admitting I put enough points in it, can debuff bosses for more damage and survivability. Add that to the bear with 75% minion resistance ( Description says that minion damage mod isn't effective, minion life/resistance should be ok. Will have to test.) and you have something that should be good.

[irraticate]

Survival Instinct gives some nice cold dmg, chance to freeze, and 10% PR. However, it would remove all flat elemental damage, which would make things like

Wasp Sting

Wasp Sting
Maple Bow (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 7
Required Dexterity: 84
Item Level: 19
Innate Fire Damage: (16.0% of Dexterity)
5% Chance to cast level 10 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
20% Attack Speed
Adds 7-9 Fire Damage
Adds 50-100 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-5% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-5% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+25 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (7 to 10)%
Socketed (2)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 26
Required Dexterity: 126
Item Level: 40
Innate Fire Damage: (24.0% of Dexterity)
6% Chance to cast level 20 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
30% Attack Speed
Adds 20-25 Fire Damage
Adds 100-200 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-10% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-10% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+50 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (15 to 18)%
Socketed (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 44
Required Dexterity: 249
Item Level: 59
Innate Fire Damage: (32.0% of Dexterity)
8% Chance to cast level 30 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
45% Attack Speed
Adds 60-80 Fire Damage
Adds 200-400 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-15% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-15% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+75 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (23 to 26)%
Socketed (5)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 53
Required Dexterity: 492
Item Level: 85
Innate Fire Damage: (40.0% of Dexterity)
10% Chance to cast level 40 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
60% Attack Speed
Adds 150-210 Fire Damage
Adds 400-600 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-20% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-20% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+100 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (27 to 30)%
Socketed (6)

pointless since it would remove the 360-500 fire damage. Am I thinking this correctly, or wrong?

It doesn't remove any damage. It just adds 20% of str/dex as additional cold damage.

I picked up Survival Instincts, mostly just for the phys res. The added cold damage is fine I suppose. The freezing is okay (before 105 anyway) but not necessary while leveling.

For anyone who isn't sure, leveling up Survival Instincts only increases the +spell focus you get. Doesn't increase Phys Res, or the % of str/dex to cold damage.

I don't think any of the ultimate choices are bad. In my opinion, you take Survival Instinct until you get 50% Phys Res without it. Then Faerie Fire as your default choice and Vine if you want help with bossing.

[adiabloplayer]

I can only put 10 points each in the lvl 6 and lvl 12 skills? Intended or no?

[CircaG]

Survival Instinct gives some nice cold dmg, chance to freeze, and 10% PR. However, it would remove all flat elemental damage, which would make things like

Wasp Sting

Wasp Sting
Maple Bow (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 7
Required Dexterity: 84
Item Level: 19
Innate Fire Damage: (16.0% of Dexterity)
5% Chance to cast level 10 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
20% Attack Speed
Adds 7-9 Fire Damage
Adds 50-100 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-5% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-5% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+25 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (7 to 10)%
Socketed (2)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 26
Required Dexterity: 126
Item Level: 40
Innate Fire Damage: (24.0% of Dexterity)
6% Chance to cast level 20 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
30% Attack Speed
Adds 20-25 Fire Damage
Adds 100-200 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-10% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-10% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+50 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (15 to 18)%
Socketed (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 44
Required Dexterity: 249
Item Level: 59
Innate Fire Damage: (32.0% of Dexterity)
8% Chance to cast level 30 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
45% Attack Speed
Adds 60-80 Fire Damage
Adds 200-400 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-15% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-15% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+75 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (23 to 26)%
Socketed (5)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 53
Required Dexterity: 492
Item Level: 85
Innate Fire Damage: (40.0% of Dexterity)
10% Chance to cast level 40 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
60% Attack Speed
Adds 150-210 Fire Damage
Adds 400-600 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-20% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-20% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+100 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (27 to 30)%
Socketed (6)

pointless since it would remove the 360-500 fire damage. Am I thinking this correctly, or wrong?

It doesn't remove any damage. It just adds 20% of str/dex as additional cold damage.

I picked up Survival Instincts, mostly just for the phys res. The added cold damage is fine I suppose. The freezing is okay (before 105 anyway) but not necessary while leveling.

For anyone who isn't sure, leveling up Survival Instincts only increases the +spell focus you get. Doesn't increase Phys Res, or the % of str/dex to cold damage.

I don't think any of the ultimate choices are bad. In my opinion, you take Survival Instinct until you get 50% Phys Res without it. Then Faerie Fire as your default choice and Vine if you want help with bossing.

The patch notes state that Survival Instinct "Removed flat elemental damage (if you have a source)"

Other than that, I agree with everything you said!

[Sprow]

Survival Instinct gives some nice cold dmg, chance to freeze, and 10% PR. However, it would remove all flat elemental damage, which would make things like

Wasp Sting

Wasp Sting
Maple Bow (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 7
Required Dexterity: 84
Item Level: 19
Innate Fire Damage: (16.0% of Dexterity)
5% Chance to cast level 10 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
20% Attack Speed
Adds 7-9 Fire Damage
Adds 50-100 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-5% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-5% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+25 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (7 to 10)%
Socketed (2)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 26
Required Dexterity: 126
Item Level: 40
Innate Fire Damage: (24.0% of Dexterity)
6% Chance to cast level 20 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
30% Attack Speed
Adds 20-25 Fire Damage
Adds 100-200 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-10% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-10% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+50 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (15 to 18)%
Socketed (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 44
Required Dexterity: 249
Item Level: 59
Innate Fire Damage: (32.0% of Dexterity)
8% Chance to cast level 30 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
45% Attack Speed
Adds 60-80 Fire Damage
Adds 200-400 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-15% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-15% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+75 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (23 to 26)%
Socketed (5)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 53
Required Dexterity: 492
Item Level: 85
Innate Fire Damage: (40.0% of Dexterity)
10% Chance to cast level 40 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
60% Attack Speed
Adds 150-210 Fire Damage
Adds 400-600 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-20% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-20% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+100 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (27 to 30)%
Socketed (6)

pointless since it would remove the 360-500 fire damage. Am I thinking this correctly, or wrong?

It doesn't remove any damage. It just adds 20% of str/dex as additional cold damage.

I picked up Survival Instincts, mostly just for the phys res. The added cold damage is fine I suppose. The freezing is okay (before 105 anyway) but not necessary while leveling.

For anyone who isn't sure, leveling up Survival Instincts only increases the +spell focus you get. Doesn't increase Phys Res, or the % of str/dex to cold damage.

I don't think any of the ultimate choices are bad. In my opinion, you take Survival Instinct until you get 50% Phys Res without it. Then Faerie Fire as your default choice and Vine if you want help with bossing.

The patch notes state that Survival Instinct "Removed flat elemental damage (if you have a source)"

Other than that, I agree with everything you said!

Strange things, I don't understand why it works like this now. Apparently this is now a uberskill for casters.