Pyramid Review
Druids and Druidism (for d20 System)
Published by Bastion Press
Written by Thomas Knauss
Full color PDF; $7.99
Druids and Druidism is a 70-page PDF druid class book. The book presents druids as caretakers of nature, a position that divorces them from civilization and its society. While the book contains many prestige classes, feats, spells, and items that druids can make, it is heavily slanted toward use for NPC druids, or druid characters in solo PC or all-druid campaigns.
This is because the picture of druids that the book promotes is one of an independent society that is dedicated to overseeing its own territory of natural wilderness. Their primary concern is protecting their area from the ravages of unnatural forces such as undead, exploitative sentient creatures, and the encroaching forces of civilization and "progress." This dual aspect of a tied-down protectorate and disconnect with normal society portrays druids as loners who only associate with those of their own society similarly dedicated to their wilderness charges. This makes them not quite a suitable position for a member of a diverse adventuring party that travels or deals with any issues of civilized societies.
In addition, many of the eight classes and 23 feats are tied to their wilderness niche, giving power only in their specialized terrain. This is fine for NPCs who guard an area but less attractive to generalist adventurers who encounter many different types of challenges . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: August 1, 2003
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