Thoughts on the New Druid Hero?

[Aki]

Finished AoH last days, I think the best version of the Druid is:

Bone Battleaxe
Bone Longsword
Bracers
Shield
Rabbit Boots
Armband of Healing
Spell Ring

With Shapeshift active he/she attack 5 dice (or 4 and diagonal) and can defend with 5 dice, Rabbit Boots help to not lose BP when jumping traps, Armband of Healing to regain Shapeshift, Spell Ring to regain Lifeforce ( and also Shapeshift)

[wallydubbs]

I can totally agree with that assessment. The best hero for Armband of Healing is either the Druid or Berserker. The DawnShield would also be an exceptional artifact for the Druid to yield.

I usually give her the Longsword/Shield over the Battle Axe, as great offense as that would be, the Druid's Shapeshift is more protected with 5 defense dice.

[TheLastChaosWarrior]

But the Armband of Healing only activates when BPs are reduced to 0. It then automatically kicks in and recovers 2 BPs, leaving her at 2, so it doesn't help her regain the spell as she hasn't been brought back to her max of 6?

[SirRick]

But the Armband of Healing only activates when BPs are reduced to 0. It then automatically kicks in and recovers 2 BPs, leaving her at 2, so it doesn't help her regain the spell as she hasn't been brought back to her max of 6?

The armband should be usable at any time, it just automatically activates if you reach 0 BP and haven’t used it yet. Its up to interpretation, but I base this interpretation on the wording of healing potions. The card says it can be used to restore BP, but the rule book says you can also use a potion when reaching 0 BP to save yourself. It never says anywhere you have to reach 0 BP to use a potion. The artifact card doesn’t say you have to be at zero to use it, just happens to have both pieces of information on the same card. The original card says Restores 2 Body Points once per quest. The second sentence says it activates if you reach zero BP. If the armband only activated upon zero BP, there would be no need for the first sentence.

It is Zargon’s call ultimately, but that is how I would play it.

[wallydubbs]

I agree with SirRick, the Armbiof Healing can be used whenever the hero chooses to activate it.

[TheLastChaosWarrior]

Yes of course you're correct, my fault for misinterpreting it.
It makes you wonder why they bothered with second sentence at all. Being there hints at only using it when reduced to 0 BP.
"This magic armband allows user to heal 2 lost BPs at any time, once per quest" covers it just fine.

[TheLastChaosWarrior]

I can totally agree with that assessment. The best hero for Armband of Healing is either the Druid or Berserker. The DawnShield would also be an exceptional artifact for the Druid to yield.

I usually give her the Longsword/Shield over the Battle Axe, as great offense as that would be, the Druid's Shapeshift is more protected with 5 defense dice.

I think I'm going to re work Druid to make it more streamlined and some more useful abilities as mentioned above.
I've already home-brewed leather armour for Rogue and Druid to beef them up somewhat because Rogues defense of three is ridiculous.
I've also made a wooden shield for rogue as my interpretation of "Can't use metal armour or shields" is cant use metal armour or metal shields.
Rogue was just not attractive enough with 3 defense.

Anyway, I digress!!!
My plan for Druid is to have her use her defensive equipment (armour) when in human form. (How would she use her bracers and shield if she is an animal).
Bear can use weapons, with bears perks, but the other animal don't use weapons, giving them unique skills and self levelling
She will have same three spells, but when using the Shape shift, she chooses which form to turn to.
Bear: Attack = Weapon + 1/2. (I'm undecided about this. I want it to be strong, but +2 when she is using a Battleaxe seems op). No Ranged weapons.
Defend = 5, Movement = 6 squares.
Sabretooth cat: Attack = 4, Defense = 4 (reflexes!), can make any jump without rolling a dice and only triggers a trap (undetected or detected on roll of a WS.) M = 8 Sq.
Wolf:Attack = 3, Defend = 3, Movement 10 Sq. Split movement. Can climb on tables or benches for +1 perk on both stats. Auto detect traps within 1 square away.
Eagle: Attack = 2, Defend = 3, Movement 14 Squares, split movement, pass through any monsters (flying). Immune to traps, ranged attacks(Physical and Magical, like Ball of flame Lightning bolt). Cannot open doors.
The Miniatures already exist for the beast forms, except the Eagle. Old Polar Warbear would suffice for Bear form, @olf and Sabretooth are animal companions already.