Druids: Promoting and Maintaining Balance

[Juzza]

I can wager a guess as to why this druid ganking subject keeps occurring, druids and guardians are all like minded in the sense that they will band together to fight threats like necromancers and so on. If you are a druidic enemy be smart about the fact that there is a druidic faction AND wildlings out there that hate you just for being what you are and find liked minded people so you don't get ganked. However I'm not sure sure where you're getting the idea that druids are ganking people or that this is some kind of problem or even a larger problem then say people from Mistlocke ganking Drow.

Whenever an enemy of the natural world shows up of course they're going to combat it and want to destroy it. If they didn't that would be unrealistic and immersion breaking. There are other classes such as Paladins who are at constant conflict with ANY evil aligned character this isn't a problem for them and it's not a problem for druids.

In most cases there is a build up of conflict before the resulting death, exchanges of threats and demands, battles that don't result in death and so on. But in the end conflict can easily boil down to someone being beaten and killed especially if they do something deserving of it like attack a druids grove. But there is an up side to being an enemy of a druid, druids are almost exclusively in the wilderness and you can avoid conflict with them fairly easily should you wish it.

Druids aren't necessarily 'helpers' either, druids are caretakers of the land who are one with it. They live a completely different lifestyle and have a different culture to city life. Some revel in savagery and others are more gentle protectors.

As for 'writing laws' I find the idea of chaotic wild people setting down a list of rules they want people to adhere to a bit odd. If you use common sense you can generally determine what will and won't provoke a druid and keeping it somewhat ambiguous is good. Not everything in nature is fair and structured and should be kept that way.

Conflict isn't something to be discouraged for any class/group and if anything should be encouraged and performed more. Otherwise the server just isn't interesting.

[HaveLuteWillTravel]

Actually, I think the "druid ganking" thing comes up more because a lot of times only a couple of the nature PCs are known and measured by the non-nature PCs. So often, when it comes to a fight, there's the "who the hell was that?" factor catching people by surprise. This is just my theory.

[Elytherin Dragonius]

It is expected that a druid would be part of the druid circle, its also expected that such mundane things as over harvesting and hunting be addressed in these circle meetings. Its not unconcievable for a druid of the circle to make it known that there is a ban on hunting and harvesting of "endangered" species via a signposting near any settlements.

While druids do have an aversion to large settlements of people as it is un-natural, its not unheard of for druids to be inside them for short amounts of time to trade or to convene with prominant figures about issues they deem important, or as a request from some one that is on good tearms with the druids.

this setting is an adult setting, not everything is black and white and just like life there are a near infinate number of alternatives.

for many other types of characters the class is not the character, the class is how the character functions and part of history. druids are no different, playing a druid has just as many nuances as any other character, and exploring your character's history before it is made and not developing it on the fly makes for better RP and immersion

[Wafflecone]

Why bother finding non ganksquad ways to handle problems? Thats all anyone loves to do and thats the only way to get props.

[Aye Lad]

Ganking is a derogatory term for Winning. So long as it doesn't end at "You're dead, story's over", I don't think losing a fight is such a bad thing. Yes, attack your enemies. If you have a reason to let them go, consider it. Work towards what is the most interesting choice, that is also in character.

[Juzza]

Why bother finding non ganksquad ways to handle problems? Thats all anyone loves to do and thats the only way to get props.

That's a very shallow perspective of things and I hope it's a joke because it's very untrue.

[Wafflecone]

That's a very shallow perspective of things and I hope it's a joke because it's very untrue.

I'll respond to this in it's own thread since wherever this tired old debate comes up it's destined to get trolled down, and this should be a place to discuss druids.

[Jagged]

Pretty sure everyone here is just trying to help you, Wafflecone.

[DnDPnPPlayer]

I think you will see over the next couple weeks/months that not all druids are the same.  For example the Stewards had a meeting not too long ago and there were as many opinions as there were people meeting.  I think the non-druid members of the Stewards have started to place themselves as the mediators and "PR" squad of the Stewards.  Some druids (especially those with groves) get characterally offended when people come into their home and kill their "pets" (or animals they see as protecting as always individual druids will vary even on this.)
And yes sometimes druids do get beat down.

[Big Orc Man]

Druids should be EXTREMELY intolerant and xenophobic, and VERY loathe to trust any kind of outsider.

Druids who chill in Mistlocke and hang out with the manifest destiny crowd aren't really druids.

Every time I see a happy-go-lucky druid eager to include his new friends from Mistlocke, my stomach churns with the bile of hatred!

[lovethesuit]

Druids share with rangers and many barbarians a reverence for nature and a familiarity with natural lands. Druids dislike the paladin's devotion to abstract ideals instead of “the real world, “ they don't much understand the urban ways typical of a rogue, and they find arcane magic to be disruptive and slightly distasteful. Druids, however, are nothing if not accepting of diversity, and they take little offense at other, even those very different from them.

[Valo56]

A druid's home is the wild. You don't live in your neighbor's house (Mistlocke), you live in your house. If you like your neighbor (more tolerant or non-evil druids) you might help them with some things. If you don't like your neighbor (the sorts of druids BOM described, as well evil druids like Malarites and Talontar), you are likely the cause of their problems. But if your neighbor comes over to your house and makes a mess... well, there will be hell to pay.

No problem with visiting Mistlocke if you're a druid. Just make sure you have a purpose for your visit, in my opinion.

[Big Orc Man]

Lovethesuit - I'm sure druids may be very welcoming of ragtag misfits who wander the wilderness in peace.

But that's very different from aligning with militaristic city forces, and guilds whose sole purpose is to harvest nature!

It's also very different from setting up a lawn chair by Muskroot's tower.

[TakenByVisions]

We're all friends here in the status quo

[Mort]

This is a text written about classes' interaction with other classes out of the player handbook (The beginner section). It's not the class expectation nor roleplaying tips on how to play druids on EFU. Nice attempt at being a jerk.

BOM is absolutely right that druids are slow to trust others. They dont mind talking, but they are hermits for the most part; The Xenophobia isn't really xenophobia but more fear/mistrust of the cityfolks, and this goes for all wilderness subrace / PCs. If you want to socialize and hang out in Mistlocke, dont play druids and avoid wilderness-based subraces like Stargazers. These classes/races will have to be loners for a majority of their play time, and it isn't for everyone!