12-07-2003, 12:54 PM
I have a level 85 wind druid on softcore ladder and figure I'd give some tips.
First, I highly recommend maxing oak sage. At levels 20 and above, it's actually fairly sturdy and doesn't need to be recast much at all. It's good to max because that way even in games where you don't have much killing power, you can still be of great benefit to your party and you personally can get over 2000 life without too much equipment dependancy. A merc can get above 5000 life.
I maxed hurricane and tornado, and have about 12 each in twister and cyclone armor and will continue to pump these if I level more. I also put a point in grizzly and a couple in dire wolves to boost its life. Basically you cast it in front of the monsters and say "Here, attack this" while you get in position to tornado spam.
Fast cast is your friend. Getting a suicide brand (unique burnt wand) is good in that it has +1 all skills and 50% fast cast.
As far as defensive measures go, wind druid is quite impressive and dies significantly less than most other characters I've played. Cyclone armor can easily get over 1000 damage absorbtion with +skills, which in my opinion makes poison your most valuable resistance.
Carrion vine is a godsend, put a point in it. What I like to do when I'm low on mana is to let a monster hit me, which causes my nightsmoke belt to recharge a huge portion of my mana ball, and then kill the monster and regain the health with carrion vine.
First, I highly recommend maxing oak sage. At levels 20 and above, it's actually fairly sturdy and doesn't need to be recast much at all. It's good to max because that way even in games where you don't have much killing power, you can still be of great benefit to your party and you personally can get over 2000 life without too much equipment dependancy. A merc can get above 5000 life.
I maxed hurricane and tornado, and have about 12 each in twister and cyclone armor and will continue to pump these if I level more. I also put a point in grizzly and a couple in dire wolves to boost its life. Basically you cast it in front of the monsters and say "Here, attack this" while you get in position to tornado spam.
Fast cast is your friend. Getting a suicide brand (unique burnt wand) is good in that it has +1 all skills and 50% fast cast.
As far as defensive measures go, wind druid is quite impressive and dies significantly less than most other characters I've played. Cyclone armor can easily get over 1000 damage absorbtion with +skills, which in my opinion makes poison your most valuable resistance.
Carrion vine is a godsend, put a point in it. What I like to do when I'm low on mana is to let a monster hit me, which causes my nightsmoke belt to recharge a huge portion of my mana ball, and then kill the monster and regain the health with carrion vine.