Herb/Alchemy Farmer Druid

[Brista]

I plan to build a Tauren (racial Herbalism bonus) Druid with Herbalism/Alchemy for the purpose of developing these two professions as fast and high as possible.

Part of developing any trade professions in this game is fast levelling. This is not a game (as Star Wars: Galaxies and to some extent Everquest 2 were) where you can become a proficient crafter without being a capable adventurer

Not only is there a hard cap - you need to be level 20 to learn expert skills, for instance - but also because it's not remotely possible to run around a level 40 area with a level 20 character - none of your abilities including prowl will be effective. A level 45 character on the other hand could run through the area without waking much up at all, simply by being higher level without even bothering to prowl

If you simply level as fast as possible, keeping your herbalist radar up, I think you will progress faster than if you adopt some specific gatherer strategy

The Druid will be played solo most of the time, and neither special group support skills (healing, buffs) or extra toughness for the most difficult mobs will be required.

I had intended to go cat druid but was disappointed with it for soloing. I found that against slightly lower mobs I'd finish on 75% life which is low enough to make me shift to caster form and heal( in case I got an add next fight). So if you're imagining a D2 Frenzy Barb style romp through the monsters with minimal life loss and enhanced move speed that wasn't what my experiences as a 20-something cat druid led me to expect (and I consequently repecced). I doubt that particular scenario improves at higher level. Fights are hard enough that movement speed is not a major factor for grinding

Mid-20s I feel the best soloing is against fairly tough creatures (even to +2 relative level) and my technique is Starfire, Moonfire, Faerie Fire, Bear Shape. If they flee when low then I don't bear shape, I just fight them in caster shape and root them near the end of the fight

Cat form is great in groups where there's a competent tank and a competent healer but I've not been impressed with it for soloing

Some Amazon Basin players report good results from soloing in Bear form, notably with Frenzied Regeneration. I like the idea that you can plow through mobs with less micro-management than using several shapes requires. Right click mob, wait, hit Frenzied Regeneration near the end of the fight is much more my (lazy) playstyle than my current caster/bear soloing technique

Movement speed is of course desireable but the cat improved movement speed frustratingly only comes at level 30 when you get your travel form anyway

To gather the resources (herbs) fast, DPS and killing speed vs. 1-3 level lower mobs ("green" mobs) are the focus.

Gathering herbs is partly about mileage. The more ground you cover the more you will see. But it's mainly about levelling speed. Being higher level will help you gather herbs far more effectively than any talent spec

Which form would you recommend for that purpose - cat or bear -

I initially wanted to be a cat druid. As I've played the class I've come to the conclusion that cat/bear/caster is a false perspective, a not very helpful way to consider the class. You will want to use all your shapes. Any druid, no matter where you put points is likely to use all three shapes according to the demands of the current situation. Possibly soloing purely in bear form is viable later. Which shape you optimise is, I suggest, between extra tank effectiveness, extra healing effectiveness and extra dps mode effectiveness. However the dps mode is quite specialised - I only use cat form when I'm grouping with a good tank and a good healer - it's my third choice group role. It's also not really a great solo mode since putting them down a split second faster then having to stop to heal is kind of pointless

Don't underestimate War Stomp - it's an important ability and caster mode only

So far I've found in my hit things, heal myself, hit things more approach that the best talent is 60% uninterruptible heals. I'm restoration specced which I don't think disadvantages my soloing at all and of course helps my grouping a lot

Grouping sometimes will be to your advantage. There is a very good staff from the Leaders of the Fang quest in the Wailing Caverns and another good blue staff which drops pretty regularly in Razorfen Kraul. And groups will probably expect you to heal. Even if there's a priest I do something else until we're in trouble then take caster form and help heal when it's needed

And another question, which leatherworking branch would be recommend for such a Druid - Tribal, Dragonscale or Elemental?[right][snapback]72781[/snapback][/right]

Look up the lists, pick your end game armour then learn that branch. Alternatively just pick whatever seems to sell best and buy your stuff since loot drops are generally better than crafted