Quintessential Druid, The

Quintessential Druid opens up with new variations of the basic Druid class, giving players the option to try their hand at characters such as the City Dweller, Oak Brother, the Rescued Soul, Wandering Druid and many more. The class is further expanded and fleshed out with the Prestige Druid - the Archdruid makes an appearance for high level play but there are plenty of others for players to try as they ascend in power. Nature's Avenger will strike fear into any who despoil the wilderness, while the Noble Druid balances civilization with his obligations to the wild. Others include the Beast Whisperer, Tree Dancer, Vitiate Maiden and Master of the Hunt.

Tricks of the Trade introduces new uses for the Wilderness Lore skill, how Druids may track each other, foraging, manufacturing equipment using nothing but the bounty of nature and speaking Ogham, the secret language of the Druids.

Druid Feats will flesh out any character of the wild, with new abilities granted such as Augment Wild Shape, Elemental Summoning, Fluid Shape and Terrain Focus, while Tools of the Trade may benefit more than just Druids. Clothing for all terrain is detailed, along with natural armors, fishing nets and camouflage kits. Attuned Foci can boost certain spells, while Herbal Recipes provide a wide range of concoctions the Druid may prepare to aid himself and his allies.

Living Magic focuses on the Druid's spellcasting ability and greatly widens the options available to the class. Druids can now tend Potion Gardens to harvest ingredients or prepare Scroll Flowers. Trees may be invested with the magic of nature while a whole range of new magical items common to Druids is detailed to enhance powers and provide new abilities.

The next chapter, The Life of a Druid, takes a look at the society of nature Druids will dwell within, giving a whole wealth of information on druidic orders and the circles they form. Trials are detailed so players may rise within their order and progress to the inner circles where they may become Archdruids or maybe even the Grand Druid. Ceremonies are covered as well, and Druids may find their powers boosted during Samhain, or its equivalent in your fantasy world.

The Otherworld will allow Druids to 'pass beyond' into a new plane of existence, attracting spirit guides and combining their knowledge of this place to better deal with the Fey who exist in the environment they tend. Druid Magic follows on from this, allowing Druids to weave the forces of the Otherworld into their spellcasting, as well as providing many new spells for Druids to try such as Beast Friendship, Brother's Staff, Lighten Burden, Otherworld Passage, Spirit of Transformation and Venomous Vial.

Paths of the Shapeshifter grants Druids a lot more flexibility with their wild shape class feature, enabling players to personalize the power to their own character. With a lot of hard work, Druids can now even assume dragon, elemental, fey and monstrous wild shapes, among many others. Wild shape can be further refined by assuming different sizes, becoming incorporeal or even breaking down a Druid's body to become a swarm. The greatest druids can assume partial or combined forms, becoming the very spirit of the natural elements they wield.

The Quintessential Druid ends with Sacred Groves, allowing high level druids to create and defend their own territory and gain many new powers while they are there. Conversely, rules are also given on how to destroy or pollute a Sacred Grove, as well as how to use Circle Magic by calling upon the inherent energies that exist in such places. This provides a new range of incredibly powerful spells such as Lightning Strike, Nature's Wrath, Nature's Avatar and Weather Mastery, all usually beyond the capabilities of even a Druid.