Dungeons and Dragons: The Druid

Mystical, wise and knowledgeable protectors of the natural world, let;s get to know the ecology of the Druid character class, their society, their organisation and their activities in the worlds of Dungeons and Dragons.
1:21 Sacred Plants
3:46 Origin of the Druid character class
7:50 What makes a Druid
10:26 Druid Circles
12:51 Circle of the Land
15:51 Druidic Language
17:49 Druids as Living History
19:35 Circle of the Moon
21:40 Circle of Twilight
23:22 Circle of the Shepherd
25:06 Circle of Dreams
26:37 Druid organisations in Faerun

[@envoy2500]

"Fighting evil is a specialty of the Circle of the Moon." So you're saying that they're fighting evil by moonlight?

[@brightglory5734]

Completely underrated comment.

[@envoy2500]

@@brightglory5734 I'm glad somebody appreciated it lol

[@Reddotzebra]

You might even end up dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight.

[@milkyteaasmr]

TIL: Druids are just brawny, shape-changing Sailor Moon characters.

[@ceropuntocinco]

Moon Circle Power Change up!!

[@Jpteryx]

The part about challenging higher level Druids could turn into an interesting campaign for a Moon Druid party... Imagine Pokemon, but instead of you and the Gym Leaders you fight summoning monsters, you're turning into them.

[@AJPickett]

Akav Akaku that would make for an excellent evening of combat! :D

[@kmg9763]

As much as I like druids, I always have trouble playing as it is intended. To me, a Druid should not be a wall between Civilization and Nature. But a door. When a druid helps with the crops, he reduces the need for deforestation. When he guides gatherers through the forest, he avoids unnecessary killing from both side. Druids will often dedicate centuries to the gathering of knowledge that could improve the lives of all. And then die alone. To me, they should be the ones teaching the young and bringing a form of unison between cities and nature. One of my dreams is to form a new Druidic Circle. The Circle of Cold Stone. A circle that focus on cities and villages. And "the ecosystem of civilization".

[@almitrahopkins1873]

That’s what the Urban Druid from the Complete Book of Druids was. A city is just a different kind of wilderness.

[@chrismorgan9651]

Such a character could be based off the Earth Wardens from the , "Rune Lords" series by David Farland.... one of the main characters comes straight to mind. Check it out.

[@Prodigi50]

Druids are already the door that you speak of. Especially if said Civilization isn’t trying to consume or destroy Nature. It’s just that most people interpret them incorrectly. Druids are only a wall between the negative/corrupting parts of civilization and nature.

[@TheMimiSard]

4:14 - The use of a picture of Radagast amuses me because Radagast is a Wizard, but then one could view him as something of a Wizard-Druid multiclass who is also a celestial in disguise, since all the LotR Wizards were, basically celestials in disguise.

[@ShouldaWoulda]

Radagast is a good reference point for new players to get an idea of what a druid is. Friend of fur and feather:)

[@draxthemsklonst]

Merlin is definitely a druid, also.

[@couragew6260]

@@draxthemsklonst Actually, I think Merlin follows more in line with a Wizard in the school of Divination because he can see the future. This also still makes sense because Divination Wizards work with a lot of plants and often drug themselves, not for personal enjoyment, but to train their brains like any other muscle in practicing divination.. They don’t take this practice lightly and it isn’t uncommon for some Wizards to become addicted and/or poisoned if they aren’t careful

[@thedrizzle899]

I’ve always been fascinated with the thought of an Under-dark Druid. How different would his/her wild forms be, how they would interact with people, how their groves would be. I’ve never seen or heard of one being described but surely they exist

[@AJPickett]

Spiders, worms, fungus creatures, bats, etc. Interesting ideas

[@thedrizzle899]

@@AJPickett the fact you reply on such an old video is awesome, I’m curious on if there are any fungus Treant-like beings in the under dark, they’ve always been the focal point of my under Druid fantasies.

[@AJPickett]

@@thedrizzle899 Myconids sovereigns get pretty big and a lot of the Underdark SHOULD be unknown, unexplored and full of Crytids. So, absolutely make your own fungus Treants using other monsters as stat templates, yes, all the time. The known and listed monsters should be the Rare encounters.

[@destonlee2838]

Super legit 'rabbit hole', thank you

[@rougerogue7497]

I have a character built around this concept. A half-drow that connects with nature through Eilistraee

[@5-Volt]

Despite the mass amount of class, race & monster d&d guides on KZbin, I find yours to always be the most informative and intriguing. I've been working on a Circle of Dreams Eladrin Druid that I can't wait to play!

[@michaelkelligan7931]

All Druids can use the khopesh sword as its uses also included harvesting crops!

[@Karagianis]

A Khopesh is not a scythe, it's sharp on the OUTSIDE edge of the curved blade, a sickle or scythe is sharp on the inside of the curve. A khopesh is more like a machete or axe, not really a harvesting tool unless you're talking about sugar cane or bamboo.

[@Pink_Noodle]

To be fair there is sugar cane in areas where the khopesh saw use

[@AJPickett]

OK Folks, next video will be on the Warlock, thanks for all the votes (no love for the Palladin or Bard, interesting).

[@marceledel8619]

I want a paladin video too.

[@jacktownsend2977]

I would love a bard video

[@blisk7571]

Next time you hold votes like this, I would recommend making a poll at www.strawpoll.com and providing a link to it within the description.

[@AJPickett]

BliskFox good suggestion.

[@nucleardubs]

Check-out the documentary: New Zealand Skeletons in the Cupboard. Apparently, the ancient Celts and maybe even the Druids have left their mark on New Zealand and their DNA in the local Maori.

[@kyliepoe6231]

A NE druid/necromancer who protects his forest with risen people who have traded a hewn tree for their own body sprang from that line, thanks AJ!

[@agsilverradio2225]

Sheaperd Druid / Glammor Bard, emulating the game My Singing Monster, with her woodland creature summons!

[@djskizzle1]

this tale was the story of my life. I love being a twilight druid. thank you for helping me hone my self understanding

[@michaelkelligan7931]

An excellent example of a druid of the Hierophant class is the character Radaghast the brown from J.R.R.Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings! And if im not mistaken i believe you even slipped a picture of the old fellow into your video A.J. 😎

[@jameslightfoot1872]

On a related note, one of the great powers of Faerun is Turlang. He's described as an archdruid and greatest of the elder treats. I don't know if his stats were ever detailed, but elder treants are colossal and have over 100 HD. Add epic druid levels and a being that terrified the ancient progenitor races 10,000 years ago, it is truly awesome to imagine what powers he might have.

[@almitrahopkins1873]

The great Druid of the Gatekeepers in Eberron is also a treat.

[@samuelyoung5664]

Can dragon's be druids? I think that a dragon druid would be bad ass. Self healing and additional elements to attack with, not to mention the ability to summon lesser creatures.

[@AJPickett]

Yes they can.

[@alvinshaw33]

Bruh! that would be too much. XD

[@brotheralaric7177]

mhh i can easily imagine a green dragon being a druid, maybe a black one, sicne they have tendency to leave in swamp, but a torture druid, like that kind that doesn't leave in blance with the nature, the kidn that take forcefully. metallic dragon would be curious, maybe the copper dragon if i''m not wrong coudl be druid.

[@adamcody1]

just by reading the description, i knew i want 10 more hours of this

[@zeldamaster52]

I'd love to see you cover the druid's more violent cousin, the barbarian. :)

[@Spiceodog]

Elder berries" your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries"

[@MrKago1]

"now go away you ugly pig dog or I shall taunt you a second time."

[@agsilverradio2225]

You would be a bard casting vishous-mochery, then?

[@derrabbit7289]

Druid/cleric combo makes me happy

[@ctso74]

Sorcerer. I imagine there's enough material. If not, you could dip a little into the many fringe arcane bloodlines.

[@AllenLinnenJr]

I look at the no metal armor thing as more of a tradition and having to do with how poorly wild shape handles metal than anything else. So I agree with AJ here. If a druid isn't going to wild shape, or is only a level 1 druid, they should be able to wear metal armor.

[@GrassPokeKing]

Enemies should have a list of things you can get off them, like materials for armor, because who doesn't love playing Monster Hunter World?

[@coenistheman]

Would be interesting to hear of a circle deadicated to the urban enviroment and what sort of powers they would get.

[@michkon1410]

Is there not such a thing around already?

[@coenistheman]

@@michkon1410 to the best of my knowledge no.

[@lordmanshaft1112]

@@michkon1410 I think there is an Urban Druid variant class in the dragon compendium mag

[@hm09235nd]

Grow molds thru sewers like a phone grid. They overreach in their role as protectors and some conflict of interest between utilizing organic systems for protection versus contaminations and sickness among the people. Maybe the druids work unseen for the mostpart, become unpopular for this and are initially seen as antagonists, but actually really working sgainst a deeper threat that they can’t reveal, not yet.

[@32Loveless50]

Well the Twilight Druid never made it past UA, but now we got Circle of the Spores that uses spores to make fragile zombies and does Necrotic damage, Circle of the Stars that guide people using the stars and Circle of the Wildfire that is themed around wildfires that burn things down to make new things grow, and they have taken the place of the best healers :)

[@ryanrex297]

Dude, this is my first time watching your videos. So in depth! Thanks!

[@AJPickett]

Thank you Ryan

[@chaddickerson1887]

Much more informative than I expected. Outstanding!

[@jacobtaylor7371]

Great video helped me a ton when i was figuring out my Fribolg druid! Thanks and keep out the good work!

[@ANotmyname]

An npc druid in my campaign has a huge information network in place. There is a stand of juniper trees in his grove, and when the birds come to eat he interviews them about what they saw since they were there last. A bird doesn't remember much with a bird brain but after talking with hundreds of them there is little that happens in his neck of the woods that he isn't aware of.

[@redfaux74]

Excellent video. I love the artwork you put into all of them.

[@sniperlemming]

I'd really like to see you cover Cleric soon, It is and always has been my favorite class, whether it's for the War domain to fight, or the Life domain to heal or one of the others for an interesting twist, I've always found Clerics to be the most versatile and functionally useful characters, as well as having lots of RP potential, and for me, they are the most fun.

[@mudshrooze]

Nature Clerics have always been my main. Because I love Druids and Clerics both a lot. but Cleric suits me better so i get a Cleric with various nature abilities and I am okay with that :)

[@karpmageddon4155]

A few questions that may very well warrant a part two but if you can manage to answer the questions in a comment (or two) then by all means do so. 1) How would druids view other practitioners of magic? Would arcane users be viewed as interlopers? Similar to the extreme views of eco-terrorists, looking at their actions as despoiling nature and depleting the environment. Essentially throwing off the balance of magic like with what happened during the Spellplague or how arcane magic can change the world in the Dark Sun campaign setting. Leading to sects forming similar to the Circle of Twilight, who seek to "restore" the balance to magic by any means necessary. 2) What would druids think of other shapechangers? Would they see lycanthropes, shifters, changelings, doppelgangers and other similar creatures as brothers and sisters? Or would they view them with disdain, as perversions of the natural order and their connection with it? Maybe even perceiving the existence of lycanthropy as a symptom to the aforementioned loss of balance in the first question, making them hunted as undead are by the Circle of Twilight in an effort to restore said balance. 3) How is technology and the progression of such areas viewed by druids? Do they look at it like the elves of Kaladesh (from the Plane Shift series, a D&D and MTG collaboration)? Who believe that nature inspires technology and that each piece of artifice is an expression of natural laws and principles. Or do they view it as the twisting of nature? A means of it's creators to suit their own selfish needs without any regards to the world, often leading to the disruption of the natural flow (think pollution) into an aberration of it's former self. Besides that, I was going to vote for warlock but I see it won. So no need for that, haha! But speaking of warlocks, how in-depth were you thinking of going? As I could easily see each patron having a video dedicated to them or at least a video solely dedicated to the patrons themselves.

[@AJPickett]

This actually got me involved in some interesting conversations at the Lab I work at, talking about the nature of technology and our attitudes toward it, lengthy reply pending!

[@milkyteaasmr]

@@AJPickett Is the reply still pending 4 years later? :P

[@AJPickett]

@@milkyteaasmr no.

[@chaddixon9764]

30 minute video? How did you know that's just what I wanted?

[@AJPickett]

Traffic reports. ;)

[@jikhari7103]

You have once again given us another masterpiece. Thank you so much AJ! :D

[@AJPickett]

Wow, thanks! High praise indeed, you humble me sir.

[@gatall91]

Id love to see you cover the monk. Great video man

[@AJPickett]

Thanks Matthew, Monks are a fascinating class, I have seen some amazing role playing done with those engines of pummelling.

[@raen19]

Awesome vid AJ, I love Druids. My last druid was circle of the shepherd, and he was so much fun! I'd love to play a druid again.

[@LoveBombMedia]

Your KZbin videos are awesome. Thank you!!!!

[@pedrkruel]

So a druid character alteady begins with a network and know how to comunicate with the druidic organization, is able to cast more spells, quicker casting, high AC, heals, attack and tank. No wonder they have to be neutral...

[@timothyhanna6304]

Phenomenal work

[@pedrkruel]

Thank you i've learnt a lot about druids i didn't know, also made me miss playing with balach, a moon circle thiefling druid character i had

[@ericd824]

awesome video. just started playing D&D and a druid is my first class.

[@CantHandletheFlumph]

I'm also all for a Warlock video. I know they can have different abilities based on their Patron of Matron so it would be amazing to hear what you can glean about their overall abilities and histories.

[@AJPickett]

such a wide array of variations and nuances to cover, that's two votes for Warlock!

[@Nyrufa]

Level 18 Elf can live 6,500 years, eh? What if they learned how to use High Magic on top of that?

[@AJPickett]

You want Baelnorn, because this is how you get Baelnorn!

[@Nyrufa]

@@AJPickett I couldn't find any information about how long exactly High Magic extends their lives. But if we just assume that it's 100 times longer, then that increases the elven life span to 75,000 years! Druid would increase that even further to 750,000 years!

[@hm09235nd]

I really dislike the cliché of druids being walking fur quilts. I was JUST gonna suggest a more Merlinesque figure in white robes and you pop that Stonehenge visual up, lol.

[@duncanmarshall9020]

Could you cover warlock next? I don't know much about them

[@AJPickett]

that's one vote for Warlock!

[@101BadBreath]

Another vote for Warlock here!

[@Hilianus]

And another! And if you could also do Binders from the Tome of Magic for 3,5 or at least mention them. Seriously, one of the coolest classes, though hellishly complicated to play.

[@ThetrueDrnastyflaps]

Another Warwick vote here. Also I love your videos. Absolutely brilliant source of info and a great perspective from an experienced DM

[@rfc1526]

AJ Pickett another vote for warlock.

[@TheSummoner86]

Please keep making these class videos. They are awesome!

[@AJPickett]

TheSummoner86 I will run out of classes to cover at some point :(

[@danieldosso2455]

there's always Artificer and Mystic from UA

[@That80sGuy1972]

In AD&D, swamps are thought of as the sewers of nature... spawning grounds of all things bad. I had a group of Player Characters spend a lot of time and money clearing out and draining a swamp in favor of making more farmland. Nature itself seemed to turn on the players, they assumed it was some evil at work. They then met a circle of Druids and Rangers, assuming they came to help them. They were surprised when that party came with an ultimatum "Leave this swamp so that we can heal it or suffer our wrath." That led to a very long dialog between the PC's and NPC's. And yes, I am a fan of DC's Swamp Thing.

[@DrPluton]

I played Circle of Dreams for Rime of the Frostmaiden. It was pretty fun, especially summoning elementals and beasts.

[@kyleabrams9480]

I was wondering about the no-metal-armor thing not long ago. Thinking they'd use a scimitar but no metal armor but wildshape explains it well. I just always felt like wisdom mod to ac was fair, minus the kung fu dice.

[@almitrahopkins1873]

Every Druid can cast Barkskin after 3rd level in most editions of the game. They can also cast Cat’s Grace. Using the Craft feats, a Druid would make powerful magic items for themselves that would make them almost entirely invulnerable.

[@chrismorgan9651]

Make use of the old iron wood spell. ... I made a comment on this very subject a moment ago.

[@billylyons7212]

As a actual practicing druid I enjoy these kinds of vids. Unfortunately our magic doesn't work the same in real life. Anyone have any suggestions on d&d books with druids in them?

[@simonoconnor7759]

Douglas Niles' Moonshae and Druidhome trilogies.

[@jacobweatherford4696]

Hmm if I'm correct druids can be born with their powers like sorcerers but can also be made like clerics if they find a way to connect with nature spiritually.

[@AJPickett]

Sure :)

[@jacobweatherford4696]

@@AJPickett wait so druids being born with their powers is a thing.

[@d1rtyw0rk65]

Pikel Bouldershoulder seems born to be a druid?

[@jacobweatherford4696]

@@d1rtyw0rk65 so druids can be born and or made?

[@d1rtyw0rk65]

@@jacobweatherford4696 Pikel is born and made, for sure. As the only dwarven druid of the Driz'zt novels he sports a mighty speech impediment and a love of nature and aspiring druidship early on, but through dedication develops all kinds of druid magic that I'm not sure is covered in the phb. Once just a green bearded comedy relief dwarf becomes the most epic "Doo-dad" of the series with powers to talk to plants and "root walk" (teleportation via roots). Both nature and nurture make him the wacky druid he becomes.

[@alexanderofrhodes9622]

I want to see how Druids get by in the far future. Each Circle could be centered on a sanctuary planet where any destructive tech is forbidden

[@valeclaw1697]

Or cosmic natural forces.

[@chrismorgan9651]

The iron wood spell solves all your metal armor restrictions. Start with some masterwork full plate, touch with the iron wood spell, and enchant to your liking. Armed and armored without a touch of metal on you. 😉

[@ArantyrDarkhand]

Awesome do all the classes dude;

[@Skysharmen]

Could we get a video on warlocks, I'm going to be playing one soon and your info is invaluable and as always, very interesting video AJ !!

[@anathema1828]

This video is awesome!

[@joshchandler13]

I can’t ❤️ the opening statement more!!! It was part of the growing D&D establishment along with......... to quote one of my heroes “etcetera, etcetera, etcetera”. I’m a few sheets in the wind, I hope that made sense. If not, 😂🤣🤘🏼

[@destonlee2838]

The druidic + lycanthropic reunion is only a module away...

[@mudshrooze]

Mate you think you will do a Cleric one someday? Perhaps a Nature Cleric? No pressure i know you are a busy man. I just...you do such a good job and your voice is incredibly nice to listen to.

[@snforde4603]

Say AJ, how would you say Circle of Stars druids fit in the world of d&d? Any examples of them in the forgotten realms?

[@scottmcley5111]

I was just thinking the same thing.

[@AJPickett]

Good question, I have not run into one yet.

[@jonwooldridge3766]

Very interesting. I too would love to see a Druid Circle bound to the abolition of abominations.

[@darrylviljoen6227]

Gatekeeper druids of Eberron.

[@jackadeemus8847]

The only channel i click like before i watch, because i know i'm going to at some point anyway.

[@AJPickett]

Thanks :)

[@ChristnThms]

I find it humorous, and rather odd that "nature magic" is viewed as benevolent or gentle. Humans have spent the greatest part of their entire existence trying to avoid or minimize nature. Whether it's storms, predators, disease or simply gravity, nature has defined the vastness of power that mankind has known. I see a Druid as more of a plague bringer than a protector. Civilizations in general should shake in fear upon hearing that a Druid has found it necessary to visit the region.

[@ChristnThms]

Life is only part of nature. Death and decay is equally so. A forest fire, a plague, a drought, even cancer is all nature. If the druid is hardcore against intrusions into nature, then he'll oppose all healing and curative magic. He'd also oppose any technology that gives children a better chance to grow up (intrudes on survival of the fittest). Nature may be fawns frolicking in a green meadow on a warm spring day. But nature is also the wolf pack that catches the deer in the clearing, and wipes out the whole herd, and the drought that starves the wolf pack by driving their food species away.

[@agsilverradio2225]

You could rollplay a druid who simply sees a city as the humanoid equivilent of an animal's nest. Perhaps such a druid a large city as just a kind of biome. If "nature-good, man-bad," what about man's-nature?

[@agsilverradio2225]

You need to seperate to a degree, real historical druids from fanticy ones. 5th Edition doesn't have class alignment restrictions, exept the lawfull-good paladin. A druid I have made, but not played yet, has a netral/chaotic- good alignment, in order to line up with the beastlands.

[@agsilverradio2225]

I would play a moon druid as a furry, or a land druid as a hippie. I don't identify as either of those things myself, but that's how I would play the class.

[@isitnotwrittenthat1680]

@@agsilverradio2225 palidan doesn't have an alignment restriction anymore.

[@Zasek2112]

Dream druid riding a yellow dragon to increase it's dash... nasty.

[@brotheralaric7177]

28:42 hahaha the subtilles said " Sylvanas .. " .

[@BlackWingedSeraphX]

The only time I saw Vow of Poverty work okay was with a Druid. When our Monk tried it, he really struggled.

[@gotmilk2123]

I'm planning a druid for my groups upcoming out of the abyss campaign, this video has been a ton of help. I was a bit lost on how to flavor my druid or pick an appropriate circle. You've cleared all that right up for me.

[@TheMeanbean21]

How dose tmg only have 6k subs. This is a ducking awesome vid. Im making my new pc watch this.

[@AJPickett]

While I may have less than 10K subscribers, the view rate and new subscriber rate is far more important to how the channel is doing, and if you compare the average views per video to other channels with more subscribers, TMG is doing pretty well, I have no complaints ;) That being said, if you ever happen to be logging into youtube from a different ISP from your usual one (say, a public library or internet cafe or hotel wifi) open a tab, put the monster vid on autoplay and mute it in the background, ha ha, that will basically be exactly the same as buying me a beer from the other side of the planet, and somewhere, far away near Hobbiton, I will raise a glass to you my friend!

[@jackcho634]

AJ Pickett Cue an entire row of my public libraries computers simultaneously playing your videos on their screens :p Seriously though, now you've said that I'll be sure to do so!

[@antwan1357]

A dwarven druid from chult would be awesome beastmode would be a dinosaur.

[@ArmorNox]

sorry...can't resist! Monk, please! :D

[@electricblue2920]

Or like an orchid society. We meet but only once a month. It's Cooperative but competitive. Mostly because we share a passion and seek others wisdom but are not particularly extrovert personalities

[@goldenbrigain7031]

awesome intro music.

[@shantidas3933]

I've always had a bit of an issue with Druids not being allowed to wear metal armor. Primarily because they are allowed to use metal weapons without issue. And the argument of them not being able to wildshape in metal armor doesn't really make since considering they can have their metal weapons shift with them. At least I know they can in 5th ed, the only other edition I've played is 2nd edition AD&D and I never really looked into druids much there. Also, I find the idea of a druid wearing scale mail very appealing, like they decided to recreate armor for themselves that resembles the natural armor of some animals

[@agsilverradio2225]

Yeah, that's one druid I rolled up, was flavored to have flint or obsidion for weapons, rather than iron, and moniterialy valuble gemstones instead of presious metals for currency.

[@is-be6725]

🤔 A little Iron Maiden in the intro... nice. 😎

[@lawrenceverdekal8551]

AJ need your assistance that is totally out of my knowledge. Need to have a back story for a druid halfling in the setting of Greyhawk that invloves the character who was raised to be a stone mason via by the DM. Thank 4 your help and really enjoy all the vids you create now & 7yrs back. Take care & safe travels.

[@AJPickett]

On Greyhawk the Halfings are called hobniz in the Flan language, they live in the central and western Flanaess; they're a common sight throughout the Sheldomar Valley, in the Urnst States, and in the Ulek States. Halflings are known for enchanting their foods and their use of herbal magic. Their spells tend to be protective or defensive in nature. Halflings take pleasure in simple crafts and nature. A Hobniz druid would have many small animal companions and avoid hunting animals or eating a lot of meat, preferring Bread, baked goods, fruits, Jams and pickles as do most Hobniz actually, they won't say no to a roast bird for dinner though and love cheeses. Hobniz druids are specialists in plant doctoring, they diagnose soil problems, encourage beneficial fungus and are experts at healing all kinds of animals. Theirs is not the art of the wild, it is the sybiotic life of the garden. As a stone mason, a Hobniz will be an expert at constructing burrows (underground houses), chimney design, windmills, millstones and all kinds of pottery, they are AMAZING at making things out of clay, included in this is their love of enchanting everyday objects like teapots, jugs, jars and vases.

[@eclairz9275]

Nice Nidalee and Udyr at the start there. :3

[@krispalermo8133]

Fairy Tale forest, .. Gnome druid/ illusionists vs goblin druid/ sorcerers. Fae elves vs hags. Battle of the two green dragons. Flowering garden glades vs twisted under growth wetlands.

[@coreycoffell6219]

Such a powerful character in their element...

[@coreycoffell6219]

"I cast shade!"

[@coreycoffell6219]

Really good content, thanks for sharing your insights.

[@user-wq1dt7li2x]

(sincerely) Where did you find Yggdrasil attested to as a yew? In both the Prose and Poetic Eddas the world tree is explicitly refered to as an Ash. The Völuspa of the Poetic Edda attests, "An ash I know there stands, Yggdrasill is its name, a tall tree, showered with shining loam." Also, the Gaelic and Celtic Duidic aren't very relevant to the Scandinavian/Germanic religious traditions described in the Eddas and Codex Regius. The significance of Yew in Druidic traditions meant nothing to the Norse and Germanic tribes. The Druids ranged through Gaul and the British Isles before being steamrolled by the Romans and later Christianity, but were not Norse and didn't keep those beliefs. The Druids had different gods and didn't believe in Yggdrasil. As Celts they would have believed in the Tuatha de Dannan as their gods and Tie ná Nog as their "otherworld". (Sincerely) I don't understand where you got some of that information. Is it a D&D thing?

[@AJPickett]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJu1m6psast_bdU Quite right, but a poet is not always right, given the great prevalence of the Yew as a sacred tree and why it was sacred, the ash just doesn't ring true, also, what are you basing your assumptions that yews meant nothing to the norse? But at the end of the day, I'm just talking about D&D, though I do find my heritage fascinating, and study it, I will always gravitate to the richer body of recorded traditions to fill out the fantasy in my D&D games, and the druidic craft of the british isles and europe is well recorded and very rich.

[@user-wq1dt7li2x]

@@AJPickett AJ Pickett I'm not saying that the Yew tree had no symbolic importance to the Norse, just the the Druids' beliefs wouldn't have had any bearing on them. The two cultures were quite distinct from each other, and weren't in close contact for most of their history. Culturally, they probably viewed each other as foreign as they both viewed the Romans. I'm mostly confused about where the world tree as a Yew came from though. There are *extremely* few original sources for the Norse religion. Almost everything we know about that belief system today comes from the Poetic and Prose Eddas [1] and archeological work. Could the Eddas be wrong? Absolutely, both were written after that belief system died out, and written by Christians at that. The problem is that they are some of the oldest sources we have about that religion. The Scandinavians weren't writing down very much during their pre-christian period, and we have only limited accounts from other pre-christian sources, such as the Romans. I've never heard the world tree refered to as a Yew before. It's an interesting departure from the sources I'm familiar with, and I don't have much to do with my time at present, so I figure I might as well do some reading. I would appreciate the source you received that from because I'm bored, and it is a new attestation that sounds interesting. [1] National Museum of Denmark, en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/prehistoric-period-until-1050-ad/the-viking-age/religion-magic-death-and-rituals/the-old-religion/

[@MrFlashpoint1978]

I'm going to chime in on a 2 yr old comment. Yggdrasil was an Ash. The Yew is very sacred in the British Isles (you find a lot of yews in churchyards, to this day, and some believe the churches were build near the yews, not the yews planted in the churchyards). So, you're both correct, but slipping the fact that the Norse and the Celts (druids) were very different tribes, but similar to modern eyes. The Oak, the Ash, the Yew et al were all sacred in their way because they were both symbolic and practical, in the use of the wood.

[@EnjinSetsujou]

An update/short video on the circle of spores?

[@lotuswraith]

Forget the elf barbarian, imagine a tabaxi monk that can go 400 ft in a round, up vertical surfaces and over water as well!

[@EvelynNdenial]

your dnd build isn't considered fast until it breaks the sound barrier. gotta go fast, son.

[@adamwelch8445]

Druids are da bomb I had a dragonborn druid he was a blue desert driud

[@juedo34]

What type of Druids would be terraformers for spelljammer?

[@AJPickett]

Circle of the Land

[@MiroMaitland-Thoresen]

you never relies how many other kiwis are youtubers until you look a little closer...

[@sufferinsuccotash8981]

Awesome work AJ. One on Paladin pleeeeeeease

[@AJPickett]

Jack McClarty thanks Jack, 1 vote for Pally!

[@user-nz4dg4db7k]

make that two votes

[@unicorn2040]

Smashing pumpkins intro was cool.

[@AJPickett]

unicorn2040 it's iron maiden, but glad you liked it. :)

[@aidbotwoody939]

Hey AJ would you think of making some of these episodes on some of the stranger 4e classes and maybe how you could maybe recreate them with 5e ones? I know my personal favorite class out of 4e was avenger which is kinda in parts of the paladin

[@AJPickett]

I'm not making any promises, I am not really sure what I will be doing for each class until I get into actually making the vids. I will certainly keep it in the back of my mind though. Also, Warlord!

[@darrylviljoen6227]

For the avenger you could do a history of divine assassins in D&D such as the assassins of AL Qadim, clerics of Yondalla's mirror half Dallah Thaun, 3E's Black Flame Zealot, as well as any of the divine/rogue hybrid PrC's from the Complete Adventurer/Divine/scoundrel and how they can be represented in 5E. For warlord you could also talk about the 3E marshal, the ever controversial leadership feat and its history, as well as any prestige classes that were based on it. There is also the Warden and its current incarnation in the form of the Paladins Oath of the Ancients, and whether it has any history before 4E's need for a primal defender. I can't think of anything earlier.

[@The_Great_Lost_One]

can you do the sorcerer ater the warlock, i am a dm and never quite know to reward them in quests aside from gold and xp

[@HawiiFiveO]

I would like to play a coastal/island Druid

[@mr.eccentricthelich]

Could you do a video about the mist dragon or smoke dragon please

[@j-dubb614]

Should of played the Stonehenge song from 'This is Spinal Tap' as the intro

[@zzfrute]

What was the sound file in intro? I loved it.

[@AJPickett]

Dude! That is Iron Maiden kzbin.info/www/bejne/rabaanyenchrnM0 7th Son of 7th Son One of the greatest albums of all time.

[@zzfrute]

As a lifelong metal head, I'm ashamed to say I've never dedicated any time to Maiden. I'm gonna listen to this all day. Thank you!

[@sea_triscuit7980]

Thank you for this, a lot of information out there but not for noobs like me haha, I picked up an elf Druid and he looks agile so I was wondering if I could mix in some stealth with the build? Anyone is welcome to give me advice!

[@Moldoro]

Depending on what you mean by stealth, almost any class can be set up to fill the "stealth" role, druids in fact excel at this (Pass Without Trace!) Given more detail what you had in mind I'd be happy to give more defined advice

[@stuartnicol1]

I vote Ranger

[@zaqzilla1]

They're magic conservation officers.

[@moonmorth]

if you wild shape into a snake and go into a narrow tunnel and then get attacked by a rat and lose your temporary hit points how hosed would you be since you would revert back to your human form and not be able to do so since you're in a tiny little tunnel meant for a rodent or snake?

[@AJPickett]

The person will teleport to the nearest available space, generally.

[@BlackWingedSeraphX]

Hving a giant tiger as a friend really does help xD

[@darrylviljoen6227]

Gatekeeper druids of Eberron are your anti Aberration druids. not sure if they have found there way into 5E yet. (adulting sucks) but they had some cool stuff in previous editions.

[@destonlee2838]

Ettercap + twilight druid cult. Thank you. Fun fun.

[@martincampbell4211]

Aren't there Druids that specialize in fighting aberrations in Eberron? Pretty sure if you have a poke around older editions of Eberron you'll find something.

[@DuskyPredator]

Interesting, I had mostly been thinking of druid as hermits, not as advisors. Don't know if I was lore breaking at the idea of a druid pirate captain who could change shape. But maybe this goes into something else I had been thinking about. I have been interested in the ideas of witches, sort of wild magic users somewhat similar in idea of hags, but something anyone could be. I just recently got Curse of Strahd and they have witches with wizard class, but I am not totally comfortable with what I had in mind for a witch, but a druid might be. Like even the fey like connection of a druid with that of hags, and maybe a druid that kind of twists nature.

[@youknowpomm]

That's kinda what they did with Witches in PF.

[@darrylviljoen6227]

there was also a witch in 3E's DMG as example of how to build a class from scratch

[@BaileyBecca]

have you done one on clerics?

[@AJPickett]

Not yet.

[@trentonmaloney3280]

my favorite druid was varro, an urban druid.followed around by a crowd of rats and stray dogs. living in the city ecosystem his pets and talents tended to be very interesting.as it turns out,cockroaches hear things.....

[@AJPickett]

See, this is why I need to do a follow up video on just this sort of coolness.