Ah, I see...so Focus becomes your ability mod. If you maintain your Focus you will have a high modifier, if you start to use (or lose) your Focus you will not be as effective. Very cool.

It's a bit different design approach to some of the begining classes. I noticed this when I first saw and played the Druid (which I love, btw).

I can see a BM with good con to Defend, or good dex to Volley with thrown items like chinese stars, or good int to Spout Lore that he learned in the monastery, or good cha to be sort of a diplomat with Parley. I wonder what sort of starting gear he has? Robes, a simple weapon of some kind, maybe bandages or poultices and herbs, maybe a bag of books or a Healing potion.

Now you're talking, Skinnyghost! That's what I was trying to get at. I just couldn't think of too many useful reasons to actually become a rock or a tree or some other natural inanimate object. But with this new errata, it really opens up the possibilities. Thanks.

Another move that I took was Elemental Mastery. I've used it twice (because I'm scared I might lose control and endager innocent lives). One time I conjured a mini tornado to knock back a crazy mob of villagers that was threatening my companions. I managed to retain control but I was harmed and got thrown back by the force of the wind. The second time, I conjured a flame to light something on fire and again I rolled 7-9 and retained control but got burned. I am really dreading the 6 minus roll because I dont want to lose control some day. It makes for good tension.

But I have a suggestion. It seems that even if you roll 10+ you must pick the option that lets the effect come to pass. So on a 10+ you WILL either be hurt or lose control. I think it's a bit unfair. Maybe you can add one more option such as "you can use this move again today" so that on a hit your effect comes to pass but you still may be hurt, lose control, or not be able to use the move again. It just seems wierd that on a hit you have to actually pick that the effect happens. I think it should happen, and then you pick something esle.

Thoughts?

I'm playing a 3rd level elf druid from the Emerald Isles and am looking to take Thing-Talker as my next move. I already have Elemental Mastery. What sort of cool inanimate natural things can you guys think of? I know it would work for plants, trees and rocks...but what are a few other interesting uses for this move? Does anyone have any other suggestions for a cool druid move instead of this one?Thanks.

I played a Druid last night and it was very fun. I was a young neutral elf from the Emerald Island named Spring. He was given a vision by a Druid of the Green Circle about a great unnatural evil that was plauging the land and told to find the three others who were destined to help vanquish this evil. I met up with a bard, ranger and fighter.

I like the druid moves as they really evoke a child of nature. My Tell was my wise green eyes, and they actually helped me out when I shifted into an eel to fight an evil lamprey that was attacking us because without them the fighter would have had to Defy Danger to know which one was his enemy. I used Studied Essence to study someone and reveal that they were not natural (not the way the move is supposed to work but it was for flavor), I used Spirtit Tongue to find out why some evil lampreys were attacking us, I healed the bard with my Poultices and Herbs, I shifted into a jaguar to pounce on an ogre, shited into an eagle to try to snatch the scythe out of an undead monster's hand, and shifted into a large toad to jump to saftey and use my long toungue to rescue an ally! I really got a lot of use from that one move. And the GM gave me some cool moves for the animals I chose.

Combat was a bit tough with just a spear, 1 armor, 1d6 damage and 19 hp's, especially after I lost my spear to a 7-9 Defy Danger (hard bargain). He has a decent DEX so I figured he could get a bow and be a bit of a ranged attacker and then just shift into an appropriate animal when the time comes. I'll have to have a few more fights to see how it goes.

My 2nd level move will be to take Hunter's Brother to get a move from the Ranger's class list. I will choose God Amidst the Wastes to be able to cast Cleric spells. I think if I flavor the spells properly I can evoke a druid feel to them. Magic Weapon on  my spear, Bless from the spirits of nature, Cause Fear as a fierce growl, Hold Person as entangle...

Anyway, I loved the DW druid, whiuch has always been one of my favorite clases in any rpg. Good work!

Now let's see the Barbarian, Monk, and Sorcerer! J/K!

Well I've been playing rpg's since the late 70's so I guess I do know what you mean. I understand the reason behind it. And as Sage said, it really falls on the GM's now to seed appropriate treasure in their adventures so that players can actually afford to buy the things that are in the equipment section. I know my thief is looking to get some more poisons on the black market and my paladin is saving up to get plate mail.

One other thing I always had a question about...

Can a cleric heal himself of the wounds he suffered while defending his allies? It seems to me that he should be able to do this as it is clearly a trope of clerics in fiction calling upon their diety to heal them of their wounds. But the wording of the curing spells says "ally".

Is there a reason that clerics can't heal themselves?

You're right, it could be more clear.

Maybe it could say, "Your diety smiles on you or an ally in combat".

I've played in a few games as a cleric and seen a few other players as clerics and the Bless spell seemed fine to us. It's seems pretty clear that clerics should be able to cast thier spells on themselves. We wouldn't want to nerf the cleric too much more since their damage went down. Plus, I don't think there is anything wrong with clerics casting spells on themselves to buff themselves up...it's a classic trope, especially with battle clerics.

Maybe just make the wording a bit more clear.