2020 Geek-A-Long: Druid

 “I turn into a goddamned bear.”

Every Druid, everywhere.

When playing a Druid, this phrase can be used for anything: smashing enemies, chasing enemies, sniffing out enemies. Bard failed their diplomacy check? “I turn into a goddamned bear.” Trying to tell if the Queen’s food was poisoned? Turn into a bear and sniff it out! 

Alright, so there are plenty of other useful animals that a Druid could turn into: spiders with their climbing and webs, crocodiles with their swimming, house cats for their stealth and passive-aggression. Being a Druid, especially a Circle of the Moon Druid, gives you so many new options to explore the world around you. Some Druids don’t turn into animals that often. And, I mean, okay. Live how you like. Alternatively, you could be a goddamned bear.

And when a being a bear doesn’t work, be a cat. I once spent most of a session as a house cat once doing reconnaissance while the rest of my party prepared for the big showdown. My scouting efforts included chasing butterflies in Lord and Lady Cassalanter’s gardens and napping in a sunspot. The DM counted that delightful nap as short rest and I was able to regain my ability to use Wild Shape, and yes. I used it to turn into a goddamn bear.

One thing that bothers me about the Druid is that you can’t wear metal armor. It’s taboo. In older editions of Dungeons & Dragons, wearing metal would take away your ability to cast spells or turn into a bear, which was super lame. It was something about it being torn from the earth and reformed that made it a big no-no for Druids. I’ve never liked this mechanic, and I ignore it when possible. How about Druids exclusively wear armor from fallen enemies? That’s just recycling! Why should you have to go out and hunt dragons for their scales just so you aren’t standing there in a robe fighting dragons? It’s silly and you would be practically unprotected. And there is only one solution for that problem.

Look your DM dead in the eyes and say, “I turn into a goddamned bear.”

P.S. I will forever regret not going back and fixing that messed up stitch on the wrong side. I hate it. One of these days I’m going to steal the blanket back from Megan-Anne and duplicate stitch over that one stitch. I meant to do it before I gifted it to her, but I completely forgot in the rush to get it assembled. But now that I’m looking at these old pics again, it’s killing me.

Whether you’re knitting, crocheting, or cross stitching this square, you can download the Druid pattern here. Instructions and charts for both knit and crochet are listed in the pattern. When you’re finished making it, don’t forget to Instagram your squares at us @lattesandllamasyarn with the hashtag #geekalong! Want to hang out with other people making the blanket? You can find moral support in the Geek-A-Long group on Ravelry here.

~Jac

Currently, I’m playing in a homebrew game as a Quadrone Modron, who is a Circle of the Moon Druid named Clanker B. Katchum. They’re flaw is that they will ignore everything if there is an animal they’ve never encountered before. I have an actual list of animals that my character has come in contact with, and it’s created some fantastic shenanigans.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider making a donation to Child’s Play Charity. Here is a direct link to our official donation page benefiting the charity. Please help us raise $1,000 this year. No contribution is too small! Wanna make your donation go even further? Lattes & Llamas will donate $1 for every skein of Geek-A-Long Yarn purchased.