Min/Max Boards

I think the druid has the advantage until level 11 or 12.  At level 6, I don't think it's a close call.  Druids are significantly more versatile.  In the end, the wizard will out perform the druid, but only in the latter half of the character evolution. 

And there is the Meenlock's (MMII) Rend Mind ability, As well as Dire Tortoise's (Sand) Lightning Strike ability.

I don't believe I was complaining.  Rather, I was disagreeing with what I still believe to be your erroneous assessment.  These are, after all, forums for colloquy.  And when one member issues an opinion, others are free to politely address that opinion.  If you don't want your opinions challenged, you should consider not issuing them publicly.  If you'd like to continue this discussion on another thread, feel free to start one. 

All this said, I agree with you that the flavor text is not the rules text.  It nonetheless offers at least some impression of the rules as intended.  As for the rest of your logic, I'll let my original comments stand.  You should also feel free to maintain your own conclusions and post what you like, whether or not people agree with you. 

So what would you do if you had true immunity to any and all negative levels?

I'd probably go bowling.

With that much gold, you're better off just taking Vow of Poverty and enjoying the role-playing. 

Thanks for sharing that Goblin Defense Fund site.  That was great. 

--edit--sorry for the twice in a row post; I hadn't realized I was at the end.

Assuming flaws are allowed, which do we think are acceptable?
I submit:
Murky eyed (you can usually use spells with no attack rolls and you have access to sensory buffs that will negate many sources of concealment)
Shaky (although ranged combat can be useful at low levels when you need to conserve spells.)
Vulnerable (you either have your AC buffed enough to not care about the penalty or you weren't expecting much protection from your AC anyway given your armour restrictions and DEX as tertiary.)
Weak will (you'll still have a better will save than the BSF.)

If you can use flaws from Dragon Magazine consider:
Divine Gesture (Dragon 326) ... many druids don't wear armor
Individualist (Dragon 329) ... this feat appears to apply to non-natural weapons; so make your staff and move on, you won't be using it much anyway.
Love of Nature  (Dragon 324) ... get your animal companions or summoned creatures to take those on if you need to
Stubby Fingers  (Dragon 328) ... if you qualify, this won't apply to your staff or your natural attacks

So if you're fixing this, you need to target the misc AC bonuses. My personal favorite is to just junk the whole lot of AC bonus types and grant a class AC bonus from BAB.

In one campaign we do something quite similar to this.  You get your BAB in "Experience Armor Class" and there are several feats available to different classes that can add to this EAC.  In this world, you get half your EAC when immobilized or unconscious--you've just been hardened with time.  But, Monsters also get additional bonuses--this has been the hard part to balance.   

While not exhaustive or situation specific, these are the general set of spells I think druids would be most likely to prepare from each day.

Zero: Cure Minor Wounds, Create Water, Dawn (SC), Detect Magic, Guidance, Groundsmoke (Dragon Mag. 326 @ 73), Light, Know Direction, Read Magic 

First: Aspect of the Wolf (SC), Beastland Ferocity (SC), Entangle, Healthful Rest (SC), Impeding Stones (City), Obscuring Mist, Omen of Peril (SC), Produce Flame, Shillelagh, Vigor--Lesser (SC)

Second: Blinding Spittle (SC), Bone Talisman (WoTC), Gust of Wind, Kelpstrand (SC), Master Air (SC)Snake's Swifness--Mass (SC), Splinterbolt (SC), Venomfire (SK)

Third: Alter Fortune (PHII), Crumble (SC), Energy Vortex (SC), Heart of Water (CM), Magic Fang--Greater, Poison, Primal Instinct (DrM), Sleet Storm, Spiritjaws (SC), Stone Shape, Venomfire (SK), Vigor (SC)

Fourth: Boreal Wind (Frost), Blast of Sand (Sand), Enhance Wild Shape (SC), Friendly Fire (EoE), Giant Vermin, Heart of Earth (CM), Langour (SC), Last Breath (SC), Luminous Armor--Greater (BoED), Moon Bolt (SC), Murderous Mist (SC), Sheltered Vitality (SC), Vortex of Teeth (SC)

Fifth: Animal Growth, Baleful Polymorph, Blizzard (Frost), Call Avalanche (Frost), Control Winds, Owl's Insight (SC), Phantom Stag (SC), Plant Body (SC), Vigor--Greater (SC)

Sixth: Antilife Shell, Bite of the Werebear (SC), Dispel Magic--Greater, Energy Immunity (SC), Mummify (Sand), Resistance--Superior (SC), Spellstaff

Seventh: Control Weather, Heal, Master Earth (SC), Rain of Roses (BoED), Slime Wave (SC), True Seeing, Word of Balance (SC)

Eighth: Bombardment (SC), Frostfell (Frost), Red Tide (SC), Unearthly Beauty (BoED), Word of Recall

Ninth: Nature's Avatar (SC), Shapechange, Summon Elemental Monolith (SC), Undermaster (SC)


I'm sure I'm missing some obvious ones, but the above is a start.

Hey.  Nice to see these boards.  Been playing dnd for over 30 years.  I eschew 4E.  Tried it; don't like it.  I wouldn't call myself a serious gamer, though I play in several games.  I don't play DnD to win; just to have fun.  For me, it's mostly about the people.