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A woodland defender, adapted from DRAGON Magazine #177
The following is adapted from Bruce Heard's Voyage of the Princess Ark, Part #24 (DRAGON #177, pp. 41-50, 73). Text is taken directly from the source cited and modified to suit more generic purposes. Thanks to Geoff Gander, who contributed to the definition of the druidic knight's abilities.
Only neutral fighters may become druidic knights. They must have adopted the philosophy of the druids in tandem to attaining knighthood and must swear fealty to a prince, king, or emperor faithful to the ways of the druids. A druidic knight may not wield metallic weapons nor wear metallic armor and shields. The knight must use wooden armor and weapons magically shaped and hardened by the druids (using the 5th-level druidic spell Ironwood (DRAGON #177, p. 48)). These items are usually lacquered or varnished, and include curvilinear decorations, delicate leaf carvings, and fine scrollwork tooled into the wood. The knight must repay the druids for these precious items, usually in terms of several years of routine service when not called upon by a liege.
Primary Attribute: Strength and Wisdom.
Experience Bonus: 5% for Strength and Wisdom 13-15, 10% for Strength and Wisdom 16-18.
Hit Dice: 1d8 per level up to 9th level. Starting with 10th level, +2 hit points per level, and Constitution adjustments no longer apply.
Maximum Level: 36.
Armour: Any non-metallic armor and shield (leather or wood).
Weapons: Any non-metallic weapon; Weapon Mastery as fighter (RC/75).
Combat: Attacks as fighter of equal level.
Special Abilities: Cast Druidic spells as druid of 1/3 current level; Fighter Combat Options, Lance Attack, and Set Spear vs. Charge manoeuvres (RC/Chapter 8), Knightly benefits and obligations (RC/18), Detect Danger as 1st-level Druidic spell (RC/41) once per hour.
Like all fighters, the druidic knight possesses the Fighter Combat Options, Lance Attack, and Set Spear vs. Charge manoeuvres, as described in Chapter 8 of the Rules Cyclopedia. To gain the additional abilities of the druidic knight, the character must swear fealty to a lord who embraces the druidic philosophy; upon doing so, the druidic knight assumes all responsibilities and limitations of the knight (RC/18) with respect to his liege and druidic circle.
The druidic knight may detect danger (as the 1st-level druid spell of the same name) once per hour, merely by concentrating. The range of this power is equal to 5' per three experience levels (round down); this power may not be used whilst attacking. A druidic knight is taught the rudiments of druidic spell-casting, and he performs this ability at a level equal to one-third his current level (round down). Like druids, the druidic knight has no power over undead beings.
At all times, the druidic knight is obligated to assist woodland beings in peril or need of aid. This obligation may be ignored is the being(s) in question are known to be opposed to the druidic philosophy or if the druidic knight is currently engaged in a mission on behalf of a higher authority (i.e., his liege lord or druidic circle). Such assistance takes the form of service only and never requires material or monetary donation. Finally, any druidic knight of any level may be summoned by a druid of the Ninth Circle or higher (i.e., a druid of 30th-level or higher) to serve as a retainer for an unspecified time; this obligation supercedes even that to his liege.
Druidic knights may employ hirelings, though such must be woodland creatures or demi-humans (halflings and elves in particular). The only limitation is that the total hit die of such hirelings may not exceed 1/3 the druidic knight's current level (e.g., a 12th-level druidic knight may not employ hirelings in combined excess of 4 HD).
Upon reaching name level, druidic knights do not normally enjoy land grants, nor do they travel—as they have throughout their career, druidic knights remain dedicated to the service of their liege and druidic circle.
| Level | XP Req'd | Notes |
| 1 | 0 | |
| 2 | 2,200 | |
| 3 | 4,400 | Cast spells as 1st-level druid |
| 4 | 8,800 | |
| 5 | 17,600 | |
| 6 | 35,000 | Cast spells as 2nd-level druid |
| 7 | 70,000 | |
| 8 | 140,000 | |
| 9 | 280,000 | Cast spells as 3rd-level druid |
| 10 | 400,000 | |
| 11 | 520,000 | |
| 12 | 640,000 | Cast spells as 4th-level druid |
| 13 | 760,000 | |
| 14 | 880,000 | |
| 15 | 1,000,000 | Cast spells as 5th-level druid |
| 16 | 1,120,000 | |
| 17 | 1,240,000 | |
| 18 | 1,360,000 | Cast spells as 6th-level druid |
| 19 | 1,480,000 | |
| 20 | 1,600,000 | |
| 21 | 1,720,000 | Cast spells as 7th-level druid |
| 22 | 1,840,000 | |
| 23 | 1,960,000 | |
| 24 | 2,080,000 | Cast spells as 8th-level druid |
| 25 | 2,200,000 | |
| 26 | 2,320,000 | |
| 27 | 2,440,000 | Cast spells as 9th-level druid |
| 28 | 2,560,000 | |
| 29 | 2,680,000 | |
| 30 | 2,800,000 | Cast spells as 10th-level druid |
| 31 | 2,920,000 | |
| 32 | 3,040,000 | |
| 33 | 3,160,000 | Cast spells as 11th-level druid |
| 34 | 3,280,000 | |
| 35 | 3,400,000 | |
| 36 | 3,520,000 | Cast spells as 12th-level druid |