How does one become a druid?

[Elias Ashburn]

This came up in a chat recently.  Is it an inherent trait, as in do you have to be born a druid?  Or can someone learn to become one?

HOW DOES ONE NATURE?

[Owen]

It's not an inherent trait, it's an upper-tier header for any shaman that hasn't committed to another path. If you're currently playing a shaman, talk to a druid in-game for more information, if you're looking to set a new character in that direction, talk to staff privately and we'll figure things out.

Also, just leaving the website description here for reference, if folks haven't seen it:

Druids: Shamans who draw their power from the natural world sacrifice a closer connection to the Cycle and learn to channel the power of nature through their bodies. While they don't transform into animals like Therians or those cursed with Zoanthropy, Druids do learn to change their form to mirror various aspects of the natural world

[Owen]

Oh and

HOW DOES ONE NATURE?

WITH PASSION!!!

[Taavo]

Does that mean you can only have one upper tier path? and if so how does one know what an upper tier path is?

[Elliott]

In general, you can learn multiple upper tier headers, especially if you are learning things that are highly related to each other (diversifying is harder than specializing, but not impossible).
Also naturally, learning multiple things simultaneously is slower than focusing.
However, there are some upper tier headers that "lock you out" of some other options - we promise, whenever you look into one of these headers, you will be told very quickly what you are giving up. Druid happens to be one of those upper tier headers that imposes some restrictions - another example might be Cornelian Knight and Necromancer.

[Stringlore and Buttons]

Become a Necromantic Cornelian Knight:
Raise the Dead to Bash In Their Skulls!