Yeah that tracks with my experience trying to get into playing as a Nature Cleric. They felt like playing as a Circle of the Land Druid just without a Wild Shape more or less. That was actually fine for me, since I prefer the support spellslinger archetype there to the wild striker.
For Druid multiclasses I couldn't find any 1 lvl dip that felt worthwhile, especially since we don't even get to use a Club or a Scimitar for a weapon doing that if trying to graduate from a Wizard or Sorcerer say. Like you get the medium armor proficiency I guess and a shield, but then feels like everyone and their cousin can have a shield and medium armor, so it's not quite as impressive. For Druid it was more like 10 lvls or bust, or dipping out of Druid instead of dipping into it. I think they probably should have granted a universal ASI at Character lvl 12, just like a homebrewed bonus feat right at the end, cause that would have made many more multiclass combos feel viable. I mean beyond just the 1 lvl dipty dipper. Otherwise seems like you really need to get a lot out the initial class kit/gear.
For Life, if one enjoys playing as the Support Cleric it just feels like Life is the only Domain that really delivers on that with the generic buff to all Heals. It's probably because Healing Word is so just much better than Cure Light Wounds for the lvl 1 spellslot, and pretty much sufficient as the only healing spell in the repertoire. It's easy enough to get by just with Healing Word alone. Sure it's cool to have the Mass Healing Word option when it can be stacked with another buff via items and such, but otherwise it's expensive for the spellslot. Like if I need it for that, I'm already so far behind the 8 Ball that I probably should have prepared a direct damage or CC spell. Then you got the supped up super healing potions to contend with as well, diminishing the heals that come from the standard spell list.
I guess I was just bummed that Druids and Nature Clerics didn't have access to some spells like Animal Summoning II and III. Particularly in Acts II and III, where it might have been fun for an alternative vibe. I mean I felt a little odd about having my Druid Nature-y team running around with a bunch of re-animated skeletons and the boneyard on that. I feel like Jaheira would probably find that a bit suss, and would rather have a couple wolves or wild boars or a pair of lions. The Woodland Being is a classic, and clearly the elementals are cool, but random animals would have been fun. Or I don't know, if it has to be Druids + Undead maybe Spirit animals or whatever? Just felt like Charm/Dominate Beast with that whole angle wasn't reliable enough cause it's so area dependent.
