DM Freindly Pure ShapeChanger

[Tetsubo]

While it isn't simple enough mechanically to meet all of the OPs requirements, I think there is a way to do a shapeshifter without spellcasting at least, using the published sources.

Start with Ranger, using the variant on pg. 58 of Unearthed Arcana (loses Combat Style, gains Wildshape [small or medium animals only] and Fast Movement.) The character will gain wild shape 1/day at 5th level.

By 5th, the character will have gained Endurance as a bonus feat. The only other requirement for the Master of Many Forms Prestige Class (Complete Adventurer, pg.59) is Alertness.

For a 20 level progression, that leaves 5 levels.

At least 1 level of Natures Warrior (Complete Warrior, pg.64) is great--- +1 BAB, +2 Fort, and a nice ability.

But Warshaper (CoW, p.90) is also pretty sweet, with Morphic Body at 2nd level granting +4 to Strength and +4 to Constitution while wild shaped.

The remaining 5 levels would be some combination of those two PrCs. (You wouldn't necessarily take all 10 levels of MoMF consecutively; you could mix and match to taste.)

A pure shapeshifter class needs to be able to assume a new form from 1st level. Waiting until 5th is not going to fit the concept...

Now that I've thought about it, a version of the PHB II Druid variant class ability of Shapeshift really seems like the way to go... fast change, iconic forms... it just needs to be fleshed out with a greater variety (a water form and a climbing form for example...). Plus a "finer" level of forms spread out over twenty levels. Maybe a new form every two levels or so...

 

[Phasics]

I'm starting to think I need to go about this in reverse. instead of building from level 1 I think it may work better to make a Level 20 "Shapeshifter" with all the trimmings , get that balanced and then strip away the abilities all the way back to level 1. I think half the trouble is building from level 1 the end product is either too weak or too powerful.

Here's What I'm thinking

A level 20 shapeshifter in my mind should be able to take the shape of any creature item or object between fine and gigantic, they should be able to move between tiny and huge as swift actions and to the fine and gigantic extremes with some effort and penalties.

There should be 3 end varients which could be focused towards
Pure Shifting
Elemental Shifting
Monstrous Shifting

Pure shifting is basically a fighter build, damage output should be in line with a level 20 fighter, can take humanoid form forming weapon shapes, can take monstrous form attacking with multiple limbs or single massive attacks. These attacks should be fixed i.e.
20/15/10/5 1dA
20/15/10 1dB
20/15 1dC
20 1dD

A<B<C<D

Attacks should also be +5 since magic items are not an option and a basic AC damage reduction and spell resistance should be factored in

Elemental Shifting , can still take any form but can add an elemental effects to it, both offensive and defensive these compared to the pure shifter would do less physical dmg but is in line when elemental effects are added in

Monstrous Shifting, can still take any form but gets access to many Monstrous Feats and Abilities such as flying digging, rake attacks etc etc


Of course which path to follow would be part of level progression and an all rounder would be possible or a specialied in one of the three branches so to speak.

And then of course I start thinking perhaps keep it simple as in maybe just have the pure shapeshifter as a base class and create 2 prestige classes of elemental and monsterous to add the flavour.