Is this a Smackdown? The Buzzing Fly of DOOM!

[Shayuri]

Actually, this is more of a commentary on the much-maligned Shifter PrC, and what can be done with it, than a smackdown attempt of any sort. Hence its presence on the Rules forum.

Is there any reason why this combination wouldn't work? My heart, and sense of fair play, pray for an affirmative.

--

Take a druid. Advance him to 13th level. Prepare Harm in that 7th level slot.

Now take Natural Spellcasting, from Masters of the Wild. This allows spellcasting while wildshaped.

Now take at least 9 levels of Shifter. You need that so you can turn into Fine creatures.

Now...turn into a fly. Cast Harm (using Natural Spellcasting). Land on someone to discharge it.

That's one HELL of a sting, ay?

What do you DO when any innocent gnat may be carrying certain, unavoidable DOOM?

*panicks*

 

[Chonicler]

Well, it'd make a fun adventure at least - people mysteriously dying randomly for no reason.

Probably a PC-killer, though.

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

Hum, still, it does require epic levels...and you could do the same with a shapechange spell mostly anyways. Natural spell isn't really needed since touch spells aren't discharged til you use them.

Fun idea though

 

[Velenne]

I remember hearing about shifter who turned into a fly, flew up a dragon's nose while it was sleeping, then turned into a earth elemental or somesuch. Owie...

 

[Zerth]

...and you could do the same with a shapechange spell mostly anyways. Natural spell isn't really needed since touch spells aren't discharged til you use them.

Actually, you can't do this with shapechange. Touch spells dissipate, if you cast another spell.

 

[gfunk]

Not my original idea but,

Another poster gave an example of a pure Druid (17th level or so) who would Wildshape into a butterfly or small bird and follow interlopers around his forest. When they camped at night, he would approach the watchman and cast Creeping Doom on him using Natural Spell and Silent Spell.

Ouch.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Actually, you can't do this with shapechange. Touch spells dissipate, if you cast another spell.

Actually, you can do this with the Shapechange in the PHB.

You cast Shapechange first, then Harm. By the PHB, you can change form once per round for the duration of the spell.

I'm not certain what changes were made to Shapechange when the T&B revamp of Polymorph came out, but if all you own are the Core Rules, it's a viable combination...

-Hyp.

 

[dkilgo]

Nice idea!

Even if the revised Harm spell does have a save allowed.

Could the fly change into an earth elemental once inside the dragon's head? Does it not require appropriate room to shift? I would think that would be neccessary because the shifter would take an exorbitant amount of damage.

 

[Corlon]

you could always just use swarms of paragon cockroaches, or mabye paragon gnats with many levels of cleric or druid

 

[dkilgo]

How would you go about getting these paragon insects to do your bidding?

Maybe I am not seeing how that could be done... It is late...