Item to provide minor shape-changing

[MarkB]

In a 15th-level game, I'm putting together a goblin Barbarian 7 / Bear Warrior 5 / Warshaper 3 character. It's shaping up nicely, but one thing that worries me is that the warshaper abilities will become useless once he's used up his Rages for the day.

I've taken Extra Rage a couple of times to offset that, but what I'd really like is some way of achieving a minor physical shape change either at-will or a few more times per day, so that I can still take advantage of the Warshaper's abilities when not raging. Basically, some form of ring or wondrous item that provides the equivalent of alter self or something similar.

From core rules and SRD, the closest I can find is a psionic item, the Skin of Proteus, which allows an at-will polymorph-like effect, but it's a little pricey at 84,000 gp. Is there a cheaper, less powerful equivalent? The DM is allowing the following: Core, Monster Manual 2 and 3, Complete Series, Races Series, Draconomicon, Libris Mortis, Lords of Madness, Expanded Psionics, Heroes of Battle.

 

[McDungeon]

If you're not deadset on the goblin, the changeling (eberron) is always an idea for no LA.

As for items, I'd simply use an alter self eternal wand from eberron (2/day) or a wand in general. Use magic device is an issue with that build, but it can still be taken.

Otherwise, you can always make an item, continuous or 2/day thing (lasting 30 minutes each).

Continuous, alter self 18000 gp (Has to take up a slot)
2/day, alter self 7200 gp

Not too shabby, especially for a lvl 15 character.

 

[cmanos]

You can't use a magic item to qualify for a prestige class. That has already been discussed.

Changeling and shifter are botl LA0 Hunamoids with the (shapechanger) subtype. Personally I would go with the shifter instead of the changeling, as I believe you can shift and rage at the same time. ( may be wrong on that last point). Even if you can't, shifter would be mroe likely to go the way of the warshaper and bear warrior.

 

[MarkB]

You can't use a magic item to qualify for a prestige class. That has already been discussed.

I'm not using it to qualify for the class - Bear Warrior already gets me that. However, the benefits of the Warshaper PrC only apply while the character is not in his natural form - in this case, only during the 6 times per day that he Rages and takes on bear form.

I'd like a minor form of shape-changing that the character would be able to use when not raging, so that he can use his Warshaper class features at that time.

Changeling and shifter are botl LA0 Hunamoids with the (shapechanger) subtype. Personally I would go with the shifter instead of the changeling, as I believe you can shift and rage at the same time. ( may be wrong on that last point). Even if you can't, shifter would be mroe likely to go the way of the warshaper and bear warrior.

I'm fairly set on Goblin. I could probably go with Changeling as it's in the MM III, I suppose.