MotW--The Shifter is overly powerful?!

[Ruvion]

Finally got hold of a copy of the Masters of the Wild...I had a brief glance at the Shifter class and when I saw that they could morph into a gargantuan sized creature and also assume a dragon shape, I was flabbergasted. A gargantuan dragon anyone? Then I saw the following:

...you cannot choose a form that normally has more Hit Dice than she herself does.

Anyone think that the Shifter is still a little too strong (considering the meek requirements and all)?

 

[TwoSix]

The Shifter is an awesome prestige class, IMO. It masters wild shaping at the expense of losing ALL spellcasting progression. More than balanced, I think.

 

[Polydamas]

5 Druid/9 shifter can take on the form of a planetar. 10 regen (errated to fast healing?), killer AC, spell resistance 30. All of those are extraordinary abilities, which are obtaind by wild shape.

I'd like to twirl in circles like a chicken with its head cut off screaming "Unbalanced!"...but I actually haven't 1) played up to 14th level yet 2) run some mock battles with this guy to see how he fares. Maybe the lower hit points and lack of offensive punch puts him on par with normal 14th level characters.

Could someone who has more experience with higher level play chime in on this?

 

[Tsyr]

Well, that and the fact that, I believe, you will still be a level 5 druid in terms of casting ability (I haven't got the book yet, just browsed it at the store... no $$$$)

 

[Aryoche]

Well, that and the fact that, I believe, you will still be a level 5 druid in terms of casting ability (I haven't got the book yet, just browsed it at the store... no $$$$)

Wouldn't that imply that you jumped to the Shifter prestige class as soon as you were able to? i.e. 5th level druid?

Personally, I'd wait and get a few more levels in Druid before I made the jump, mainly for the additional spells.

 

[Tsyr]

I was responding to Polydamas' hypothetical example.

 

[Aryoche]

I was responding to Polydamas' hypothetical example.

Oops, guess I should pay more attention. Coffee hasn't kicked in yet.

 

[TwoSix]

If you're going to hold out for spells, you might as well go with wizard or sorcerer....the only requirement is some sort of shapechanging spell, like polymorph self. Hmmm....doesn't a psychic warrior have 4th level powers at 10th level? That would be interesting...

 

[Michael Tree]

5 Druid/9 shifter can take on the form of a planetar. 10 regen (errated to fast healing?), killer AC, spell resistance 30. All of those are extraordinary abilities, which are obtaind by wild shape.

This is useful and powerful, but consider that at the same level the druid will be wild shaping into dire bears (and still casting spells if he has the feat), casting spells like fire storm, heal, animal growth, liveoak, and creeping doom, and walking around with animal growth'd dire bears with greater magic fang (+5) cast on all their natural attacks. At 17th level that druid will be able to cast Shapechange, and turn into anything that the Shifter can turn into, unrestricted by hit dice.

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

Who needs spellcaster levels? Be a Henge-something or other from the OA book, and you get Polymorph Self 1/day per class level at an ECL of +1. Therefore, you could qualify for this class at level 2/ECL 3. Perhaps go for the fighter route with Weapon Specialization and Weapon Focus if you want to wait a little.