MotW--The Shifter is overly powerful?!

[Chun-tzu]

how to munchkin-ize a shifter

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.

The MotW Shifter needs spellcaster levels: at least 5, to be able to cast 3rd level spells. (It's different from the OA Shifter, with much better shapeshifting ability but no further spellcasting ability.)

But I was thinking, what about Psions? Technically, psions can't cast spells, so a strictly by-the-book DM probably wouldn't allow it, but given how close psionics and magic are, that would seem pretty harsh.

But you know, a Psion Shifter is more powerful than a Druid Shifter. For one thing, spell-like abilities (i.e., psionics) can be used in any wild shape, without the cost of a feat. More importantly, the Psion's powers are directly tied to his ability scores. This means the Psion becomes a MORE powerful (virtual) spellcaster when he wildshapes! For example, an Egoist with Strength 16 wild shapes into a Fire Giant, and his strength becomes 31, PLUS he can still use Animal Affinity to bump that Str even higher (or even Expansion, growing another 100% in size)! And try saving against his psychometric or psychokinetic powers now! Talk about a Rule-0 combo!

 

[Ruvion]

No psionic shifter in my campaign then!

 

[Tempuswolf]

Re: how to munchkin-ize a shifter

More importantly, the Psion's powers are directly tied to his ability scores. This means the Psion becomes a MORE powerful (virtual) spellcaster when he wildshapes!

Lol.
But it cuts both ways.

He loses the ability to manifest from psychometabolic, psychoportive, and psychokinetic powers if his STR, DEX, or CON fall below 10. In your example, if a nomad turned into a fire giant (DEX 9) he would lose access to all the powers of his main discipline. Even worse, he would lose all his bonus power points for the next day. At 15th level with a 22 Dex, he would loose 40 out of 140 power points, almost a third. If he was a Nomad 6/Shifter 9, he would loose 13 out of 28, nearly half.

 

[Carnifex]

Regarding the example of shapeshifting into a planetar, does this mean that the Shifter is able to change into Outsiders as well? (which can't normally be done)

 

[Tempuswolf]

Regarding the example of shapeshifting into a planetar, does this mean that the Shifter is able to change into Outsiders as well? (which can't normally be done)

Yes, at Shifter 9.