n an effort to have a more melee oriented shapeshifter I propose the Psionic Shapeshifter. Ideally I would prefer not to use psionics (personal preference) but it just seems to mesh quite well together.
The use of psionics here is more about this classes innate ability to augment thier shapeshifting abilties and not so much about being psionic, espcailly since they do not have access to any direct damge/effect psionic powers as all powers are from the psycometabolism displine and are all self targeting. I would go fas as to say this class is not considered psionic for the purposes of RP and the psionic aspect is simply for the mechanics of the class.
I wont write out the entire build here as its basically just a rip of Druid and Psychic Warrior meshed together, which can be found here http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/home.html . but I'll point out the differences.
Inital notes both classes share the same BAB Saves and hit dice (d8) so thoes are kept the same.
Inclusions:
Class gets Druid weapon Profiency
Alignment : Any
Class skills include all class skills from both Druid and Psychic Warrior
Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier) x4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Class gets Druid Shapeshifter varient at lv 1 automatically as per PHB II. (can manifest powers while shifted as they only require a focused mind)
Class gets Psychic Warriors Maximum Power level Progression, Known Powers Progression and Power points per day progression. (with following exceptions)
Powers must be chosen from the Psycometabolism Discipline (class CAN NOT learn or manifest powers from any other discipline as thier powers are always focused inward i.e. all powers are always self targetted and can never target another creature)
Class may select one extra Power at 1st 2nd and every other even level (4,6 etc)
Class gets two extra power points per class level
Exclusions:
Class does not get animal companion
Class does not get Druid divine spells
Class does not get any druid class related abilities other than mentioned
Class does not get Psychic warriors weapon/armor proficency list
Class does not get Psychic Warriors bonus feats (although I would consider this potentially optional, but possibly overpowering)
Class does not get access to the Psionic Feats list. (maybe this could be the trade off for allowing the bonus feats).
And there you have it a Shapeshifter with powers to augment thier shifted forms and no direct offensive spells. You'll also note that they can take expansion and compression as a power from level 1 so you can modify any shifted form up or down by 2 size categories (+-2STR +-2DEX ,+-1AC and attack bonus for each size change), evenutaly, giving a hell of a lot more temporary flexibility espically using the predator and aerial forms.
So please let me know if I need to include/exclude anything from Druid or Psychic Warriors list to make it more balenced.
The use of psionics here is more about this classes innate ability to augment thier shapeshifting abilties and not so much about being psionic, espcailly since they do not have access to any direct damge/effect psionic powers as all powers are from the psycometabolism displine and are all self targeting. I would go fas as to say this class is not considered psionic for the purposes of RP and the psionic aspect is simply for the mechanics of the class.
I wont write out the entire build here as its basically just a rip of Druid and Psychic Warrior meshed together, which can be found here http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/home.html . but I'll point out the differences.
Inital notes both classes share the same BAB Saves and hit dice (d8) so thoes are kept the same.
Inclusions:
Class gets Druid weapon Profiency
Alignment : Any
Class skills include all class skills from both Druid and Psychic Warrior
Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier) x4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Class gets Druid Shapeshifter varient at lv 1 automatically as per PHB II. (can manifest powers while shifted as they only require a focused mind)
Class gets Psychic Warriors Maximum Power level Progression, Known Powers Progression and Power points per day progression. (with following exceptions)
Powers must be chosen from the Psycometabolism Discipline (class CAN NOT learn or manifest powers from any other discipline as thier powers are always focused inward i.e. all powers are always self targetted and can never target another creature)
Class may select one extra Power at 1st 2nd and every other even level (4,6 etc)
Class gets two extra power points per class level
Exclusions:
Class does not get animal companion
Class does not get Druid divine spells
Class does not get any druid class related abilities other than mentioned
Class does not get Psychic warriors weapon/armor proficency list
Class does not get Psychic Warriors bonus feats (although I would consider this potentially optional, but possibly overpowering)
Class does not get access to the Psionic Feats list. (maybe this could be the trade off for allowing the bonus feats).
And there you have it a Shapeshifter with powers to augment thier shifted forms and no direct offensive spells. You'll also note that they can take expansion and compression as a power from level 1 so you can modify any shifted form up or down by 2 size categories (+-2STR +-2DEX ,+-1AC and attack bonus for each size change), evenutaly, giving a hell of a lot more temporary flexibility espically using the predator and aerial forms.
So please let me know if I need to include/exclude anything from Druid or Psychic Warriors list to make it more balenced.
When WotC or a third party publisher comes out with a good dedicated shapeshifter class, my money will be waiting. 
