DonAdam
Explorer
Ok, I was wanting to play a shifting character, and I really liked the way that psychometabolic characters led into the polymorph powers with lesser changes. However, d4 HD and Wizard BAB is just too limiting for a character who doesn't want to take any of the other psionic powers. Being forced into melee with those progressions is just a tad harsh. Also, I wanted to play a straight shapeshifter, not having to use druid spells or anything like that. I also like the idea of being able to change into different forms a great deal, but I think more powerful forms should cost more. So, I made a new core class.
It's probably wretchedly overpowered, but that's why I'm posting it here, to see if I can get some people to help me tune it down.
HD: d8
Skills: Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Disguise (Cha), Heal (Wis), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Stabilize Self (Str), Swim (Str), and Wilderness Lore (Wis)
Skill Points: 2 + Int mod
BAB: Medium
Saves: Fort good, Ref poor, Will poor
Shift Points/day: as per Psion in the PsiHB (don't use ITCK, that would give them too many probably)
Shifts known:
Level:0/1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9 (class level/shift level)
1: 2/1
2: 3/1
3: 3/2
4: 3/2/1
5: 4/3/1
6: 4/3/1/1
7: 4/3/2/1
8: 5/3/2/1/1
9: 5/3/2/2/1
10: 5/3/2/2/1/1
11: 6/4/3/2/2/1
12: 6/4/3/2/2/1/1
13: 6/4/3/3/2/2/1
14: 7/4/3/3/2/2/1/1
15: 7/4/4/3/3/2/2/1
16: 7/4/4/4/3/2/2/1/1
17: 7/4/4/4/3/3/2/2/1
18: 7/4/4/4/3/3/3/2/2/1
19: 7/4/4/4/4/3/3/2/2/1
20: 7/4/4/4/4/3/3/3/2/2
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Prof: Simple weapons, light armor, medium armor. The shapeshifter can't use any shape shifts in metallic armor.
Shifting: Shapeshifters manifest shifts in the same manner that psionicists manifest psionic powers. However, shapeshifters are not psionic, and have no access to psionic feats or attack and defense modes. To manifest a shift, the shapeshifter must have a wisdom score of at least 10 + the power level. Shapeshifters gain no bonus shifting points for high wisdom. At 20th level, the shapeshifter gains the type shapechanger and 60 foot darkvision in any appropriate form.
Shift Points: These are the shapeshifter’s daily allotment of points with which to manifest his powers. They come back after 8 hours of rest and 1 hour of meditation.
Manifesting a shift costs 1 SP + 2 SP's per shift level above 1st. So a 2nd level shift costs 3, a 3rd level shift costs 5, etc (exactly the same as psionics).
Talents: Talents are 0-level shifts. The shifter may manifest a number of these equal to his level +1 for free each day. Each use beyond thoser costs 1 SP/manifestation.
Shifts
Note: all shifts have a range of self only, regardless of the original spell description.
All powers come from the psionics handbook unless noted otherwise.
Talents
· Burst
· Catfall
· Elfsight
· Float
· Lesser Natural Armor
· Talon
· Verve
1st Level 1SP
· Biofeedback
· Bite of the Wolf
· Compression
· Lesser Body Adjustment
· Lesser Shape In this document. As alter self, but no significant physical changes.
· Spider Climb As per PHB. Target of self only.
· Vigor
2nd Level 3SPs
· Animal Affinity
· Animal Shape In this document.
· Body Adjustment
· Body Equilibrium
· Chameleon
· Claws of the Bear
· Darkvision
· Expansion
· Extra Shape In this document.
· Humanoid and Monstrous Humanoid Shape In this document.
3rd Level 5SPs
· Beast, Dire, and Vermin Shape In this document.
· Bite of the Tiger
· Ectoplasmic Form
· Improved Biofeedback
· Rejuvenation
· Water Breathing As per PHB, range of self only.
4th Level 7SPs
· Abberation and Magical Beast Shape In this document.
· Immovability
· Natural Armor
· Ooze and Plant Shape In this document.
· Psychofeedback
· Stoneskin As per PHB. Range of self only.
· Inanimate Object Shape In this document.
5th Level 9SPs
· Adapt Body
· Dragon Shape In this document.
· Emulate Gaze Attack In this document.
· Legendary Animal Shape In this document.
6th Level 11SPs
· Construct Shape In this document.
· Emulate Breath Weapon In this document.
· Improved Vigor
· Suspend Life
· Undead Shape In this document.
7th Level 13SPs
· Elemental and Outsider Shape In this document.
· Fission
· Oak Body
8th Level 15SPs
· Emulate Spell Resistance In this document.
· Iron Body
· Shadow Body
9th Level 17SPs
· Emulate Spell-like Ability In this document.
· Shapechange In this document, revised.
· True Metabolism
Shifts
Lesser Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 1/1SP
As Alter Self except any organs created are vestigial (i.e. No flying, water breathing, or functional extra limbs.).
Animal Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 2/3SPs
Duration: 10 min/lvl.
Manifestation Time: 1 action
This shift allows the shapeshifter to assume a single form of any Small or Medium size animal (not dire or legendary animals) of up to their class level in hit dice. This is in all other ways the same as Wild Shape. It ends immediately if you use any other shape shift. You gain the type of the form assumed, except for mental qualities. So if you use a higher level version of this power to turn into a vermin, you don't gain mindless, but you would gain critical hit immunity if you turned into a construct.
Extra Shift
Level/Cost: Shifter 2/3 SPs
Duration: Instantaneous
Manifestation Time: Free action
This shift allows a shapeshifter that has already manifested a shape shift to switch to another form appropriate to the power he manifested (including any metashifting feats applied to the power). For example, a shapeshifter with animal shape manifested such that he can take large shapes may use this power to change shape into another animal of size Small to Medium with the appropriate number of hit dice. The duration of the original shift remains unchanged, so if the shapeshifter had 30 minutes left he would gain 30 minutes of his new form. If the same shapeshifter knew humanoid shape, he would not be able to assume a humanoid form with this shift, as he only had animal shape manifested.
Humanoid Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 2/3SPs
As Animal Shape, except the shapeshifter can assume the form of a Small or Medium humanoid, monstrous humanoid, or giant shape.
Beast Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 3/5 SPs
As Animal Shape, except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium beast, vermin, or dire animal.
Plant Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 4/7 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium plant or ooze.
Aberration Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 4/7 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium magical beast or aberration.
Inanimate Object Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 4/7 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium object. They can still hear, and gain blindsight 10’. They get the hardness of the form they assume up to 1 pt per class level.
Legendary Animal Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 5/9 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium legendary animal.
Dragon Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 5/9 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium Dragon. Also, the limit is 1.5 times their class level in HD, rather than their class level.
Construct Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 6/11 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium construct. If they assume a Animated Object form, then their hardness is limited to 1 pt per class level.
Undead Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 6/11 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium undead.
Extraplanar Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 7/13 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium elemental or outsider.
Emulate Gaze Attack
Level/Cost: Shifter 5/9 SPs
Manifestation time: 1 action
Duration: 1 round (see text)
When the shapeshifter is in a form possessing a gaze attack, the shifter may make a gaze attack & gains the gaze attack for 1 round. This gaze is identical to that possessed by the creature in all ways (ex. Range, effect, save DCs, etc.)
Emulate Breath Weapon
Level/Cost: Shifter 6/ 11 SPs
Manifestation time: 1 action
Duration: Instantaneous
The shapeshifter can use the breath weapon of their form. The effects are completely determined by form (Damage, save DCs, range etc.) The shapeshifter cannot manifest this power again until either their form could breathe again, or they have switched forms.
Emulate Spell Resistance
Level/Cost: Shifter 8/15 SPs
Manifestation time: 1 action
Duration: 1 minute per level
The shapeshifter gains the spell resistance of his form.
Shapechange
Level/Cost: Shifter 9/17 SPs
As Animal Shape, except there is no limit to the size or type of creature that can be assumed. (The HD limit still applies.)
Emulate Spell-Like Ability
Level/Cost: Shifter 9/17SPs
This shift allows the shapeshifter to use a spell like ability of 8th level or less of any form he has assumed. He may not use this power to use a spell-like ability more times than the given form could use it in a day.
Metashifting feats
Except Extend Shift, Persistent Shift, and Quicken Shift, these feats may only be applied to shifts in the shape chain. The maximum number of points that a shapeshifter can spend on a single shift is their class level.
Extend Shift
Doubles duration of a shift. Cost: 2 SP.
Master of Size
You may assume forms with sizes larger or smaller than those normally allowed by a shift at the cost of 2 SP/Size Category.
Persistent Shift
Prerequisite: Extend Shift
A persistent shift has a duration of 24 hours. Cost: +8 SP.
Power Shift
You may assume forms higher than your class level in HD at a cost of 1 SP/2 HD.
Quicken Shift
You may manifest any shift as a free action. Cost: +8 SP.
Self-referential Shift
You may use your own physical ability scores (before racial modifiers) as a base to which you apply the scores of whatever creature you are shifting into at a cost of 2 SP.
Template
Select a template that your character has encountered and has the appropriate shape shift for (see table below). You may add this template to any shape shift you manifest at the listed cost.
Template Required Shift Cost
Celestial (Good) Magical Beast 2
Fiendish (Evil) Magical Beast 2
Half-Celestial Outsider 4
Half-Dragon Dragon 4
Half-Fiend Outsider 4
Vampire Undead 4
Special: You may select this feat multiple times. Each time you select it, it grants access to a new template.
The celestial and fiendish templates grant damage reduction, all templates add the appropriate resistances and immunities. When an ability depends on HD use the shapeshifter’s class level.
It's probably wretchedly overpowered, but that's why I'm posting it here, to see if I can get some people to help me tune it down.
HD: d8
Skills: Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Disguise (Cha), Heal (Wis), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Stabilize Self (Str), Swim (Str), and Wilderness Lore (Wis)
Skill Points: 2 + Int mod
BAB: Medium
Saves: Fort good, Ref poor, Will poor
Shift Points/day: as per Psion in the PsiHB (don't use ITCK, that would give them too many probably)
Shifts known:
Level:0/1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9 (class level/shift level)
1: 2/1
2: 3/1
3: 3/2
4: 3/2/1
5: 4/3/1
6: 4/3/1/1
7: 4/3/2/1
8: 5/3/2/1/1
9: 5/3/2/2/1
10: 5/3/2/2/1/1
11: 6/4/3/2/2/1
12: 6/4/3/2/2/1/1
13: 6/4/3/3/2/2/1
14: 7/4/3/3/2/2/1/1
15: 7/4/4/3/3/2/2/1
16: 7/4/4/4/3/2/2/1/1
17: 7/4/4/4/3/3/2/2/1
18: 7/4/4/4/3/3/3/2/2/1
19: 7/4/4/4/4/3/3/2/2/1
20: 7/4/4/4/4/3/3/3/2/2
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Prof: Simple weapons, light armor, medium armor. The shapeshifter can't use any shape shifts in metallic armor.
Shifting: Shapeshifters manifest shifts in the same manner that psionicists manifest psionic powers. However, shapeshifters are not psionic, and have no access to psionic feats or attack and defense modes. To manifest a shift, the shapeshifter must have a wisdom score of at least 10 + the power level. Shapeshifters gain no bonus shifting points for high wisdom. At 20th level, the shapeshifter gains the type shapechanger and 60 foot darkvision in any appropriate form.
Shift Points: These are the shapeshifter’s daily allotment of points with which to manifest his powers. They come back after 8 hours of rest and 1 hour of meditation.
Manifesting a shift costs 1 SP + 2 SP's per shift level above 1st. So a 2nd level shift costs 3, a 3rd level shift costs 5, etc (exactly the same as psionics).
Talents: Talents are 0-level shifts. The shifter may manifest a number of these equal to his level +1 for free each day. Each use beyond thoser costs 1 SP/manifestation.
Shifts
Note: all shifts have a range of self only, regardless of the original spell description.
All powers come from the psionics handbook unless noted otherwise.
Talents
· Burst
· Catfall
· Elfsight
· Float
· Lesser Natural Armor
· Talon
· Verve
1st Level 1SP
· Biofeedback
· Bite of the Wolf
· Compression
· Lesser Body Adjustment
· Lesser Shape In this document. As alter self, but no significant physical changes.
· Spider Climb As per PHB. Target of self only.
· Vigor
2nd Level 3SPs
· Animal Affinity
· Animal Shape In this document.
· Body Adjustment
· Body Equilibrium
· Chameleon
· Claws of the Bear
· Darkvision
· Expansion
· Extra Shape In this document.
· Humanoid and Monstrous Humanoid Shape In this document.
3rd Level 5SPs
· Beast, Dire, and Vermin Shape In this document.
· Bite of the Tiger
· Ectoplasmic Form
· Improved Biofeedback
· Rejuvenation
· Water Breathing As per PHB, range of self only.
4th Level 7SPs
· Abberation and Magical Beast Shape In this document.
· Immovability
· Natural Armor
· Ooze and Plant Shape In this document.
· Psychofeedback
· Stoneskin As per PHB. Range of self only.
· Inanimate Object Shape In this document.
5th Level 9SPs
· Adapt Body
· Dragon Shape In this document.
· Emulate Gaze Attack In this document.
· Legendary Animal Shape In this document.
6th Level 11SPs
· Construct Shape In this document.
· Emulate Breath Weapon In this document.
· Improved Vigor
· Suspend Life
· Undead Shape In this document.
7th Level 13SPs
· Elemental and Outsider Shape In this document.
· Fission
· Oak Body
8th Level 15SPs
· Emulate Spell Resistance In this document.
· Iron Body
· Shadow Body
9th Level 17SPs
· Emulate Spell-like Ability In this document.
· Shapechange In this document, revised.
· True Metabolism
Shifts
Lesser Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 1/1SP
As Alter Self except any organs created are vestigial (i.e. No flying, water breathing, or functional extra limbs.).
Animal Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 2/3SPs
Duration: 10 min/lvl.
Manifestation Time: 1 action
This shift allows the shapeshifter to assume a single form of any Small or Medium size animal (not dire or legendary animals) of up to their class level in hit dice. This is in all other ways the same as Wild Shape. It ends immediately if you use any other shape shift. You gain the type of the form assumed, except for mental qualities. So if you use a higher level version of this power to turn into a vermin, you don't gain mindless, but you would gain critical hit immunity if you turned into a construct.
Extra Shift
Level/Cost: Shifter 2/3 SPs
Duration: Instantaneous
Manifestation Time: Free action
This shift allows a shapeshifter that has already manifested a shape shift to switch to another form appropriate to the power he manifested (including any metashifting feats applied to the power). For example, a shapeshifter with animal shape manifested such that he can take large shapes may use this power to change shape into another animal of size Small to Medium with the appropriate number of hit dice. The duration of the original shift remains unchanged, so if the shapeshifter had 30 minutes left he would gain 30 minutes of his new form. If the same shapeshifter knew humanoid shape, he would not be able to assume a humanoid form with this shift, as he only had animal shape manifested.
Humanoid Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 2/3SPs
As Animal Shape, except the shapeshifter can assume the form of a Small or Medium humanoid, monstrous humanoid, or giant shape.
Beast Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 3/5 SPs
As Animal Shape, except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium beast, vermin, or dire animal.
Plant Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 4/7 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium plant or ooze.
Aberration Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 4/7 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium magical beast or aberration.
Inanimate Object Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 4/7 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium object. They can still hear, and gain blindsight 10’. They get the hardness of the form they assume up to 1 pt per class level.
Legendary Animal Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 5/9 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium legendary animal.
Dragon Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 5/9 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium Dragon. Also, the limit is 1.5 times their class level in HD, rather than their class level.
Construct Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 6/11 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium construct. If they assume a Animated Object form, then their hardness is limited to 1 pt per class level.
Undead Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 6/11 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium undead.
Extraplanar Shape
Level/Cost: Shifter 7/13 SPs
As Animal Shape except the shapeshifter can assume the form of any Small or Medium elemental or outsider.
Emulate Gaze Attack
Level/Cost: Shifter 5/9 SPs
Manifestation time: 1 action
Duration: 1 round (see text)
When the shapeshifter is in a form possessing a gaze attack, the shifter may make a gaze attack & gains the gaze attack for 1 round. This gaze is identical to that possessed by the creature in all ways (ex. Range, effect, save DCs, etc.)
Emulate Breath Weapon
Level/Cost: Shifter 6/ 11 SPs
Manifestation time: 1 action
Duration: Instantaneous
The shapeshifter can use the breath weapon of their form. The effects are completely determined by form (Damage, save DCs, range etc.) The shapeshifter cannot manifest this power again until either their form could breathe again, or they have switched forms.
Emulate Spell Resistance
Level/Cost: Shifter 8/15 SPs
Manifestation time: 1 action
Duration: 1 minute per level
The shapeshifter gains the spell resistance of his form.
Shapechange
Level/Cost: Shifter 9/17 SPs
As Animal Shape, except there is no limit to the size or type of creature that can be assumed. (The HD limit still applies.)
Emulate Spell-Like Ability
Level/Cost: Shifter 9/17SPs
This shift allows the shapeshifter to use a spell like ability of 8th level or less of any form he has assumed. He may not use this power to use a spell-like ability more times than the given form could use it in a day.
Metashifting feats
Except Extend Shift, Persistent Shift, and Quicken Shift, these feats may only be applied to shifts in the shape chain. The maximum number of points that a shapeshifter can spend on a single shift is their class level.
Extend Shift
Doubles duration of a shift. Cost: 2 SP.
Master of Size
You may assume forms with sizes larger or smaller than those normally allowed by a shift at the cost of 2 SP/Size Category.
Persistent Shift
Prerequisite: Extend Shift
A persistent shift has a duration of 24 hours. Cost: +8 SP.
Power Shift
You may assume forms higher than your class level in HD at a cost of 1 SP/2 HD.
Quicken Shift
You may manifest any shift as a free action. Cost: +8 SP.
Self-referential Shift
You may use your own physical ability scores (before racial modifiers) as a base to which you apply the scores of whatever creature you are shifting into at a cost of 2 SP.
Template
Select a template that your character has encountered and has the appropriate shape shift for (see table below). You may add this template to any shape shift you manifest at the listed cost.
Template Required Shift Cost
Celestial (Good) Magical Beast 2
Fiendish (Evil) Magical Beast 2
Half-Celestial Outsider 4
Half-Dragon Dragon 4
Half-Fiend Outsider 4
Vampire Undead 4
Special: You may select this feat multiple times. Each time you select it, it grants access to a new template.
The celestial and fiendish templates grant damage reduction, all templates add the appropriate resistances and immunities. When an ability depends on HD use the shapeshifter’s class level.
