Shifter munchkininess

[Dark Dragon]

As a DM, I won't allow that "TricK". It's debalanced if you compare an arcane and a druidic shifter. And it's munchkinism, too.

 

[Hand of Vecna]

here's my (very prelimiary, very rough-draft) version of an Epic Shifter progression; please let me know what y'all think.

Epic Shifter
Level == Special
11 == Improved Humanoid Shape
12 == Improved Monstrous Humanoid Shape
13 == Improved Plant Shape
14 == Improved Vermin Shape
15 == Improved Magical Beast Shape
16 == Improved Aberration Shape, Improved Ooze Shape
17 == Improved Dragon Shape
18 == Improved Construct Shape, Improved Undead Shape
19 == Improved Elemental Shape, Improved Outsider Shape
20 == Colossal Wild Shape, Evershifting Innards

Improved (Type) Shape: at the indicated level, when the Epic Shifter assumes a form of the type given, she gains the Supernatural abilities as well as the Extraordinary ones.
Colossal Wild Shape: at level 20, the Epic Shifter gains the Epic Feat Colossal Wild Shape, whether she meets the prerequisites or not.
Evershifting Innards: at this level of proficiency, the Shifter is so adept as shifting forms that she can alter the arrangement of her internal organs as a reaction to attacks, either moving vital organs out of the way or changing them into undifferentiated goo (like an ooze). The Shifter, no matter what her form, is immune to critical hits.

 

[Dark Dragon]

Not bad, Hand of Vecna, me likes it. Hmm, perhaps a bonus feat at 14th level and very four levels thereafter (see the Epic Druid)? I'd replace the text of Improved Dragon Shape with this:

Advanced / Improved Dragon Shape

Prerequesites: Dragon Shape, Beast Shape, Wis 35, Knowledge Nature 40.

Benefits: You can use your wild shape ability to take the form of any creature of the dragon type except of Force and Prismatic Dragons. You gain all extraordinary and supernatural abilities of the chosen form.


At level 19, the shifter has the option to take the form of a fey:

Fey Shape

Prerequesites: Magical Beast Shape, Wis 35, Knowledge Nature 30.

Benefits: You can use your wild shape ability to take the form of any creature of the fey type. You gain all extraordinary and supernatural abilities of the chosen form.


I've developed these three forms (see also below) as feats, so they are also available for epic druids. The shifter does not need to meet the prerequesites unless he choses them as feats.


Epic Dragon Shape

Prerequesites: Advanced Dragon Shape, Dragon Shape, Beast Shape, Wis 40, Knowledge Nature 50.

Benefits: You can use your wild shape ability to take the form of any creature of the dragon type including all epic dragons. You gain all extraordinary and supernatural abilities of the chosen form.

 

[Destil]

The Shifter Bible

This post on the WotC Min/Max boards is a massive list of various forms a shifter could take at each level and describes the benefits of each. The TRICK they describe is using a wording combination between the Druid Wildshaping ability and the Shifter's Greater Wildshape ability to avoid all restrictions when wildshaping.

~hf

The "Trick" is rather clearly against the intention of the powers, let alone the wording. My PC shifter (level 5 druid, 7 shifter) liked the Fang Dragon (Monsters of Farun)& Hydra forms the best at level 12.

The other thing to note is that unless you weaken Shapechange a bit some poor level 17+ shifter is going to have 10 levels of a prestige class basicly pointless because it's more than matched by this 9th level spell. I've limited it to 1 change / caster level and added a hit die limit as well as a limit to inanmate object weight, myself.

EDIT: Also, renzormath (sp?) is NASTY. It's also completly over the top (10d10 heat damage from touching it?) Something else a shifer DM should seriously consider taking down a notch or 8 (2d10 fire is still better than most creature's acid damage when using swallow whole).

 

[Dark Dragon]

The "Trick" is rather clearly against the intention of the powers, let alone the wording. My PC shifter (level 5 druid, 7 shifter) liked the Fang Dragon (Monsters of Farun)& Hydra forms the best at level 12.

Yep, agreed. But are you sure about the Fang Dragon? IIRC, a shifter can take only the standard dragons in MM (but not a wyvern, dragon turtle,...).

The other thing to note is that unless you weaken Shapechange a bit some poor level 17+ shifter is going to have 10 levels of a prestige class basicly pointless because it's more than matched by this 9th level spell. I've limited it to 1 change / caster level and added a hit die limit as well as a limit to inanmate object weight, myself.

We're using a HD limit, too (maximum is HD of the shifter character). Works fine.

EDIT: Also, renzormath (sp?) is NASTY. It's also completly over the top (10d10 heat damage from touching it?) Something else a shifer DM should seriously consider taking down a notch or 8 (2d10 fire is still better than most creature's acid damage when using swallow whole).

Aye, grappling with a remorhaz or delivering a touch spell on it isn't big fun. But Protection from Elements or better, Energy Immunity will offer a good protection.
BTW: someone on the boards already noticed that a remorhaz can deal massive heat damage, but the creature is neither from the fire subtype, nor has it fire immunity. How can it survive its own heat?