The Form Mage (Okay, Second Try!)

[DiniUra]

He doesn't become an animal, he approximates one by choosing from the menu below. Take a hint from the astral construct 3.0 for lv of ability gained (1 menu a, 2 menu b, etc - then assign the below info for the menu).

Actually that was almost the concept behind another exparimental class I was working on, The Bodyshaper. I like the concept, but I find it's just to much trouble to create option-heavy classes like that, as the key rule to an option-heavy class is to give them more options than they could every possibly use.

Wild Talent sorcerer concept that basically uses a Spell Point Pool (similar to Psi Points [balanced to appropriat uses per day]) to use Alter Self, Polymorph and Shapechange (gained at different levels)? Those are the only "spells" they know. Thoughts?

That would be alot simpler, but it brings back the problem of quantifying "Forms known." Another option could be that their assume-form ability increased in potency as they leveled - from Alter Self, to Polymorph, to Shapechange. Sort of weakens them at low levels, though.

1) No time limit on forms.
Since the forms taken will be of lower power than most players of the same level, there is little conflict of interest.

I'm not sure I follow you on this... according to the Dungeon Master's Guide, a 1 CR creature is balance against an entire 1st-level party. While I've always liked the idea of duration-less shapeshifting, I just don't know if it would be balanced. Being able to become a creature that can take on your party, 1 to 4, for as long as you wish seems a bit much.

2) Gain new forms as you progress
Maybe start with beasts or vermin at first level, then gain new types as the character improves. It may give the players something to shoot for as they progress.

There's an idea, sort of fits in with the Polymorph/shapechange progression idea...

Level 1: Assume form (aberration, animal, dragon, fey, giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid, ooze, plant, or vermin. No incorporeal/gaseous forms.)
Level 10: (Any type. Incorporeal/gaseous forms allowed.)

3) Keep the HD per day, but loose the memorization. Much more fun to
transform on the fly.

No one seems to like the memorization bit. 'Suppose I should change it.

4) Loose the familiar, but possibly gain similar abilities through levels? (Living as other animals does give a new perspective. Wasn't that a focus on Disney's "The Sword and the Stone"?)

Another bit no one seems to like. I honestly just can't think of anything to replace the familiar with. Anyone have any ideas?
-----------------------

So, basic changes we're looking at so far:

1. BAB raised to Medium (as Cleric)
2. Slightly better skill set... Can't think of what to add though.
3. Spontaneous Assume Form
4. HD becomes CR
5. Assumes all abilities, ala Shapechange
6. CR cap = Form Mage level.
7. Increased CR/day.
8. Something to replace the Familiar, a Thousand Faces, perhaps?
9. Minutes/level becomes Hours/level.

Anything I miss?

 

[Fieari]

Something about the fact the comment that, as written in the first post here, a lvl 1 form mage could become an orc 6 times a day struck me with an alternative idea. What if, when the form mage assumes a new form, being killed in that form merely returns him to his normal self? That way, becomming an Orc 6 times -really is a help-... you're more or less gaining HP that you can use as a meatshield every time you transform. At low levels, that'd be VERY usefull. At high levels... hm, might be broken there, gaining bucketloads of HP more or less for free. Hrm.

A thought, anyway.

 

[ElectricDragon]

Seems to me HD and CR don't actually define what the creature can do as a character. That is the definition of ECL (HD+LA). If you give the class all the abilities of the creature changed into (Ex, Sp, and Su) and remove duration or extend it to 1 hour/level, then ECL would be a better way to gauge the power of the form taken.

I like the idea of a monster book listing forms that can be taken. The familiar doesn't seem to fit the theme of the class though.

Just my thoughts...

Ciao
Dave

 

[DiniUra]

What if, when the form mage assumes a new form, being killed in that form merely returns him to his normal self?

Oddly enough, my orignal idea for the Hunter Class (see above) was very similar. All his forms tracked Hit Points sperately, if he dropped to -10 in an alternate form, the form was erased from his Hunter's Mark (spell book) and he had to make a Fortitude save or take the form's full Hit Points as damage. Fail or not, he would automatically fall unconcious for 2d6 rounds.

Seems to me HD and CR don't actually define what the creature can do as a character. That is the definition of ECL (HD+LA). If you give the class all the abilities of the creature changed into (Ex, Sp, and Su) and remove duration or extend it to 1 hour/level, then ECL would be a better way to gauge the power of the form taken.

I like the idea of a monster book listing forms that can be taken. The familiar doesn't seem to fit the theme of the class though.

Just my thoughts...

I'd tend to agree, but using CR is just easier - Not every Monster in the Manual has a listed Level Adjustment, but every single one does have a Challenge rating.

 

[Dalamar]

I had a class made for 3.0 that had this same idea, using shift points. The rules for the shifting itself were pretty much taken verbatim from the rules for wild shape found in the Masters of the Widlerness book. I never had a chance test the class though. But here it is anyway, if for nothing else but comparison.

 

[DiniUra]

I had a class made for 3.0 that had this same idea, using shift points. The rules for the shifting itself were pretty much taken verbatim from the rules for wild shape found in the Masters of the Widlerness book. I never had a chance test the class though. But here it is anyway, if for nothing else but comparison.

I like it. The idea for free-form and fixed form is nice - it suits the idea of a natural shifter very well. The idea of charging more per-size category struck me as a bit odd at first, but looking through the Monster Manual, it's actually quite balancing. One thing I was a bit unclear about though: Can a Shifter un-bond with one of his fixed forms?

(Updated Class)

 

[Dalamar]

As written, no they can't unbond. Were I to rewrite the class, however, I'd probably go for something similar to the Runethane's runes from Monte's Arcana Unearthed instead of points for the free-form shifting for easier bookkeeping, and then I'd try and figure a way to remove the points from the fixed-form shifting too. Easiest way would be to have a total number of alternative forms per day, and another number limiting how many times a given form may be used.

 

[Storyteller01]

Sorry about the previous comment. Still in dragon star mode, I guess. But if that's the case why not cut the amount HD in half?

 

[Storyteller01]

Why not allow a temporary familiar? In the movie 'Beast Master' the main character could see through the eyes of his eagle. I know, this is standard for any arcane spellcaster, but I'm thinking... why not form a temporary bond with an animal (maybe one week per level?). Make it so that the mage can only bond with a creature he can turn into. The mage gains the same benefits, but can swap animals as needed. Also, since the bond is temporary, massive costs are not required, exp isn't lost, and your not likely to have a ticked off former familiar out to kill you.

I think it fits the flavor your looking for.