Virtual Feats...

[Dwarmaj]

The main class ability of the Shifter is to take on the form and abilities (including feats) of different creatures.

Can the feats gained by a Shifter be considered virtual feats?

There's no duration on Wild Shape/Greater Wild Shape so it seems someone could train long enough in a form that gives certain feats, then select a new feat based on the character's current feats (including those gained from a particular form). The newly gained feat would only be useful in forms that allowed the character to meet all the prerequisites.

From Masters of the Wild:

Virtual Feats
If a character has a class feature or special ability that exactly duplicates the effects of a feat, then he or she can use that "virtual feat" as a prerequisite for other feats, as well as prestige classes, and so forth. For example, a ranger can fight with two weapons as if he had the feats Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting, so he is considered to have those feats for the purpose of acquiring the Greter Two-Weapon Fighting feat detailed in this section. If the character ever loses the virtual prerequisite, he or she also loses access to any feats or other venefits acquired through its existence. For example, a ranger who wears armor heavier than light loses access to the virtual feats noted above, and therby to Greater Two-Weapon Fighting as well. Acquiring a virtual feat does not give a characer access to its prerequisites.

Added test from MotW

 

[Dwarmaj]

Bump...

Seems valid to me...

Would you allow shifters in your games to use the feats of creatures they can simulate as virtual feats? True they'd loose access to selected feats if they change into a form that doesn't meet the prerequisites, but I can see where a shifter could have just a few forms they liked and took feats to help in scouting or combat based on those forms.