What Abilities Should A Shapeshifter Class Have?
- Thread starter Kaodi
- Start date
Tetsubo
First Post
I've been playing with this idea in my head as of late. With the new Shapeshift variant Druid class ability in PHB II I think we might have a good base. I'm thinking a fusion of the Shapeshift ability with the MoMF PrC... On odd numbered levels (starting at 1st) the class would get a base Shapeshift form that was at will and improved with every future odd level. On the even levels the class would gain a Wildshape ability with additional featues culled from the MoMF PrC... This class would have no spells, 3/4 BAB, good Fort and Ref saves, Simple weapons only, Light Armour only, skill list I haven't thought of..., no Animal Companion...
This is just off the top of my head mind you...
This is just off the top of my head mind you...
Kaodi
Legend
One thing I think the Shapeshifter should have over any other is this:
When using the abilities of the Shapeshifter class, you *retain* your base physical abilities and adjust them with the racial modifiers of the new form.
I looked up Master of Many Forms on Google, and one of the first things I found was a thread on Wizards talking about strength and dexterity being dump stats. But hell, if you are a shapeshifter with no spell-like abilities, what the hell else are you going to want to put your stat points in to improve your abilities? Having your own strength, dexterity and constitution translate into the new form is, I think, integral to making it a good class.
Skills... hmmm... 6 + Int/level?
Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Disguise, Escape Artist, Heal, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Profession, Search, Speak Language, Spot, Survival, Swim, Tumble
I left out Handle Animal, because the Shapeshifter is a master of shape, not making friends. Bluff and Intimidate make sense for wild animals, where Diplomacy and Sense Motive make less sense, at least in my line of reasoning. I was going to put in Knowledge skills, but instead, to make sure it covers only what abilities make sense, I would give them a Shifting Knowledge ability, like bardic knowledge, that gives them a bonus equal to their class level on checks made to discern the abilities of any creature. Synergy from the appropriate skills would apply, however.
One other thing I am not sure about... What creature types to you see a Shifter being able to take on? I see it as rather limited. Humanoids, Animals and Vermin to start, adding in Monstrous Humanoids, Magical Beasts and Giants as levels progress, and probably Fey and Abberations as well. Outsiders maybe as well. Constructs, Elementals, Oozes, Plants and Undead I'm less certain of. Elementals could possibly part of their normal progression, or Outsiders might not be, but Constructs, Oozes, Plants and Undead I think should require at least a feat chain, and maybe even a prestige class. I think I would keep Elementals and Outsiders as part of this group of special cases. My reasoning being that creatures of these types are a fundamental shift away from animal-like creatures to completely different kinds of life (plants), non-life (constructs, undead and oozes), and forces (elementals and outsiders).
When using the abilities of the Shapeshifter class, you *retain* your base physical abilities and adjust them with the racial modifiers of the new form.
I looked up Master of Many Forms on Google, and one of the first things I found was a thread on Wizards talking about strength and dexterity being dump stats. But hell, if you are a shapeshifter with no spell-like abilities, what the hell else are you going to want to put your stat points in to improve your abilities? Having your own strength, dexterity and constitution translate into the new form is, I think, integral to making it a good class.
Skills... hmmm... 6 + Int/level?
Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Disguise, Escape Artist, Heal, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Profession, Search, Speak Language, Spot, Survival, Swim, Tumble
I left out Handle Animal, because the Shapeshifter is a master of shape, not making friends. Bluff and Intimidate make sense for wild animals, where Diplomacy and Sense Motive make less sense, at least in my line of reasoning. I was going to put in Knowledge skills, but instead, to make sure it covers only what abilities make sense, I would give them a Shifting Knowledge ability, like bardic knowledge, that gives them a bonus equal to their class level on checks made to discern the abilities of any creature. Synergy from the appropriate skills would apply, however.
One other thing I am not sure about... What creature types to you see a Shifter being able to take on? I see it as rather limited. Humanoids, Animals and Vermin to start, adding in Monstrous Humanoids, Magical Beasts and Giants as levels progress, and probably Fey and Abberations as well. Outsiders maybe as well. Constructs, Elementals, Oozes, Plants and Undead I'm less certain of. Elementals could possibly part of their normal progression, or Outsiders might not be, but Constructs, Oozes, Plants and Undead I think should require at least a feat chain, and maybe even a prestige class. I think I would keep Elementals and Outsiders as part of this group of special cases. My reasoning being that creatures of these types are a fundamental shift away from animal-like creatures to completely different kinds of life (plants), non-life (constructs, undead and oozes), and forces (elementals and outsiders).
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GreatLemur
Explorer
I prefer the idea of a shapeshifter who, instead of turning into a tiger in order to fight, just grows claws on his own hands. It seems a lot more logical than screwing around with stripes and a tail and such.
So what I'd like to see is a class that isn't about turning into specific animals and monsters, but which gives the character an increasing number of shift points (for lack of a better term) which can be distributed to various anatomical capabilities like natural weapons and armor, size changes, physical ability score changes, movement speeds in different kinds of locomotion, sensory capabilities, etc. Naturally, access to different abilities would depend on progression through the class (no growing wings at first level). It also might grant things like the shapechanger subtype, resistance and eventualy immunity to critical hits, the ability to mimic specific forms with a disguise check, minor regenerative abilities, etc.
Balancing factors would include a limited point supply to fuel different abilities at once, slower transformation times than Druids and such have (Anyone seen An American Werewolf in London?), maybe Fort saves against a DC based on the number of shift points being reassigned to avoid some kind of consequences, and probably none of that convenient "your clothes change along with you" jazz that polymorph effects usually include.
Obviously, though, this whole thing would be a nightmare to balance.
So what I'd like to see is a class that isn't about turning into specific animals and monsters, but which gives the character an increasing number of shift points (for lack of a better term) which can be distributed to various anatomical capabilities like natural weapons and armor, size changes, physical ability score changes, movement speeds in different kinds of locomotion, sensory capabilities, etc. Naturally, access to different abilities would depend on progression through the class (no growing wings at first level). It also might grant things like the shapechanger subtype, resistance and eventualy immunity to critical hits, the ability to mimic specific forms with a disguise check, minor regenerative abilities, etc.
Balancing factors would include a limited point supply to fuel different abilities at once, slower transformation times than Druids and such have (Anyone seen An American Werewolf in London?), maybe Fort saves against a DC based on the number of shift points being reassigned to avoid some kind of consequences, and probably none of that convenient "your clothes change along with you" jazz that polymorph effects usually include.
Obviously, though, this whole thing would be a nightmare to balance.
Andor
First Post
Well I think taking a look at the warshaper and Nature's Warrior as well as the MoMF will help. This is a non-spellcasting alternative to the druid. Before 5th level maybe humanoids and monstrous humanoids. After that he should be ahead of the druid as far as shapeshifting goes, since it's his only shtick. So more shifting, more forms, and some partial shifting/additional abilities to distinguish him and expand his role beyond giving pony rides at the local carnival.
GreatLemur
Explorer
Well dang. I'll have to give Incarnum another look, then. Thanks.Nifft said:You've described the Totemist from Magic of Incarnum. It's regarded as fairly well balanced.
