Werebear race or Bearlike kitsune race or something else?


Advice


Hi all,

I like to create a character which can turn into a bear at will, but don't like to play a druid. I don't need the hybrid shape, I mainly want a bear form. Also I don't care for spellcasting, i would like to be mainly melee and stealth focused. The bear is more flavor than combat... with some bonusses.

In short I would like to play a rogue or ranger focused on swordplay, but with the option to transform in a bear at will. Maybe the bear shape gives in proved stealth and improved perception/detection because of great smell (so where there is a lot of wind or a extreme other smell this doesn't work). Also in bear shape the character won't be attacked by animals... or something like that.

I was thinking of achieving this by creating a new race, Bearfolk or something? Probably something similar to a kitsune, but instead of a fox a bear... I can't find any official material, and I prefer official paizo material, but something other is also ok :-)

Has anybody got some good advice about how to go about creating this character or character race?


Well, you could use the Race Builder. Get Alter Self as an At-Will SLA, restricted to a single form, etc.


GM Arkwright wrote:
Well, you could use the Race Builder. Get Alter Self as an At-Will SLA, restricted to a single form, etc.

This comes with the caveat that the Race Builder is bad and should feel bad.

It is hilariously easy to make races that are better than published races for less RP. I can make a race that contends with Drow Noble for brokenness while having less RP than an Aasimar.

If you decide to actually use it, compare whatever you make with the core races. Or Kitsune, since that compares pretty closely to the core races and is basically a 10rp race according to the race builder. If your race looks significantly better than them you need to weaken it.


In my defense I said 'could'.

Scarab Sages

There is the Coldborn Skinwalker which has a werebear hybrid form, but it sounds like that's not exactly what you are looking for.

If you want to take actual bear form as a ranger-like character, your best bet is going to be a Feral Hunter. They trade the animal companion for wild shape, are very ranger-like, and can also give teamwork feats to creatures they summon.


here is a werebear-kin player race
this Ranger can take on aspects of a bear
this Hunter gets wildshape and isn't a druid
this skald can get wild shape to turn into a bear


Thanks for the reactions! i see that only wildshape gives a real bear form? The others like the werebear kin or the shapechanger ranger are more hybrids? Or am i wrong?

In that case i would like to build my own race, but if the racebuilder isn't any good... I think ill take the kitsune as a starting point and reflavor.. If this doest work i am going for the hunter... Any tips on building the new arctos race (latin name for bear is ursus arctos.. I like it) are welcom!!

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