Something I'm working on for our campaign. Introduction/backstory etc at the bottom.
The Spider Shaman
A shaman of this totem calls upon the giant spider, woodland stalker and feared hunter.
Nature Bond: A spider shaman who chooses an animal companion must select a spider. If choosing a domain, the spider shaman must choose from the Animal, Darkness, Madness and Strength domains.
Wild Empathy (Ex): A spider shaman can use wild empathy with insects as a full-round action with a +4 bonus.
Totem Transformation (Su): At 2nd level, a spider shaman may adopt an aspect of the shaman while retaining her normal form. She gains one of the following bonuses:
movement: +20 enhancement bonus to climb speed
senses: darkvision 30 ft, tremorsense 30 ft
natural weapons: bite [2d4], poison [frequency 1/round (6), effect 1 Str damage, Cure 1 save, Con-based DC] for a Medium druid
While using totem transformation, the spider shaman may speak normally and can cast speak with animals (insects only) at will. Using this ability is a standard action at 2nd level, a move action at 7th level, and a swift action at 12th level. The spider shaman can use this ability for a number of minutes per day equal to her druid level. These minutes do not need to be consecutive, but they must be used in 1-minute increments. This is a polymorph effect and cannot be used while the druid is using another polymorph effect, such as wild shape.
Totemic Summons (Su): At 5th level, a spider shaman may cast summon nature’s ally as a standard action when summoning spiders, and summoned spiders gain temporary hit points equal to her druid level. She can apply the young template to any spider to reduce the level of the summoning spell required by one. She can also increase the level of summoning required by one in order to apply either the advanced or the giant template, or increase it by two to apply both the advanced and giant templates. This ability replaces a thousand faces.
Wild Shape (Su): At 6th level, a spider shaman’s wild shape ability functions at her druid level –2. If she takes on the form of a spider, she instead uses her druid level +2.
Bonus Feat: At 9th level and every 4 levels thereafter, a spider shaman gains one of the following bonus feats: Agile Maneuvers, Lunge, Mobility, Spring Attack. She must meet the prerequisites for these bonus feats. This ability replaces venom immunity.
Things I am looking for advice/criticism on:
Using "insects" or "spiders and insects" for wording, I intend them to mean the same thing. Also considering having this just become basically a "vermin druid" and calling it something else. I don't want to do either the vermin keeper of vermin lord prestiges I've seen floating around, I basically just want to play a druid with a spider motif, not create a whole new class around spiders/insects/vermin.
Had a hard time coming up with 4 domains that were spiderish, any suggestions? Not a big deal for me since I have the companion but I wanted to make something others could use if they so desire. Might be a bit easier if this was a generic vermin druid. Same with the feats; I'm pretty happy with them the way they are but if anyone has any alternate or additional suggestions, I'm open. I do need a 5th feat to round out the bonus list at least. Was thinking something along the lines of blind fight or something related. Considering adding vermin heart as a bonus feat (like in the 1-3 level range somewhere) for flavor, and depending on how broad this ends up. (ie full out vermin druid)
Instead of tremorsense maybe a +4 racial bonus to perception. I had written down to make the poison deal Con dmg but decided to just go with the bestiary spider's poison which does Str dmg. Was trying to stick to Pathfinder core book for simplicity. Yes I know that doesn't make any sense since the whole shaman thing comes from the APG, just work with me :P
---
Boring intro ahead:
Just getting back into gaming after about 10 years, wasn't really serious about it back then but I've met some gamers in the last couple months and it's just kinda happening now. Our DM informed me that Pathfinder is fully compatible with 3.5 stuff so I started looking at the millions of 3.5 books as well as homebrew stuff as our DM is quite flexible. His main rule is we are epic adventurers and we could be from any background, so non-core stuff is ok. As long as things are balanced he'll pretty much let anything go.
So I found a homebrew prestige called the Spider Rider and got inspired. I've always been drawn to the druid-type classes, a nature's ally/defender style character. So I wanted to basically play a druid by the rules except have a spider for a companion and ride her around for the majority of the time. He worked with me to work out the spider as a companion (just reworked stats and attacks from the bestiary) and we just follow the mounted combat rules.
Now that's all going fine and we've got everything working but I got really interested in the idea of a "spider shaman" a la the shaman types from the APG. Mentioned it to the DM and he said he's down for whatever but wanted it posted on the forums so it could be picked apart, and that takes us to here.
---
Any input is appreciated,
Statik
