So, I've started to play a Druid with the shapeshift variant, but I have a few small issues/questions I'm hoping the clever people here can help with.
1- how would it interact with classes/feats that modify wildshape? It's an unlimited use ability anyway, so extra uses don't help, and the size/hd limitation is also moot. I guess a prestige class could stack for progression of the ability. The notable class in my head right now is Daggerspell Shaper, and the kinds of feats I'm thinking of are the ones where you can spend a wildshape use for an ability (notably Swim like a Fish from CAdv which would satisfy my second concern) and feats that modify what you wildshape into (notably Dragon Wild Shape)
2- lack of a waterbreathing swimming form, or a form with a good climb speed. I don't see the lack of burrow speed acess as a problem, and I won't miss the climb speed that much, but the aquatic/swimming thing will be a bad drawback (part of the campain is near/on water)
3- the inablitiy to take a form smaller than I am. Probably won't matter very often, but from time to time I would appreciate the difficulty in being hit while running away.
And advice/help would be appreciated, and if I think of anything I'll put it up here.
1- how would it interact with classes/feats that modify wildshape? It's an unlimited use ability anyway, so extra uses don't help, and the size/hd limitation is also moot. I guess a prestige class could stack for progression of the ability. The notable class in my head right now is Daggerspell Shaper, and the kinds of feats I'm thinking of are the ones where you can spend a wildshape use for an ability (notably Swim like a Fish from CAdv which would satisfy my second concern) and feats that modify what you wildshape into (notably Dragon Wild Shape)
Yeah a PrC that boosts wild shape will also boost shapeshift. I don't have my books on me, but I'd probably rule that abilities and feats which use wild shape uses/day couldn't work off of shapeshift, although then again maybe not. I could see an ability/feat that removes a druid's ability to shapeshift for the rest of the day instead of using a wildshape use/day. (such an ability feat would have to have a very limited duration though)
2- lack of a waterbreathing swimming form, or a form with a good climb speed. I don't see the lack of burrow speed acess as a problem, and I won't miss the climb speed that much, but the aquatic/swimming thing will be a bad drawback (part of the campain is near/on water)
I made just such a form in my Tome of Collected House Rules. I don't think any reasonable DM would have a problem with such a form.
3- the inablitiy to take a form smaller than I am. Probably won't matter very often, but from time to time I would appreciate the difficulty in being hit while running away.
Likewise I don't think a reasonable DM would have a problem with such a form though I haven't statted one out yet.
Hope that helps,
TS
I am playing a Shapeshifting Druid/Swordsage right now.
Go back to the write and reread the section title "Replaces".
It states that you are replacing the animal companion and wild shape class features for your shapeshifting. So you can not use Feats, Spells or magic items that boost wild shape because you do not have that ability.
You have traded in the wild shape x times/days for the ability to change into the specific animals forms at will and as often as you want.