Following this, here is my take on the strange guy living in the wilderness.
New class: the Savage Beast
Version 0.00, March 2010
I’ll stop after this one. Really. I think.
Version 0.01
The Savage Beast doesn't need to start Wild Shaping at level 1, so I'll return it to level 4. He'll also gain Fast Healing and Venom Immunity at some later level.
HD: d12
BAB: 3/4
Saves: good Fortitude and Reflex, bad Will
Skills: 4 points per level
Alignment: Neutral
Armor proficiency: no armors, no shield
Weapon proficiency: none
Abilities: Wild Shape, Rage, Unarmed Natural Fighting, Harness the Power of Nature
Wild Shape
Same as a Druid’s, with these changes: the number of changes per day is one per level, and each change's duration is 10 minutes per level; if a shape's duration comes to an end, and the Savage Beast wants to keep it seamlessly, he can start to use another change per day as a free action to stay in the form. At level 20, he can change shape at will and gains the Shape-changer subtype.
Rage
...with Rage Powers, Fast Movement, and Tireless Rage: same as a regular Barbarian’s
Unarmed Natural Fighting
the Savage Beast’s attacks are both unarmed strikes and natural attacks, whether he’s in his own shape or not. He uses the monk’s damage progression if its damage is greater (after the size change) than what his current form provides. He also gets Flurry of Blows, and the AC and Speed increases like a monk, but no Stunning Fist.
Harness the Power of Nature
The character isn't at ease in civilized settings (they can’t use Diplomacy and Bluff), and prefers to live in open areas, whether they are forests, plains, mountains, etc.
A Savage Beast prefers wearing just enough functional clothing to survive, rather than elaborate tissues changed everyday (it doesn’t meant that it isn’t clean, just not seen as clean by civilized people). He can have possessions and equipment as well, but they will rarely be of the best appearance. He rarely speaks a humanoid language either (and, when he does, it shows) but can communicate emphatically with natural animals.
The natural environment gives the Savage Beast confidence and strength, which he loses when surrounded by civilization.
Starting at first level, by resting at least 4 hours outside and spending one hour prowling a large enough natural area, he gains a progressive Morale modifier (+1 the first day, +2 the second, etc), which applies to his attack and damage rolls, as well as his AC. When positive, this bonus to attack is considered magical and can help bypass material-related DR like magic weapons usually do. If the Savage Beast doesn’t spend time outside for his daily ritual (for any reason: imprisoned, unconscious, adventuring in civilized parts, etc), the modifier is progressively lowered (and can become negative) until it hits its level-dependent minimum.
Levels : Max > Min
1 - 4 : +1 > -4
5 - 8 : +2 > -3
9 -12: +3 > -2
13-16: +4 > -1
17-20: +5 > 0
Example: a level 12 starting with a modifier at 0 and spending a week outside then a week inside will have the following values for his modifier: 0, +1, +2, +3, +3, +3, +3, +2, +1, 0, -1, -2, -2, -2.
Additionally, while the bonus is +3 or more, the Savage Beast gains Venom Immunity. While the bonus is +4 or more, he gains Fast Healing 1. While the bonus is +5; he gains Fast Healing 2.
- Thoughts, ideas, criticism?
I like it a lot. Monk and Barbarian are my favorite classes and you've rather deftly combined them. oooh, you could use this class for a were-gorilla. That'd be badass
No more comment?
I intend to give the class some additional abilities every five levels, whichever shape he has changed into (not gonna write "morphed" anymore because of the creeping blue gnomes). He can choose any one "Ex" ability of animals he's able to change into (such as pounce, grab, and trip), or one monter feat. Useful? Appropriate? Balanced? Don't be shy and tell me what you think.