I seem to always swing back around the druid and shape shifting eventually, maybe its becuase I've never been satisfied with any shape shifting focused druid I've played. heh Maybe's becuase I always know I can be more effective as a caster eventually than I can as a front liner.
Anyway I'm trying to create the simplest way to make a high level PF druid wild shape seem attractive.
Biggest problem right now ?
Druid level 12 ..... your maxed unless the campagin ends at level 13 your going to feel the urge to die in a spectacular fashion so you can roll up a new character for 13 onwards.
So the simplest solution would seem to be 8 level of a PrC to keep wildshape fun and tasty.
now another smaller issue is that if you want the big stat bonuses then you need to go huge and thats not always an option and when it is not always a good choice.
So allowing wildshape to go gargantuan imho is a poor option for continuation.
Now as the subject suggests do we first create some new spells beast shape 5 and 6 and elemental body 5 and 6. And then give wildshape progression into these spells via the PrC
would you simply add a bunch of inherent bonuses ?
+4STR +4DEX +4CON to all forms level 5
+6STR +6DEX +6CON to all forms level 6
more natural armor more DR etc etc
OR
Tailor bonuses to each size giving medium size more of a bonus than the large and huge forms
do you then give the PrC +1 to level of caster ?
or do you instead allow Druid+PrC to equal effective caster level stopping the druid getting 7th to 9th level spells (but allowing spell effects to scale) in which case you can be more generous with the stat bonuses.
OR
Do you instead not make new spells of beastshape 5 e.g. and instead have the PrC give bonuses at various levels.
e.g.
All animal forms get Temporary hit points equal to caster level upon using wildshape, these do not stack but reset if you use wildshape again. You can benefit from this ability every 1d4+1 rounds
All Elemental forms gets 5/DR, if they already have DR this increases by 5, all form gain an extra slam attack
All Plant Forms gain Regeneration 5 even if they don't have it ! all plant forms have a minimum speed of 30feet, all forms gain an extra slam attack
(just some random ideas to spread out over the PrC)
All forms gain inherent bonuses of +2STR, DEX and CON at PrC levels 2, 4, 6 and 8
If you take the shape of a medium form using wild shape you may choose for it to not count against your daily usage. You can do this up to a number of times equal to your WIS modifier. (which can improve to Large eventually)
You can even make the PrC 10 level with a really nice capstone so that the druid would need to sacrifice Huge elemental and Huge Plant to reach it
Thoughts ?
Oh also in the shapeshifting vein as a core class option instead of PrC.(instead of making a 2nd thread about exactly the same thing)
Sorc variant
d8 Hit dice
3/4 BAB
Can ONLY cast transmutation spells (they make up his entire spell list so the sorc cannot even use scrolls/wands with spell from other arcane schools)
Knows all transmutation spells for his level (like a cleric)
Can cast any spell he knows spontaneously without memorisation
Has normal casting per day of a sorc
Loses bloodines
Gains the Transmutation School powers of the wiz
which is kinda half assed I know heheh but there it is anyway.
Here, I made this a while ago, it seems to have some good reviews. I think people like it and in my opinion its well balanced.
I also got some good reviews on balance.
Have fun if you like
Please give comments.
Bonded Wild Shape Druid Variant
Instead of using their Nature Bond ability to acquire an Animal Companion or Domain. The druid has the option of enhancing their Wild Shape ability, thus granting their Wild Shape a handful of special features.
[u]The Changes[/u]
+++ Starting at 1st level you are capable of using Beast Shape I at will.
+++ All other instances of your Wild shape ability function as normal except that your uses per day become hours per day. Thus at 6th level where you would normally have 2 uses of Wild shape per day, you'd instead have 2 hours of Wild shape per day. You can use this time in any manner in which you desire.
Example: You could Wildshape for 45 minutes, then for 25 minutes at another time, then for 50 more minutes later on.
+++ A Bonded Wild Shape druid is capable of taking on the shapes of Vermin. Add the following list of Vermin abilities to the appropriate Beast Shape levels.
+++ You are unable to cast spells while in a shapeshifted form, even if you have the natural spell feat.
Vermin Abilities
[u]Beast Shape I[/u]
Malleable, Susceptible to Salt, Water Dependency, Pull (Filament), Luminescence, Flash Burst, Attach, Blood Drain, Poison 1/round for 2 rounds (1d2 Ability Type Damage), cure 1 save.[u]Beast Shape II[/u]
Lunge, Mandibles, Sudden Strike, Gnaw, Poison 1/round for 4 rounds (1d3 Ability Type Damage), cure 2 consecutive saves.[u]Beast Shape III[/u]
Poison 1/round for 6 rounds (1d4 Ability Type Damage), cure 3 consecutive saves.Nature's Magic
Starting at 4th level you gain a magical enhancement bonus to your natural attacks equal to 1/4 your Druid level. This bonus functions like that of a normal magical weapon for the purposes of attack, damage, and bypassing damage reduction.Quickened Shape
At 7th level your Wild Shape ability becomes a move action.At 11th level your Wild Shape ability becomes a swift action.
Becoming Familiar with a Shape
In order to assume the shape of a creature you must be familiarized with that type of creature. Becoming familiar with the creature is done by studying its way of life. This is represented by a Knowledge check appropriate for the type of creature against DC 10 plus the creature's Challenge Rating. You must spend a total of 24 hours studying however, you may not study in periods less than 2 hours.If you fail to succeed the Knowledge check after having studied, you may attempt to make another knowledge check at half the time requirement, after you have fully rested.
You are able to memorize a total amount of shapes equal to half your Druid level plus your Intelligence modifier, minimum one. You are capable of replacing previously learned shapes with new ones.
Example: Leila, a female Druid has spent three to four days studying the habits and general life of a squirrel family. She has accumulated at least 24 hours of time studying these animals and is now capable of taking their shape.
If Leila had failed to study these animals, she would need to have a full night's rest, and then study them for 12 hours, if she once again failed the check then she would require another full night's rest and only 6 hours of study the next day.
Interesting
Reminds me of the PHB2 3.5 Druid varient
but hows this help in the higher levels ? All these abilites cept for nature's magic seem to improve the lower levels only, and greater magic fang can cover the nature's magic effect.
Any thoughts on improving wildshape for lv13-20 ?
My system does away with shapes per day and goes hours instead.
Thus you can spread it all around.
I had this conversation with someone on the boards not so long ago.
Short version...
A Wildshape IV to fit the logical progression would allow Gargantuan and tiny/fine (can't remember which now) sizes. The fine size was deemed too munchkiny (Hey I'm a flea hiding in the fighter's hair you can't see me but I can cast spells okay-fine!) so it was decided that a swarm form would be more balanced and fitting (I'm a mozzie swarm directing other mozzie swarms try to put paid to the Municipal Marsh Draining company).
Magical Animals was a big no-no for both fluff reasons, ie Owlbears are MA and Nature Boy wouldn't want anything to do with them. And they are too much "Look at me! I'm a spell using Gorgon for the next 12 hours with reallystinky breath.
A vermin form would be nice.
Well in my Nature Bond Wild Shape variant I had originally used magical beasts but removed them for several reasons.
The ones you list, and the fact that determining abilities gained was a bit annoying.
I did add and keep the vermin forms though.
So that's all cool, lol.