I need a NPC able to assume a variety of forms for a long time, and if some PC likes the idea, why not? I gave a look to the Master of Many Forms prestige class, but it seemed not too easy to convert to the Pathfinder system. So I decided for an archetype with enhanced wildshape at the price of giving up your animal companion/domain. Seems balanced to me. We still lack spells to transform in a fey, an aberration or an outsider, so I had to use what I got, but I believe we'll see such spells too in a future. What do you think?
Shapemaster: The wildshape ability of the druid functions as normal, but the shapechanger can change into these additional forms as well:
8th level: S/M magical beast (Beast Shape III).
10th level: T/G magical beast (Beast Shape IV), S/M fey (Monstrous Physique I).
12th level: S/M ooze (Beast Shape III; see the Cave Druid archetype), T/L fey (Monstrous Physique II).
14th level: T/L ooze (Beast Shape IV), S/M vermin (Vermin Shape I), S/M aberration (Beast Shape III).
16th level: T/L vermin (Vermin Shape II), T/L aberration (Beast Shape IV), M dragon (Form of the Dragon I).
18th level: L dragon (Form of the Dragon II), L giant (Giant Form I).
20th level: H dragon (Form of the Dragon III), H giant (Giant Form II).
A Million Faces: Besides the alter self ability at 13th level, at 15th level the druid can take the form of a Small or Medium monstrous humanoid as per monstrous physique I, at 17th level the form of a Tiny or Huge monstrous humanoid as per monstrous physique II, and at 19th level the form of a Diminutive or Huge monstrous humanoid as per monstrous physique III.
These abilities replace the normal wildshape ability, a thousand faces and nature bond.
Very rough idea of what I would do without looking in the book, I might swap out more abilities if I do.
Take Away :
- Nature's Bond
- Spontaneous Summoning
- 1 spell every level
- only proficient with light armor
Give
- Class skills Disguise, Bluff
- Enhanced spell list (polymorph spells)
- Add wisdom modifier to times the character can wildshape
- Wildshape allows for more shapes, level appropriate polymorph effects, about the same level an arcanist could use them/she has them on her spell list.
- Wildshape at level 1
- Allow (additional) use of wildshape to grow appendages/features equal to 1 evolution point, becoming 2 at a later level (like a summoner's eidolon)
Umm, what about this then:
-No spontaneous summoning
-No nature bond
-Armor allowed: rosewood, leather, leaf armor, hide shirt.
-Wildshape at level 1, 1/day +1 every 2 levels (up to 10 at 19th level, and at will at 20th)
-No A Thousand Faces
And the wildshape would be:
1)Humanoids (Alter self)
3)Animals (Beast Shape I), Monstrous humanoids (Monstrous Physique I), Vermin (Vermin Shape I)
5)Animals (Beast Shape II), Monstrous humanoids (Monstrous Physique II), Vermin (Vermin Shape II), Fey (Monstrous Physique I), Elementals (Elemental Body I)
7)Animals & Magical beasts (Beast Shape III), Monstrous humanoids (Monstrous Physique III), Fey (Monstrous Physique II), Elementals (Elemental Body II), Plants (Plant Shape I)
9)Animals & Magical beasts (Beast Shape IV), Monstrous humanoids (Monstrous Physique IV), Oozes (Beast Shape III), Elementals (Elemental Body III), Plants (Plant Shape II)
11)Elementals (Elemental Body IV), Plants (Plant Shape III), Oozes (Beast Shape IV), Dragons (Form of the Dragon I)
13)Giants (Giant Form I), Aberrations (Beast Shape III)
15)Dragons (Form of the Dragon II), Aberrations (Beast Shape IV)
17)Giants (Giant Form II)
19)Dragons (Form of the Dragon III)
Bonus Feat: Planar Wildshape (11th level)
At 15th level, can talk freely in animal form
I tried to convert the PrC anyway here.
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I don't know if this will help as it is a PrC still but I converted Master of Many Forms a while back. Worked out pretty well and balanced.
Only problem we had was overcoming damage reduction with natural weapons. I wouldn't remove the animal companion honestly since I think it'd be far too weak without it. The early spell levels (Up to 3rd) still give the druid some utility at later levels. Hope it helps.
I saw it. Seems pretty similar to my conversion. You didn't use Extraordinary Form from the original like me? I don't know if leaving the animal companion is right. What about a druid with a domain? Should she receive domain spells too? Better leaving a 7/10 druid spell ability, maybe, like I did. In Pathfinder all PrCs made specifically for spellcasting characters retain spellcasting in all or in part. Maybe with more spellcasting power + the bonus feats I introduced the damage reduction's better balanced. I'll put into it Aspect of the Beast, too.
Umm, what about this then:
-No spontaneous summoning
-No nature bond
-Armor allowed: rosewood, leather, leaf armor, hide shirt.
-Wildshape at level 1, 1/day +1 every 2 levels (up to 10 at 19th level, and at will at 20th)
-No A Thousand FacesAnd the wildshape would be:
1)Humanoids (Alter self)
3)Animals (Beast Shape I), Monstrous humanoids (Monstrous Physique I), Vermin (Vermin Shape I)
5)Animals (Beast Shape II), Monstrous humanoids (Monstrous Physique II), Vermin (Vermin Shape II), Fey (Monstrous Physique I), Elementals (Elemental Body I)
7)Animals & Magical beasts (Beast Shape III), Monstrous humanoids (Monstrous Physique III), Fey (Monstrous Physique II), Elementals (Elemental Body II), Plants (Plant Shape I)
9)Animals & Magical beasts (Beast Shape IV), Monstrous humanoids (Monstrous Physique IV), Oozes (Beast Shape III), Elementals (Elemental Body III), Plants (Plant Shape II)
11)Elementals (Elemental Body IV), Plants (Plant Shape III), Oozes (Beast Shape IV), Dragons (Form of the Dragon I)
13)Giants (Giant Form I), Aberrations (Beast Shape III)
15)Dragons (Form of the Dragon II), Aberrations (Beast Shape IV)
17)Giants (Giant Form II)
19)Dragons (Form of the Dragon III)Bonus Feat: Planar Wildshape (11th level)
At 15th level, can talk freely in animal form
Stolen with a few modifications for my game1
I'd bump the Vermin shape line back an increment, Give planar wildshape at an even level and require the nature's bond to be a companion instead of removing it entirely. And remove the ability to speak at 15th level. There is no way a shapeshifitng focus druid hasn't picked up the feat that lets them do that long before 15th level.
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I guess it's personal, but I don't entirely like 9th level spellcasters without 9th level spells. We already know the druid can cast, if you wanna make him shift a lot AND a spell caster, give him the shapeshifting spells and up the duration with a added class ability replacing wild shape and animal companion. My approach was a "become the animal" type thing. Making him less of a caster and more of a front liner.
The animal companion looses alot of it's power late game and balances well with a master shifter character. If he's so focused on all aspects of nature, I see him focusing just as much on the companion as it is partially his tie to nature.
I also think talking freely in animal form at level 15th is WAY too late. At that point I would have telepathy far before that. I left out the extraordinary because then it gets a little out of hand. If I kept it (Which I thought about) then it would be like 1 per wildshape.
I think keeping spellcasting, plus improving wildshape is just pushing him towards the Druidzilla of early days. Not as good, but not as far away as it should be.
I too am not too satisfied. That's why I decided to try again to convert the PrC in a PrC (in the other thread). I followed some of your suggestions there, and like it rather more.