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Toying around with an idea for a Shapeshifting focused Druid. I would appreciate any feedback or ideas. This is just a rough idea at the moment and I would like to build it out more completely to use in a home campaign. I have toyed around with dropping the Shapeshifter to a 6 level spell progression, and I feel this would make the Shapeshifter more balanced, but also less of an Archetype and more of an Alternate Class (which I am not against entirely, but is definitely much more work hehe).
Some Druids feel that to truly serve nature they must become that which they choose to protect. The Shapeshifter focuses on shifting his form into those of natural creatures to use their strength as his own.
At 1st level, a druid gains the ability to turn herself into any small or Medium animal and back again once per day. Her options for new forms include all creatures with the animal type. This ability functions like the beast shape I spell, except as noted here. The effect lasts for 1 hour per druid level, or until she changes back. Changing form (to animal or back) is a standard action and doesn’t provoke an attack of opportunity. The form chosen must be that of an animal the druid is familiar with.
A druid loses her ability to speak while in animal form because she is limited to the sounds that a normal, untrained animal can make, but she can communicate normally with other animals of the same general grouping as her new form. (The normal sound a wild parrot makes is a squawk, so changing to this form does not permit speech.)
A druid can use this ability an additional time per day at 2nd level and every two levels thereafter, for a total of ten times at 18th level. At 20th level, a druid can use wild shape at will. As a druid gains in levels, this ability allows the druid to take on the form of larger and smaller animals, elementals, and plants. Each form expends one daily usage of this ability, regardless of the form taken.
At 4th level, a druid can use wild shape to change into a Large or Tiny animal or a Small elemental. When taking the form of an animal, a druid’s wild shape now functions as beast shape II. When taking the form of an elemental, the druid’s wild shape functions as elemental body I.
At 7th level, a druid can use wild shape to change into a Huge or Diminutive animal, a Medium elemental, or a Small or Medium plant creature. When taking the form of animals, a druid’s wild shape now functions as beast shape III. When taking the form of an elemental, the druid’s wild shape now functions as elemental body II. When taking the form of a plant creature, the druid’s wild shape functions as plant shape I.
At 10th level, a druid can use wild shape to change into a Large elemental or a Large plant creature. When taking the form of an elemental, the druid’s wild shape now functions as elemental body III. When taking the form of a plant, the druid’s wild shape now functions as plant shape II.
At 12th level, a druid can use wild shape to change into a Huge elemental or a Huge plant creature. When taking the form of an elemental, the druid’s wild shape now functions as elemental body IV. When taking the form of a plant, the druid’s wild shape now functions as plant shape III.
This ability replaces the standard Wildshape ability as well the Nature Bond ability.
At 3rd level the Druid gains Evasion while in a Wildshape form.
The Shapeshifter's Wildshape is more in tune with the form of the natural creature than a normal Druid. Starting at 8th level a Shapeshifter gains a +2 inherent bonus to their physical ability score when using Wildshape. This bonus is to the ability score which is highest physical ability score of the animal whose shape the Shapeshifter is taking. If the animal does not have a single ability score which is higher than the others the Shapeshifter chooses when shifting to which ability score the bonus is applied. This bonus increases by 2 for every 6 levels beyond 8th to a maximum of +6 at 20th level.
At 10th level the Druid gains MultiAttack while in a Wildshape form.
At 15th level the Druid gains Improved Evasion while in a Wildshape form.
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Why evasion? and wich are the abilities of nromal druids that the Shapehifter lose?
ATM they lose Nature Bond. They then gain bonuses which apply in Wildshape. The idea is that they lose the animal companion or Domain and instead are much more proficient while in a Wildshape form. Again this may require the Shapeshifter drop to a 6 level spell progression to balance out the extra versatility and power from the boosted Wildshape.
EDIT: I have edited the original post to reflect the restriction that Evasion, Improved Evasion, MultiAttack, and Natural Form only apply while in a Wildshape form.
Dotting to look at later.
RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
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Anyone else have any thoughts or opinions? Just looking to get some feedback on the Archetype.
I think to effectively balance this, you should drop this Druid archetype's casting ability, probably down to the Bard spellcasting progression, and then give it some Bonus Feat gains where they can choose specific wild-shape-centric bonus feats, like Aspect of the Beast, Natural Spell, Powerful Shape, Quick Wild Shape and Wild Speech. You could give the bonus feats at 3rd, 7th, 11th, and 15th levels.
You should also make Wild Shape better at higher levels by including access to Vermin Shape, Giant Form, and Form of the Dragon spells through the Wild Shape ability. You could allow Vermin Shape I at 4th level, Vermin Shape II at 7th level, Form of the Dragon I at 12th level, Form of the Dragon II and Giant Form I at 15th level, and Form of the Dragon III and Giant Form II at 18th level. You should make sure that there are restrictions on the dragon and giant types (for example, a druid from a cold climate could only use the Form of the Dragon ability to become white dragons and Giant Shape to become frost giants, etc.)
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Anyone else have any thoughts or opinions? Just looking to get some feedback on the Archetype.I think to effectively balance this, you should drop this Druid archetype's casting ability, probably down to the Bard spellcasting progression, and then give it some Bonus Feat gains where they can choose specific wild-shape-centric bonus feats, like Aspect of the Beast, Natural Spell, Powerful Shape, Quick Wild Shape and Wild Speech. You could give the bonus feats at 3rd, 7th, 11th, and 15th levels.
You should also make Wild Shape better at higher levels by including access to Vermin Shape, Giant Form, and Form of the Dragon spells through the Wild Shape ability. You could allow Vermin Shape I at 4th level, Vermin Shape II at 7th level, Form of the Dragon I at 12th level, Form of the Dragon II and Giant Form I at 15th level, and Form of the Dragon III and Giant Form II at 18th level. You should make sure that there are restrictions on the dragon and giant types (for example, a druid from a cold climate could only use the Form of the Dragon ability to become white dragons and Giant Shape to become frost giants, etc.)
I like the idea to include more Wildshape centric bonus feats and this would definitely push it to the lower spell progression.
I also like adding Vermin Shape, but Dragon shape is moving too far away from the nature focus imo. Dragons are more arcane creatures than natural. I am not sure about Giant shape. Giants are more humanoid than I feel is right for this Archetype.
I will try to rework the Archetype a bit to include these alterations and post back later(probably tomorrow). In the meantime feel free to comment on what is here and post any suggestions.
My wife played a druid in two campaigns, both under 3.5 and PF, and used the alternate version of the 3.5 Druid Wildshape from the 3.5 Player's Handbook II, where the druid can take animal shape all day long, at will, but is limited in the shape they can take.
If you want to do this, I'd suggest adapting that. But, I'd make it more along the lines of animal type. Something like this :
At 1st level, a druid gains the ability to turn herself into a small or Medium animal at will. Her options for new forms are restricted to a single animal type. For example, if the druid chose Ursine, then they could change into a small or medium bear. If she instead chose feline, she could change into a housecat, a lynx, or any other small or medium feline. This ability functions like the beast shape I spell, except as noted here. The effect lasts until the druid wills herself to no longer be in animal form. Changing form (to animal or back) is a standard action and doesn’t provoke an attack of opportunity. The basic animal type must be of a type that exists where the druid was born. A druid who dies or loses consciousness in her animal form will retain that animal form until they awaken (if unconscious) or forever (if dead).A druid loses her ability to speak while in animal form because she is limited to the sounds that a normal, untrained animal can make, but she can communicate normally with other animals of the same general grouping as her new form. (The normal sound a wild parrot makes is a squawk, so changing to this form does not permit speech.) A druid may not take the form of a magical beast, even if it is of the appropriate type (although at higher levels, this is possible).
At 4th level, a druid can use wild shape to change into a Large or Tiny animal of the appropriate family. When taking the form of their chosen animal type, a druid’s wild shape now functions as beast shape II.
At 7th level, a druid can use wild shape to change into a Huge or Diminutive animal of the appropriate type. When taking the form of an animal, a druid’s wild shape now functions as beast shape III.
At 10th level, a druid can use wild shape to change into an appropriate animal of the selected type. When taking the form of an animal, a druid's wild shape now functions as beast shape IV.
At 12th level, a druid may select another animal type to add to her list of animal types. Every two levels, she may select another animal type to add to her list of animal types. She may only use these additional animal types as if using beast shape I or II. For example, a 15th level animal shape druid would could choose Feline as her base form, and be able to turn into any feline using beast shape I to IV, as well as some magical beast felines. She could have two additional base forms, such as Bird and Reptile, and both of those she could assume forms of using beast shape I and II. Thus she could assume the form of a sabre tooth tiger, or a house cat, or a stork, or a monitor lizard.
Alternately, she may choose an Elemental type or Vermin forms for her base form. If she chooses an Elemental type (water, fire, earth, or air) then at 12th level, she may choose an additional elemental type that she didn't choose before, and gain the ability to use that form as either elemental body I or II. If she chooses Vermin, she may only ever turn into vermin forms (which must be chosen by family, insect, arachnid, etc), however, she may choose additional forms beginning at level 7, and can use both Vermin Shape I and II with those additional forms.
This ability replaces the standard Wildshape ability as well the Nature Bond ability.
So, this gives much longer use of the wild shape ability, but highly restricted. At higher levels, they get more versatility, but have less power in those versatile forms.
Just my $0.02 worth.
Re. natural form: Inherent bonuses are usually permanent. Try enhancement, size or untyped.
I'd like a Shapeshifter Druid Archetype that focuses on animal & plant only forms. I honestly don't see a druid turning into elementals. It seems more like what a Shaman would do, I guess its from playing WoW too much, lol.
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Reworked the archetype a bit.
SHAPESHIFTER
Some Druids feel that to truly serve nature they must become that which they choose to protect. A Shapeshifter focuses on shifting his form into those of natural creatures to use their strength as his own.
A shapshifter's number of spells per day for each spell level is one less than normal (for example, a 4th-level shapeshifter has three cantrips, two 1st-level spells, and one 2nd-level spell). If this reduces the number of spells per day for that level to 0, she gains only the bonus spells she would be entitled to based on her Wisdom score for that level.
At 1st level, a druid gains the ability to turn herself into any small or Medium animal and back again once per day. Her options for new forms include all creatures with the animal type. This ability functions like the beast shape I spell, except as noted here. The effect lasts for 1 hour per druid level, or until she changes back. Changing form (to animal or back) is a standard action and doesn’t provoke an attack of opportunity. The form chosen must be that of an animal the druid is familiar with.
A druid loses her ability to speak while in animal form because she is limited to the sounds that a normal, untrained animal can make, but she can communicate normally with other animals of the same general grouping as her new form. (The normal sound a wild parrot makes is a squawk, so changing to this form does not permit speech.)
A druid can use this ability an additional time per day at 2nd level and every two levels thereafter, for a total of ten times at 18th level. At 20th level, a druid can use wild shape at will. As a druid gains in levels, this ability allows the druid to take on the form of larger and smaller animals, elementals, and plants. Each form expends one daily usage of this ability, regardless of the form taken.
At 4th level, a druid can use wild shape to change into a Large or Tiny animal, a Small or Medium vermin, or a Small elemental. When taking the form of an animal, a druid’s wild shape now functions as beast shape II. When taking the form of a vermin, the druid’s wild shape functions as vermin shape I. When taking the form of an elemental, the druid’s wild shape functions as elemental body I.
At 7th level, a druid can use wild shape to change into a Huge or Diminutive animal, a Medium elemental, a Tiny or Large vermin, or a Small or Medium plant creature. When taking the form of animals, a druid’s wild shape now functions as beast shape III. When taking the form of an elemental, the druid’s wild shape now functions as elemental body II. When taking the form of a vermin, the druid's wild shape functions as Vermin Shape II. When taking the form of a plant creature, the druid’s wild shape functions as plant shape I.
At 10th level, a druid can use wild shape to change into a Large elemental or a Large plant creature. When taking the form of an elemental, the druid’s wild shape now functions as elemental body III. When taking the form of a plant, the druid’s wild shape now functions as plant shape II.
At 12th level, a druid can use wild shape to change into a Huge elementa or a Huge plant creature. When taking the form of an elemental, the druid’s wild shape now functions as elemental body IV. When taking the form of a plant, the druid’s wild shape now functions as plant shape III.
This ability replaces the standard Wildshape ability as well the Nature Bond ability.
A Shapeshifter's focus on the form of natural creatures permanently alters her natural form to more closely resemble the forms she emulates. At 1st level the Shapeshifter gains Aspect of the Beast as a bonus feat.
At 1st level a Shapeshifter gains Natural Spell as a bonus feat. The Shapeshifter does not need to meet the prerequisites to gain this feat.
At 3rd level a Shapeshifter gains Evasion while in a Wildshape form.
At 5th level a Shapeshifter gains Wild Speech as a bonus feat. The druid does not need to meet the prerequisites to gain this feat.
The Shapeshifter's Wildshape is more in tune with the form of the natural creature than other Druids. Starting at 8th level a Shapeshifter gains a +2 inherent bonus to their physical ability score when using Wildshape. This bonus is to the ability score which is highest physical ability score of the animal whose shape the Shapeshifter is taking. If the animal does not have a single ability score which is higher than the others the Shapeshifter chooses when shifting to which ability score the bonus is applied. This bonus increases by 2 for every 6 levels beyond 8th to a maximum of +6 at 20th level.
At 10th level a Shapeshifter gains MultiAttack while in a Wildshape form.
At 15th level a Shapeshifter gains Improved Evasion while in a Wildshape form.