Recently I sat down and started thinking, I've got a lot of 3pp classes, but I don't really know what they do. So I decided to make a couple of builds for them, one at level 4 and expanding from that build to level 8. I figured this would give a fair sampling of what the builds are capable of. The builds are a 20 point buy, adjusted for race and for the level ups. This is certainly not me saying this is the only way to play the class. Nor am I saying this is the most optimized build possible.
I wanted to focus my second build on the taskshaper and really see what it was capable of. So let's have a look-see, shall we?
--------------------------Level 4--------------------------
Note: Both builds are presented without equipment as there is vast amounts of choices to make with equipment (perhaps more than any other class). This isn't to say that a task shaper is more dependent on gear than other classes, they're not. In fact, they can do remarkably well with minimal amounts of gear. However, they do have more options, when it comes to gear, than other classes.
If the game focuses around skills more than combat, the task shaper's light armor should be enchanted, otherwise enchant the heavier armor (aiming to get the wild enchantment if your DM will let it work with your shape changing abilities). Also, rings that grant a slight bonus to skills might be a consideration depending on the importance of skills in the game, though I wouldn't spend too much money on them (after all you can get +5 to most of your skills for a moment of change). Also a wand or two might be very helpful to keep on hand. And of course, all the normal goodies for a combatant and or a shape shifter like a magic weapon (or two or three of appropriate materials), amulet of mighty fists, cloak of resistance, etc.
Half-Elf Taskshaper 4
Str 18 BAB: +3
Dex 14 AC: varies with armor
Con 14 HP: 29
Int 13 Fort: +6
Wis 12 Ref: +6
Chr 8 Will: +6
Feats:
Iron Will, Power Attack,
Skills:
Acrobatics +9, Bluff +6, Disable Device +9, Disguise +6, Perception +10, Sense Motive +8, Sleight of Hand +9, Stealth +9,
Racial:
Dual Mind (+2 to will saves)
Imprint Feats:
Skill focus: Bluff, disguise, disable device, sleight of hand; deceitful; deft hands
Shaped Capacities:
Imprint Class Feature, Improved Imprint Feat,
Moments of Change: 7
So what does it do? Well, right now the task shaper is playing like a character who can, at will, change between fighter and rogue. He's proficient with all weapons and armor and wears heavy armor when expecting combat but trades that out for light armor when he's expecting to deal with traps (or rob a place). He's using moment of change either as a way to boost his strength and/or gain natural weapons, (through alter self) or as a way to boost his skills (through improved imprint feat) or using class features he doesn't have (like maybe some cleric domain powers / wizard school powers).
One important note is the lack of use magic device. This isn't simply because he dumped charisma, instead use magic device is largely unnecessary for a task shaper thanks to their mimicry ability which allows them to use spell completion and spell trigger items without UMD.
What he's not doing is much actual shape shifting. He can transform through various humanoid forms but he's not transforming into lions, tigers, or bears. Yet.
--------------------------Level 8--------------------------
Half-Elf Taskshaper 8
Str 19 BAB: +6
Dex 14 AC: varies with armor
Con 14 HP: 55
Int 13 Fort: +8
Wis 12 Ref: +8
Chr 8 Will: +7
Acrobatics +13, Bluff +10, Disable Device +13, Disguise +10, Perception +14, Sense Motive +12, Sleight of Hand +13, Stealth +13,
Feats:
Iron Will, Power Attack, Combat Expertise, improved unarmed strike
Imprint feats:
Skill focus: Bluff, disguise, disable device, sleight of hand; deceitful; deft hands; Improved Grapple; Greater Grapple; Improved Trip; Greater Trip
Shaped Capacities:
Imprint Class Feature, Improved Imprint Feat, Shaped Attack, Instant Armor
Ability shift:
Shift Condition
Moments of Change: 11
So now how is it playing? Well, much more like a shape shifting monstrosity. You're probably using beast form II at the start of any given fight to grab pounce and charge and attack, then either using it again the next round or using shaped attack to grow two additional natural weapons or improved imprint feat to grab a couple bonus feats to supplement your animal form's abilities.
Unlike most shape shifters, however, if against a creature with damage reduction that they can't easily over come (say 10/silver) he's instead staying in a humanoid form and using an appropriate weapon.
