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When a Beastform barbarian rages, he transforms into an animal and fights with claws and teeth instead of steel and wood. Instead of the normal bonuses provided by rage, a beastform barbarian assumes the form of an animal. This ability functions identically to the beast shape spell, and is explained in detail below (The following is just reminder text, it does not stack with the actual effects of the beast shape spell). If he becomes a Medium animal, he receives a +2 bonus to his Strength score and a +2 natural armor bonus. If he assumes the shape of a Small animal, he gets a +2 bonus to his Dexterity score and a +1 natural armor bonus. This is a (polymorph) effect and carries all such rules with it (such as gaining all natural attacks of the chosen form and having all the barbarian's gear meld into his new form for the duration). Additionally, while in Beast Form, the beastform barbarian receives a +2 morale bonus to his Reflex saving throws. This ability otherwise functions as rage, has the same limit on how many rounds it can be used per day, and still fatigues the beastform barbarian when he ends it. A beastform barbarian cannot use Beast Form while fatigued or exhausted. This ability replaces rage.
When the beastform barbarian assumes an animal's form, he chooses one of that animal's modes of movement and increases it by 10 feet for the duration of the transformation. This ability replaces Fast Movement.
Beginning at 2nd level, the beastform barbarian's skin begins to get tough, like the fur of the animals he changes into. And yet for some reason, he cries out in true pain every time he is hit by a silver weapon...A beastform barbarian gets Damage Reduction equal to 1+1/4 levels. This Damage Reduction is overcome by silver weapons. This ability replaces uncanny dodge and damage reduction.
Beginning at 3rd level, the beastform barbarian's fur has really sprouted, and he sheds his human clothes and lets the animal protect him. The beastform barbarian is unable to wear armor (non-magical clothing with an armor bonus of +0 is fine), but his fur grants him a +1 natural armor bonus that persists even if he changes his form through magic or supernatural abilities. This natural armor bonus does not stack with any other natural armor bonus except enhancement bonuses or the bonus provided by a beast shape spell or effect. The natural armor bonus increases by +1 at 6th level and every 3 levels afterwards (to a maximum of +6 at level 18). A beastform barbarian with the Body of the Lycanthrope ability is unable to receive an armor bonus of any kind to his AC (including bonuses from spells like mage armor). This ability replaces trap sense.
At level 5, the beastform barbarian gains a greater mastery over his abilities, allowing him to transform for non-combat purposes without tiring him afterwards. The beastform barbarian is able to change his shape, as the beast shape I spell, for up to 1 minute per day per class level, divided into 1 minute increments (these increments need not be consecutive). While using Improved Control, the beastform barbarian does not receive any bonuses to his ability scores, and all of his natural attacks are treated as secondary attacks. As an added bonus, the beastform barbarian is treated as a spellcaster with the beast shape spells on his spell list for the purposes of activating magic items like wands or scrolls. His effective caster level is equal to his class level. This ability replaces improved uncanny dodge.
Starting at level 6, the beastform barbarian's Beast Form ability now functions as beast shape II. The Reflex save bonus granted improves to +3. Additionally, the beastform barbarian's Improved Control ability now functions as beast shape II as well. This replaces greater rage.
Starting at level 10, the beastform barbarian's Beast Form ability now functions as beast shape III. The Reflex save bonus granted improves to +4. Additionally, the beastform barbarian's Improved Control ability now functions as beast shape III as well. This replaces mighty rage, and does allow the beastform barbarian to assume the form of magical beasts.
Starting at 14th level, the beastform barbarian is treated as an animal rather than a humanoid (or whatever his type is) for the purposes of being affected by spells and spell-like abilities while he is using Beast Form or Improved Control. For instance, while in Beast Form, the beastform barbarian would no longer be a valid target of the dominate person spell, but would be a valid target of the charm animal spell. This ability replaces indomitable will.
Also starting at 14th level, the beastform barbarian's Beast Form ability now functions as beast shape IV. The Reflex save bonus granted improves to +5. Additionally, the beastform barbarian's Improved Control ability now functions as beast shape IV as well. This replaces mighty rage.
At 20th level, the beastform barbarian's power reaches its limit. When in Beast Form, the beastform barbarian can change his form every round as if using the shapechange spell, though he is still limited to animals and magical beasts. Additionally, the beastform barbarian can now assume the form of any animal or magical beast, regardless of size.
The adjustments for a Gargantuan creature (of either type) are +10 Str, -6 Dex, +10 natural armor. The adjustments for a Colossal creature (of either type) are +12 Str, -8 Dex, +12 natural armor.
The adjustments for a Fine creature (of either type) are -8 Str, +10 Dex, +6 natural armor.
While in Beast Form, the beastform barbarian gains all of the special qualities, special attacks, and supernatural abilities of his chosen form (but not spellcasting or spell-like abilities). This replaces the beastform barbarian's level 20 rage power.
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New Rage Powers:
Multimorph
Prerequisites: Beastform Barbarian level 6
While using Beast Form, you may expend one round of rage for the day to change your form to a different form allowed by your Beast Form ability as a swift action.
Pouncing Lion
Prerequisites: Beastform Barbarian level 10
While using your Beast Form, you gain a +1/4 levels of barbarian bonus to damage rolls with all natural weapons you use as part of a charge attack.
Hunting Raptor
Prerequisites: Beastform Barbarian level 6
While using your Beast Form, if you make a charge attack while flying, you may move to your target, make an attack as part of the charge, and then keep moving in a straight line (except that your straight line allows for any change in altitude you wish, so you may rise or descend as you like). Your total movement for the round may not exceed up to twice your fly speed. This movement does not provoke an attack of opportunity.
Power of the Lycanthrope
Prerequisites: Beastform Barbarian level 8
While using your Beast Form, the damage of all your natural weapons increases by one size category.
Stalking Panther
Prerequisites: Beastform Barbarian level 6
While using your Improved Control ability, you gain the Camouflage and Hide in Plain Sight abilities (as the ranger) while you are in a forest or jungle terrain.
That is a really well-thought-out archetype. Congratulations.
My one reservation is that Heart of the Lycanthrope is just a bit too good; I'd scale it back to 1 + 1-per-4-levels (max DR 6/silver at level 20).
The reason is that although it is similar to the Invulnerable Rager (who goes to DR 10/- vs your proposed DR 10/silver) the versatility of the beastshape rage is just so much greater than the ordinary rage, leaving the overall balance a bit too favorable to the beastform barbarian.
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I love the archetype. Just a couple questions I have. Where does this power, that only lasts for a short time, come from? I see you tie it to lycanthropy, but how is it so controlled? I have two suggestions.
1. Tie it to a totem animal type thing like the druid archetypes. you're giving a full BAB class one of the signature moves of a druid as a swift action. Druids become good martial characters because wild shape brings them up to par. Even though the old rage morale bonuses are gone, they have many more abilities going for a better melee power. The totem animal can give it a restriction to lessen its power. To go outside of totem animal, they go one beast shape spell left. If you Don't like the animal options, just lay out which abilities a cat or bear gets. The beast shape spells will designate which of those abilities can be accessed when.
2. At the low levels especially, I might not always be raging. But I don't necessarily want to be locked into using a weapon for that time. Instead of trap sense could we get a weak claw/bite attack? 1d4/1d6?
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I love the archetype. Just a couple questions I have. Where does this power, that only lasts for a short time, come from? I see you tie it to lycanthropy, but how is it so controlled? I have two suggestions.
1. Tie it to a totem animal type thing like the druid archetypes. you're giving a full BAB class one of the signature moves of a druid as a swift action. Druids become good martial characters because wild shape brings them up to par. Even though the old rage morale bonuses are gone, they have many more abilities going for a better melee power. The totem animal can give it a restriction to lessen its power. To go outside of totem animal, they go one beast shape spell left. If you Don't like the animal options, just lay out which abilities a cat or bear gets. The beast shape spells will designate which of those abilities can be accessed when.
2. At the low levels especially, I might not always be raging. But I don't necessarily want to be locked into using a weapon for that time. Instead of trap sense could we get a weak claw/bite attack? 1d4/1d6?
I don't care that I'm giving a druid's signature move to a full BAB class. The druid still has ninth level casting, his ability lasts for hours per level, and he gets a pet tiger along with it. Giving Wild Shape to a full BAB class isn't going to make it any better than a druid. Anyway, I don't want to restrict it to a single animal, at that point it's no different than lycanthropy except that you have to spend a whole class to get the same abilities that you could have gotten by taking the template.
The idea of the class is that the character is a barbarian who uses rage to awaken the power of the wild and slowly gains more and more control over it, so there's no reason for you to gain a pair of claws or a bite from it when you're not raging.
However, I'm sure that your DM would consider Beast Form to be close enough to Wild Shape that you would qualify for the Aspect of the Beast feat if you so chose. I'll unofficially state that errata here, since there's no way to edit this page.
Here:
Special:
Beast Form counts as the Wild Shape class feature for the purpose of qualifying for the Aspect of the Beast feat.
Looks like fun. You should come up with a few specially themed rage powers.
Ok, I like this!
The one thing that seems off to me is the total inability to recieve an armour bonus. It bugs me. How does it make sense that because you are hairy even magic can't armour you?
All the rest seems pretty awesome though.
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Ok, I like this!
The one thing that seems off to me is the total inability to recieve an armour bonus. It bugs me. How does it make sense that because you are hairy even magic can't armour you?
All the rest seems pretty awesome though.
It's for balance. The fluff of it is basically that your new body is resisting the magical confinement that would grant it an armor bonus. After all, mage armor does give you a suit of armor, even if it's made of force.
Timeless Transformation would be a better name Effortless Transformation.
Or tireless transformation.
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1. The beastform barbarian may not select any totem powers except the beast totem powers. The beastform barbarian may not take the totem warrior archetype.
2. The beast totem powers are changed in the following ways:
Lesser Beast Totem:
Prerequisites: Beastform Barbarian
Benefit: When you use Beast Form, choose a skill that a typical animal of the type you transform into has ranks in. You receive a +2 bonus to all skill checks of that type for the duration of the form you assumed. (If you change forms during Beast Form, select a new skill appropriate for the new form immediately). The bonus to the skill check increases by +1 for every 3 beastform barbarian levels you have.
Beast Totem:
Prerequisites: Lesser Beast Totem, Beastform Barbarian 6
Benefit: This rage power is identical to the standard barbarian power, except the bonus it provides is an enhancement bonus to your existing natural armor instead of a flat bonus.
Beast Totem, Greater:
Prerequisites: Lesser Beast Totem, Beast Totem, Beastform Barbarian 10
Benefit: When you use your Beast Form ability, choose a special attack that requires an attack roll, a combat maneuver check, or allows a saving throw that your new form has. You get a +4 bonus to the attack roll or combat maneuver check, or increase the DC of the saving throw by +2. This bonus increases by +1 for every 5 levels of beastform barbarian you have beyond 10. This bonus immediately changes to a new appropriate special attack if you change forms during your Beast Form.
The Wolf Shifter from Wayfinder 5, which is free, contains this wonderfully balanced class which contains the same flavor as your archetype. The book 101 Renegade Class Feats contains feats that are balanced and support this class. One feat even enables you to take the form of animals other than wolves. It's worth the look. Go check it out.
Or tireless transformation.
Hmm. Yeah. Thats what my brain thought my fingers were typing... :)
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The Wolf Shifter from Wayfinder 5, which is free, contains this wonderfully balanced class which contains the same flavor as your archetype. The book 101 Renegade Class Feats contains feats that are balanced and support this class. One feat even enables you to take the form of animals other than wolves. It's worth the look. Go check it out.
I looked. It doesn't look like a viable alternative to my class. My class avoids pointless feat taxes and also has a faster and more logical progression of power (while the wolf shifter follows the standard barbarian progression of a small boost every 10 levels).
The Wolf Shifter from Wayfinder 5, which is free, contains this wonderfully balanced class which contains the same flavor as your archetype. The book 101 Renegade Class Feats contains feats that are balanced and support this class. One feat even enables you to take the form of animals other than wolves. It's worth the look. Go check it out.I looked. It doesn't look like a viable alternative to my class. My class avoids pointless feat taxes and also has a faster and more logical progression of power (while the wolf shifter follows the standard barbarian progression of a small boost every 10 levels).
Ignoring your tinge of arrogance, your build allows no armor and no magic weapons. Sure someone can cast greater magic fang and mage armor on you, but as the levels scale, they won't hold a candle to a +3 flaming burst Greataxe, or even a +2 Mythril chainmail. At lower levels, your archetype is definately sexy, I'll give it that, but at higher levels, though t may get some wicked abilities, those abilities won't help if you're dead. Keep in mind that I haven't factored in magic items as there isn't any explecit statement on how they function during the beastform.
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Ignoring your tinge of arrogance, your build allows no armor and no magic weapons. Sure someone can cast greater magic fang and mage armor on you, but as the levels scale, they won't hold a candle to a +3 flaming burst Greataxe, or even a +2 Mythril chainmail. At lower levels, your archetype is definately sexy, I'll give it that, but at higher levels, though t may get some wicked abilities, those abilities won't help if you're dead. Keep in mind that I haven't factored in magic items as there isn't any explecit statement on how they function during the beastform.
The barbarian has never been known for having a high AC. I have played many a barbarian in my time, and my AC has never exceeded 20. The standard barbarian has no use for a Dexterity score and is restricted to medium armor. And as the levels scale, AC gets more and more irrelevant as the monsters' attack bonuses scale higher and higher. So I really don't find your +5 mithral full plate (+14 AC, total of 27 if I had 16 Dex) to be a useful tool for me, or even a good use of 100000+ gp for the barbarian.
As for the weapons, meh. The damage bonus from Pouncing Lion combined with Power Attack will get you close enough to a magic item appropriate for your level, and as for penetrating damage reduction, if it's really an issue then it's your party caster's duty to either cast GMF on you so that you can penetrate it or solve the problem himself with spells. You're still a barbarian, you're still as close to SAD as any melee class will ever be, so no reason to not start the game with an 18-20 Str and keep pumping it.
As for magic items, it's a (polymorph) effect. Here's the relevant text from the PRD:
" Items that provide constant bonuses and do not need to be activated continue to function while melded in this way (with the exception of armor and shield bonuses, which cease to function)."
All other items meld into your body when you assume the form of a creature with the animal type. So, items like an amulet of natural armor or a belt of physical might will continue to function perfectly well. So if it's really an issue for you to bypass damage reduction, you can get an amulet of mighty fists +5 for 50,000 gp (which is alot, but it's softened by the fact that you don't need/can't wear armor) and it will function in your transformed state.