I play in a custom campaign setting and I think I want to go this route with my next character.
That said, how can I make this useful without killing myself by the spellcasting restrictions? What are some good uses for the classes shifting powers?
Please help! I dont care if the build is beatstick, caster, or hybrid.
Homebrew..... Ok....
It looks like if you enter as a Druid you can get the capstone by 14, which could be hilarious.
Considering the restrictions on spells, I'd be tempted to say stick with Druid for the last 6 levels for more uses of wild shape only, but you could forgo spells altogether and go fighter or something equally funny.
The main thing is find wild shape forms that have good ex and su abilities, that's the gravy of the prc. Find a few forms with abilities you like, and build around that.
Until you get that capstone, just play it like a Druid with less spells per day.
Thanks spaceball.
I wasn't sure if Druid or Cleric was the way to go. How are you getting in at lvl 4 though? Druids can't wildshape till 5 right?
Any recommendations on forms? Dragonshape seems good after the capstone.
I'm getting wild shape before 5 by being pants on head retarded. That's what I get for trying to post from work.
Actually you were right about wild shape at 4. 5 was in 3.0/3.5.
Which enters at 5 and capstone at 15.
Anyone else have any ideas? Last hopeful bump. =)
That said, how can I make this useful without killing myself by the spellcasting restrictions?
I think the best approach (if you want to use this class) is to consider yourself mostly as a melee fighter (e.g. prioritize Str, Dex and Con over Wis) and accept that any spellcasting is just a bonus. Having said that, there are some good druid transmutation spells at most levels:
Level 1 = Entangle, Longstrider
Level 2 = Barkskin, Bear's Endurance (etc.)
Level 3 = Greater Magic Fang, Stone Shape
Level 4 = Spike Stones, Reincarnate
Level 5 = Transmute Rock to Mud, Baleful Polymorph
Level 6 = Liveoak, Mass Bear's Endurance (etc.)
Level 7-9 = slim pickings, but you can use metamagic on lower level spells (e.g. quickened Baleful Polymorph, etc.)
That capstone ability is potentially crazy good. Magical beasts sometimes have nutty abilities!
yeah- don't do it, lol.
i'm not a big fan of this PrC, but that wasn't the question... if you want to play this i'd actually suggest multiclassing before you take it: a transmuter wizard will (obviously) do the best with the restrictions on casting, but can't enter the class after 9th level; druids can enter at 4th, but the restrictions make their casting rough (and its not real well written... what happens when you spontaneously cast SNA, do you have to sacrifice 2 spells); the obvious solution is to take both classes- go druid 4/transmuter 1 and then take this PrC, use the bonus caster levels to up transmuter and just use your druid spells for (expensive) heals and lesser restorations (or the transmutations listed above). after level 15 (when you max this PrC) switch to Mystic Theurge to get upto 8th level wizard spells (CL 16) and add to your pool of druid spells (CL 9). don't take an animal companion, it'll fall behind fast (though, another poorly written/conceived issue... do your domain spells have to be transmutations, and if they're not do you have to also spend a non-domain spell to cast them or do you just get screwed out of that spell completely). take natural spell ASAP (at 5th level).
good luck.
edit: also, the PFS variant for wizards is to replace Scribe Scroll with a free Spell Focus. see if your GM will let you take that and it'll save you a feat for meeting the prerequisites
Yea, we aren't allowed variants or anything out of the APG and beyond. I had thought of that too. =(
Yea, we aren't allowed variants or anything out of the APG and beyond. I had thought of that too. =(
i'm not sure to whom this is addressed... everything i suggested was from the core rulebook.
also, if you're limited to the CRB how are you taking some random homebrew PrC (is it something your GM came up with)?
Ah, you're part of the Wold then.
I like this PrC a lot, but it will require some careful maneuvering to make work well.
First, you're a melee beast and not much of a caster. Druid is the strongest option for this PrC and easily your best bet. The most important thing to remember is that you're a melee brute and not a caster (though you can cast, yes).
Second, opposed schools don't mean that you're not casting those spells- it's just that you're casting at half capacity. Even if you end up ONLY picking non-transmutation spells you're still casting roughly the same amount of spells per day as a bard/inquisitor/magus/alchemist/summoner and backing it up with some very decent shifting. Don't worry about this, because you're melee first and foremost. Plus if you go the Druid route you'll get a domain which can't really be affected by this restriction.
Third, this class just gets bonkers as it goes on. I think your best choice is to go druid 10/shapeshifter 10 and just really blow it out of the water. You can dump INT and CHA with very little penalty and focus on your physical stats. Get your WIS to about a 14 or 15 and let items do the rest.
Just a few thoughts.
Sean,
Your part of the Wold too?
Nate,
Yea. This whole website is the DM's campaign setting. It rolls about 10 PbP games at a time.
Anyone have any ideas on forms once the capstone is hit? I have a pretty good handle on the class till then.
Sadly, most of the really good Magical Beasts are bigger than large. I imagine Dragon and Giant forms outstrip MB by the end of the class?
bamp
@Thunderfrog: Sadly, no. I saw a posting for it a year ago and tried to join but they'd already posted that all the slots had been filled. It looked like a very interesting world, though.
I think they are recruiting again. It's pretty nuanced in some ways but very consistant.