A player in our group is looking to play a humanoid woman who can naturally change shape into a wolf as a part of her character concept; though she isn't infected with lycanthropy. Since she's supposedly been doing this since birth, is there any way for a character to effect that transformation at 1st level?
You're looking for the Skinwalker Race. It fits the bill perfectly.
You're looking for the Skinwalker Race. It fits the bill perfectly.
The skinwalkers can't actually assume an animal form without a specific magical item though. And it is expensive enough that a level 1 character wouldn't start with it without GM help.
Yeah, like Matrix Dragon said, there's no actual animal form involved with Skinwalkers; just superficial animalistic features/bonuses. I'm looking for full-on canine alternate shape.
I'll take a look at the 3.5 Druid Shapeshifter variant later. Thanks KahnyaGnorc.
The were-bat kin can take a feat to allow shifting into a bat form. I don't see that having a similar feat for were-wolf kin into a wolf would be broken.
It isn't PFS being 3rd party, but you should have a look at the Okami variant of the Kitsune.
By default the Okami has a 'wolfman' and human form, but has a racial trait option to become a wolf. Normally this trait requires BAB+3 and WIS 13, but a chat with the GM should sort out the BAB prerequisite.
I have used this option for my character who I envisage as a wolf who takes human form rather than vice-versa.