Transmutation

[Zulu]

Okay so I am thinking about playing a Druid. But i would like to be able to change into the animal at will. As a swift action anyway. Is there a way to do that so I wouldn't have to change back if i didn't want to?

[kestral287]

Not all at once, no.

The Druid's Wild Shape ability covers turning into an animal. And Quick Wild Shape, (requires Caster Level 8th) lets you do it as a Swift Action. But there's no way to make the change permanent.

Now, 8th level is the critical mass where, if you push each transformation to its absolutely limit on time, you can stay shifted for 24 hours per day (three 8-hour shifts). However, you will have periods in that day where you have to demorph back to human and then shift again (a process that will, with Swift Wild Shape, leave you human (or whatever) for approximately two seconds).

Note that changing animals would still require a step to your original race for a few seconds and will massively cut down on your ability to stay shifted functionally all the time, unless you wait to change until your duration has elapsed anyway.

If you have a specific animal in time perhaps an archetype can be of help-- I don't think any of them will get you high enough, but I'd be happy to check if you can narrow the fields to search.

[concerro]

Quote:

Quick Wild Shape

You sacrifice power for speed in changing form.

Prerequisites: Wild shape class feature, caster level 8th.
Benefit: You can wild shape as a move action or a swift action. However, you are limited to forms available to a druid two levels lower when changing form as a move action, or four levels lower as a swift action.

I don't see any feats that allow you to stay in animal form longer than 1 hour/druid level, but the adventuring day is not really all that long so it would not really be an issue in most games.