Hi
I'm working on a shape dancer class built on the summoner. Scheduled for eventual publication with Purple Duck Games. Not quite sure yet if it will be an archetype, alternate class, or its own class entirely.
The basic concept of the class has been trough friendly playtesting, and it works if you don't try to abuse it. So what I'm asking for is friendly abuse - to spot the holes in the design, I need builders to look for ways to break the class and make absurd things with it.
So, here goes, the Shape Dancer:
Shape Dancer (Summoner Archetype)
The shape dancer is not a summoner at all. Rather than summoning creatures, he changes shape to become the monsters he wants.
Class Information
This is an archetype for the classic summoner (not the unchained summoner) that shifts their own shape instead of summoning other creatures.
Class Skills
Acrobatics (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int ), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Fly (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Skill points per level: 4 + Int mod.
Class Features
This archetype has all classic summoner (not unchained summoner) class features, except as noted.
Spells
A shape dancer casts and learns spells as a summoner, but uses the alchemist formula list for his spell list. The spells on the list are not elixirs to the shape dancer, they are arcane spells. Spells that affect alchemist abilities the shape dancer does not have, such as bombs or discoveries, are not on the shape dancer's spell list. The shape dancer cannot use cantrips and ignores the level zero column in Table: Summoner Spells Known. This modifies spells and replaces cantrips.
Eidolon Form (Su)
As a standard action a shape dancer can assume the form of a powerful magical beast, an eidolon, or return to his normal shape. The shape dancer assumes the eidolon form's shape and abilities. The eidolon form is not a summoned creature, and cannot be banished, dismissed, or dispelled. If the shape dancer is unconscious, asleep, or killed, eidolon form immediately ends. Use the classic summoner's eidolon ability for eidolon form, not the unchained summoner's eidolon. The eidolon form is built as if it was a classic summoner's eidolon, with the modifications outlined here.
Each eidolon form receives a pool of evolution points, based on the shape dancer’s class level, that can be used to give the eidolon form different abilities and powers. Whenever the shape dancer gains a level, he must decide how these points are spent, and they are set until he gains another level of shape dancer.
The eidolon form’s physical appearance is up to the shape dancer, but it always appears as some sort of fantastical creature. This control is not fine enough to make the shape dancer appear like a specific creature. A shape dancer retains his alignment, type, and subtypes. He uses his own base attack bonus, base saves, feats, skill ranks, and class skills (modified by the eidolon form's attribute modifiers and size); the eidolon form has no skills, class skills, or feats of its own. He gains the eidolon form's armor bonus (any natural armor an eidolon has becomes armor for the eidolon form), darkvision, and all the eidolon form’s evolutions. The eidolon form is limited to the eidolon forms’s maximum number of natural attacks. The eidolon form uses the shape dancer's ability scores as its base form ability scores, modified by the eidolon form's evolutions and the Str/Dex bonuses from Table: Eidolon Base Statistics. The eidolon form cannot apply the ability increase evolution to mental ability scores or the skilled evolution to skills with mental key attributes (Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma). The eidolon form cannot select any evolutions that are spell-like abilities, and can spend no more than one third of its evolution points on evolutions that are supernatural abilities.
While in eidolon form, the shape dancer gains 4 temporary hit points per class level. These temporary hit points are persistent from one use of eidolon form to another. When these temporary hit points reach 0, the eidolon form ends. The shape dancer cannot use eidolon form again until he has used renew shape to restore his eidolon form's temporary hit points. When the shape dancer is in eidolon form, the eidolon form’s temporary hit points can be restored with the rejuvenate shape ability, the rejuvenate eidolon spell, and other effects that specifically restore eidolon hit points, but not by other means such as natural rest or cure spells. The temporary hit points can never exceed the eidolon form's starting hit points. While using eidolon form, the shape dancer loses the benefits of any armor worn. The shape dancer can use all of his own abilities and gear, except for armor. To cast spells with somatic components, the eidolon form must have arms.
The shape dancer can use transmutation (polymorph) effects simultaneously with eidolon form, further transforming himself. When he does so, he loses darkvision and all evolutions that are exceptional abilities, except those affecting armor and physical ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution). He keeps the eidolon form's armor bonuses.
This replaces eidolon.
Renew Shape (Sp)
The shape dancer can restore the temporary hit points of his eidolon form to full with a 1-minute ritual. This ability can be used even if the eidolon form has been dispelled by reducing the temporary hit points to zero. This ability can be used once per day at 1st level, and one additional time per day for every four levels after the first. This replaces summon monster I, III, V, VII, and IX.
Shape Link (Su)
The shape dancer can use his own health to maintain his eidolon form. Whenever the temporary hit points from his eidolon form would be reduced to 0, the shape dancer can sacrifice any number of his own hit points. Each hit point sacrificed this way prevents 1 point of damage (thus preventing the loss of the shape dancer’s temporary hit points), preventing the eidolon form from being disrupted. This replaces life link.
Shapechanger Subtype (Ex)
At 2nd level the shape dancer becomes a natural shape changer and gains the shapechanger subtype. This replaces bond senses.
Shape Dance (Sp)
At 3rd level, as a 5-minute ritual, the shape dancer can change the distribution of his eidolon form's evolution points, as transmogrifyAPG (sp). If this ritual is interrupted, the shape dancer cannot use eidolon form until he has successfully finished this ritual on a later attempt. At third level the shape dancer can use this ability once per day. At level 7, and every 4 levels thereafter, the shapedancer gain an additional daily use, up to a maximum of 4 times per day at level 15. A ritual that is interrupted does not count against the daily limit. This replaces summon monster II, IV, VI, and VIII.
Shielded Shape (Ex)
At 4th level, whenever the shape dancer is in eidolon form, he gains a +2 shield bonus to his Armor Class and a +2 circumstance bonus on his saving throws. This ability replaces shield ally.
Swift Eidolon Form (Su)
At 6th level the shape dancer can use eidolon form as a swift action. This ability replaces maker's call.
Greater Shape Dance (Su)
At 8th level the shape dancer can change his eidolon form's base form when using shape dance. This ability replaces transposition.
Greater Shielded Shape (Ex)
At 12th level, whenever the shape dancer is in eidolon form, he gains a +4 shield bonus to his Armor Class and a +4 circumstance bonus on his saving throws. This ability replaces greater shield ally.
Extend Polymorph (Ex)
At 14th level, when the shape dancer casts a transmutation (polymorph) spell with a duration of 1 minute/level on himself, he can choose to extend the duration of that spell to 10 minutes/level(D). This ability replaces life bond.
Fast Shape Dance (Su)
At 16th level the shape dancer can use shape dance in one minute. This ability replaces merge forms.
Shapechange (Sp)
At 19th level, the shape danger can use shapechange (sp) as a swift action. The shape dancer can use this ability a number of rounds per day equal to his class level. This replaces gate.
Supreme Shielded Shape (Ex)
At 20th level, whenever the shape dancer is in eidolon form, he gains a +6 shield bonus to his Armor Class and a +6 circumstance bonus on his saving throws. This ability replaces twin eidolon.
Table: The Shape Dancer
Level:Special
1st:Eidolon form, renew shape I, shape link
2nd:Shapechanger subtype
3rd:Shape dance
4th:Shielded shape
5th:Renew shape (2/day)
6th:Swift eidolon form
7th:Shape dance (2/day)
8th:Greater shape dance
9th:Renew shape (3/day)
10th:Aspect
11th:Shape dance (3/day)
12th:Greater shielded shape
13th:Renew shape (4/day)
14th:Extend polymorph
15th:Shape dance (4/day)
16th:Fast shape dance
17th:Renew shape (5/day)
18th:Greater aspect
19th:Shapechange
20th:Supreme shielded shape
I haven't thoroughly looked through this class. But, if its using the same evolution and evolution pool as original summoner, you can pretty easily abuse lots of natural attacks. And early pounce. But that is no more broken than Summoner, so. I have wanted to make this (based off of synthesist) for a long time.
Thanks... Oh, at first it was 1 person, 2 posts... You just happen to have the same pic. :o
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A battle of Avatars!
Our campaign uses a similar 'class', only available to Eberron Changeling Wizards, that allows taking the form of creatures based on CR (broken). Using Evolutions will work better in my opinion, as they were at least meant for this modification. You might add features or feats to allow faster or partial changes, perhaps based on the points value or theme (flight is flight). Our class will break in a level or two when the CR really becomes 'game-able.