Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mysk 08-01-07, 06:33 PM	I am fiddling around with making a base class (I know, I know, we have enough of those already eh?) that focuses on changing shapes (like alternate form, change shape, wild shape, polymorph school, shapechange, etc). --- To know full well what I'm getting into, I wanted to read as many classes as I could that focussed on this exact thing, and garner inspiration for writing it. --- Q: "Why not just make a character that uses the classes you like?" A: "For fun, I want to see what comes from this" --- Classes looked at so far: Druid (PHB) Shifter (Masters of the Wild) Master of Many Forms (CAdv) Warshaper (CW) Nature's Warrior (CW) Weretouched Master (ECS + Errata) Added: Master Transmogrifist (CA) --- Anyone have other suggestions to add to the list of things to check out? --- I have a wide range of D&D books, most Eberron/most "core" Core being D&D 3.0/3.5 non-campaign specific source books. --- Thanks in advance for anything contributed, I really appreciate it!
DragonGhoula 08-01-07, 06:47 PM	You might also want to try the Class Compendium (?) on the front page, as this has some more classes focused on shifting, and some of them are really cool. Also search the forum for Theriomorph (?). Hope this helps.
Earth_Intruder 08-01-07, 07:33 PM	Ooh! I was just thinking about something like this, tell me what is the most polymorphing like class.
Howland Reed 08-01-07, 07:38 PM	Master Transmogrifist, from Complete Arcane.
Mysk 08-01-07, 10:49 PM	Master Transmogrifist, from Complete Arcane. Ahh, I can't believe I'd forgotten about that one, that's certainly a unique prestige class. Thanks! I puttered about in the class compendium (thanks for that suggestion) and found some very well written ideas. I guess everyone likes doing things their own way, so I'll most likely adapt some of what I read into this project. Some ideas that I have been milling about and slowly committing to paper as I read: Moderate hit dice Moderate base attack bonus Good fortitude, possibly good reflex No spellcasting A debate between 2+int skills/level and 4+ The class skeleton will work along the lines of gradually giving access to more and more creature types to transform into, possibly using the wild shape(errata'd) mechanic for doing so as well as giving access to eventually every size category. Eventually give it the Ex qualities of the forms (+ feats & skills) Eventually give it the supernatural/spell like qualities The ability to transform from level 1 onwards Essentially a base class built around the shape change spell, but I don't want it to be Trumped by that spell, as then there'd be no reason to really play one at later levels. Gradual access to perhaps a +1 LA template for forms, perhaps finishing at a +2 LA template. All day ability to transform on a whim. To balance I was considering giving it a limited number of uses in combat. {all day long can be whatever you choose, when combat hits (read as, when "Threatened") the character can only shift a few times before being worn out. It's probably hard for me to convey without knowing full well what I want out of it, but along the lines of letting someone who wants to play a shape shifter do so and have a blast in a variety of forms, and when combat hits it normally takes him say, 1 minute to change forms, but in combat he can exert himself x amount of times/encounter to shift as a standard/move/swift or immediate action (gradually increasing in speed till later levels he can do it reactively as an immediate action) I feel that would let him stay competitive with others since he could become immune to their attack right before it hits him by shifting appropriately) While embracing the adaptability I kinda envision and am striving for with this. Granted a lot of this probably sounds extremely unbalancing right now. And if I was read that kind of list of what a class could do I'd decline access in a heartbeat without more thought put into it, but like I said, it's ideas I've tinkered with. In order to adopt a form you must have an amount of ranks in the appropriate Knowledge skill equal to the Hit dice of the critter you want to become (as well as meet the Your hit dice >= forms and you have access to the creature type/size through your levels) If this would be the appropriate forum to do so, I'll post a cohesive class structure when I feel as though I've done all I can on my own and it needs those second opinions to make sure I didn't leave it open to exploits/made it too strong. Thanks for reading! Thanks again!