Post/Author/DateTime	Post
M1kh43l_P4r4d1s0 05-17-07, 11:19 PM	So I posted this on the CharOP boards, and only got one post abot taking natural spell. Could you please help me with my Shifter druid? First off, no i wouldn't like to use ToB, seeing as I don't own a copy. Okay, my character is a longstrider shifter druid that is using the shapshift variant in the PHBII and the shifter druid variant in RoE. I will be staying in my panther form, with the exception of casting spells, and on the rare need that I require to talk to someone. Okay, here are my stats: Shifter form HP: 12 AC:15 30ft speed str:16 dex:20 con: 18 int:12 wis:16 cha:10 skills climb 4 + 3 + 2 = 9 jump 4 + 3 + 2 = 9 spot 2 + 3 = 5 listen 2 + 3 = 5 knowledge(nature) 2 + 1 + 2 = 5 survival 2 + 3 + 2 = 7 handle animal 2 + 0 = 2 intimidate 2 + 0 = 2 Track (? should I take this? I know I want my character to be a hunter of sorts, so your thoughts?) Shifting form (7 rounds per day/ once per day) HP: 12 AC:16 40ft speed str: 16 dex: 22 con: 18 int: 12 wis: 16 cha: 10 skills climb 4 + 3 + 2 = 9 jump 4 + 3 + 2 = 9 spot 2 + 3 = 5 listen 2 + 3 = 5 knowledge(nature) 2 + 1 + 2 = 5 survival 2 + 3 + 2 = 7 handle animal 2 + 0 = 2 intimidate 2 + 0 = 2 Track Panther form HP: 12 AC: 19 50ft speed str:20 dex: 20 con: 18 int: 12 wis: 16 cha: 10 climb 4 + 5 + 2 = 11 jump 4 + 5 + 2 = 11 spot 2 + 3 = 5 listen 2 + 3 = 5 knowledge(nature) 2 + 1 + 2 = 5 survival 2 + 3 + 2 = 7 handle animal 2 + 0 = 2 intimidate 2 + 0 = 2 Track Bite +5 to hit 1d6+5 damage x2 on crit Shifting Panther form (7 rounds per day/ once per day) HP: 12 AC: 20 60ft speed str: 20 dex: 22 con: 18 int: 12 wis: 16 cha: 10 climb 4 + 5 + 2 = 11 jump 4 + 5 + 2 = 11 spot 2 + 3 = 5 listen 2 + 3 = 5 knowledge(nature) 2 + 1 + 2 = 5 survival 2 + 3 + 2 = 7 handle animal 2 + 0 = 2 intimidate 2 + 0 = 2 Track Bite +5 to hit 1d6+5 damage x2 on crit Okay, sorry for the long post, but there are my four different forms. I am still nervous about the feat choice, and not to sure about spell choices. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be casting longstrider a lot, not only on me but also on my "pack" members. What other spells should peak my interest? I hope to see some really good replies in the future. Thank You.
Gray Mouser 05-18-07, 02:59 AM	I happen to be also building a shifter druid right now, it will be my first Eberron character as my group has been steadfastly Realms, but one of the DMs wants to try Eberron for a changeup. Since I have just started looking at Eberron books, I'm no expert here but here are a couple things: You say you are taking the shifter druid substitution levels, yet you must not be planning on taking the 1st or 5th level ones, since those involve giving up both animal companion and wild shape, and you must give both of those up to get the shapeshifter variant. Not a problem for your build, just thought I would point it out. If your plan is to remain in predator form in combat, your choice of longstrider is okay. It is a weaker trait but one that you can still benefit from in that form. Keep in mind that as you gain levels, you will want to use the much better forms that you will gain access to- I know your character concept is to be a panther but you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you're still using it when you could be one of the tougher ones. I would agree with your desire to have track, from a RP standpoint at least. If I wanted track that bad, I think I'd take a level of ranger- its your favored class so you can just level dip if you want. You don't lose a feat that way. Speaking of feats, I don't onw enough Eberron books to advise very well. In my build, I am loading up on shifter feats, but then I won't be doing any wildshaping. I hate to reiterate this, but Natural Spell is a must for a wildshaping druid, but you won't qualify for it as a shapeshifter. Maybe you should consider doing normal wildshaping and (once high enough level) specialize in dire lion and then dire tiger? You would still have the same character concept, you just couldn't do "your thing" until you were considerably higher in level. You would retain animal companion which you could trade off for beast spirit- which you could benefit from in wildshape. Also, having wildshape gives you the potential for the many WS prestige classes- Daggerspell Shaper, Nature's Warrior, Warshaper, etc. I guess it comes down to- do you want to be able to do "your thing" okay and right away, or scarily well but much later? Since you are planning to be a melee druid, power attack should get some consideration. I'm drawing a blank right now, but if there is a "pounce" type feat that you could qualify for it would fit your character well. I'm just starting to look into this- my character idea is quite different from yours even though we share a race and class (I'm probably going to go longtooth, either Ranger1/Druid 7 or Druid 8, then Moonspeaker, using all shifter druid sub levels.) But if I run across anything interesting, I'll mention it here.
M1kh43l_P4r4d1s0 05-18-07, 08:49 PM	thanks for the ideas. The reason i choose Longstrider is for the fact that I am still weary of the Silver Flame, and this seems like the most normal shift. It also wouldn't change my panther appearance much. I took shifter variant class lvls to get climb jump and balance as class skills. I'll think about Power Attack, but right now I couldn't use it. Spring attack is a good pounce attack, but all of the feats required would be hard to obtain. I won't always go panther, eventualy, I will adopt different forms, native to the habitat. If there is an abundance of tigers or dire bears, then I go into those for a fight. If not, I prefer to retain the creepy animal panther thing I have going. While wild shape is good and all, I don't like it to much. Eh. I'll look into it.
crashbangboom 05-19-07, 09:30 AM	I'd reccomend the DREAMSIGHT shifter trait, and MOONSPEAKER prestige class. both can be found in the RACES of EBERRON.:tiphat: :mage: :plotting:
M1kh43l_P4r4d1s0 05-20-07, 11:32 AM	While dream sight is a good trait, moonspeaker doesn't fit my character idea at all. I want him to basically be an animalistic hunter.
Captain_Kobold 05-20-07, 07:28 PM	If you don't mind losing some spellcasting progression, you might want to take a look at the weretouched master. It empasises the Lycanthropic heritage of the shifters to give further improvements whilst shifting, extra shifter feats, and a limited alternate form ability. You also get the scent ability which is very useful for a hunter. If you want to have a look at it, its P85 of the ECS. However remember to look at the Eberron errata as well: there were a few major changes made to it.
Angerland 05-20-07, 11:14 PM	Shifter Instincts is a good feat and it would increase your shifting rounds per day. It adds +2 to your Initiative and +1 to spot, listen and sense motive , all tied to the fact that you are more in tune with your animal instincts. In complete Divine there is a feat, but it has the pre req of the Wild shape ability, called Lions Pounce which basically lets you perform a full attack after a charge, much like Razor claw elite. Are you going to take more/any shifter feats? I don't like the track skill because I like for me feats to come in to play in combat as much as possible, where they will have the best impact in game.