Razorclaw Shifter 4ed - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Razorclaw Shifter 4ed

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Dargurd
Jan 20, 2009 12:16:35 Hi All,

OK one of my players created a razorclaw shifter in prep for my Eberron game kicking off on Saturday. Although he will use a sword most of the time he is wanting to use his natural claws as well.

i) Is this possible ?

ii) Where are the rules for claws as a weapon as i cant seem to find them.

Regards...
#2
Gilo
Jan 20, 2009 17:30:05 Without the use of some Shifter racial feat - which Shifter don't have (yet?). The claw should just mean an unarmed attack (improvised melee weapons PHB p.216) which have no proficiency bonus modifier and does 1d4 damage or you can flavor the Spiked gauntlet (Adventurer's Vault) which is the only weapon (I know of) in the Unarmed weapon group.

as a DM you may also decide to apply the "Claw Fighter" feat from Playing Gnolls on Razorclaw Shifters too.
#3
salla
Jan 20, 2009 20:14:32 At this point, Shifters don't have usable claws; they're vestigial, if they're even there. Since Dragonborn don't get natural attacks, I doubt Shifters will either. Gilo probably has the best compromise.
#4
Dargurd
Jan 20, 2009 23:14:57 Thanks guys for the advice I shall take a look.

Regards...
#5
AvonRekaes
Jan 22, 2009 16:43:57 To me, it seems like the printed Razorclaw shifter would make a better Longstrider shifter.

In fact, it seems like the 4e Longtooth are combinations of 3e shifter traits (extra bite equating to bonus damage) and a racial feat (Shifter Regeneration).

If we take a look at the 4e Two-Weapon Fighting feat, we get the sense that an extra weapon, in the absence of a specific power, merely adds to the damage of your primary weapon. The off-hand weapon essentially strikes simultaneously with the main hand weapon, adding 1 damage to the attack.

You could make a case for Razorclaw shifters getting the Longtooth damage bonus, abstracted so their off-hand claw is adding 2 to the damage of a regular attack.

You could either just play a Longtooth shifter and claim the damage bonus comes from claws instead of a bite, or you could combine the two different types of shifters.

If we look at both forms of 4e shifters, we get a list of 4 traits.

* +2 Speed
* Regeneration 2/tier
* +2 Damage
* +1 AC and Reflex

Now, it's hard to say if any of those are equal or balanced with each other, or even if the presented Longtooths are balanced with the Razorclaws. These are MM races, mind you, and R&D hasn't extensively tested them for party balance. The race stats are there to help DMs to make NPCs with.

But, if you're the DM and are willing to homebrew for your PCs, I don't see what's wrong with mixing and matching the above 4 traits to get back some of the flavor of your 3e shifter.

If you do, I'd keep the "must be bloodied" thing intact for the resulting power.

(For what it's worth, I'd probably make a Razorclaw that uses its claw as an offhand weapon +2 Damage and +1 to AC and Reflex)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Dargurd Jan 20, 2009 12:16:35	Hi All, OK one of my players created a razorclaw shifter in prep for my Eberron game kicking off on Saturday. Although he will use a sword most of the time he is wanting to use his natural claws as well. i) Is this possible ? ii) Where are the rules for claws as a weapon as i cant seem to find them. Regards...
#2 Gilo Jan 20, 2009 17:30:05	Without the use of some Shifter racial feat - which Shifter don't have (yet?). The claw should just mean an unarmed attack (improvised melee weapons PHB p.216) which have no proficiency bonus modifier and does 1d4 damage or you can flavor the Spiked gauntlet (Adventurer's Vault) which is the only weapon (I know of) in the Unarmed weapon group. as a DM you may also decide to apply the "Claw Fighter" feat from Playing Gnolls on Razorclaw Shifters too.
#3 salla Jan 20, 2009 20:14:32	At this point, Shifters don't have usable claws; they're vestigial, if they're even there. Since Dragonborn don't get natural attacks, I doubt Shifters will either. Gilo probably has the best compromise.
#4 Dargurd Jan 20, 2009 23:14:57	Thanks guys for the advice I shall take a look. Regards...
#5 AvonRekaes Jan 22, 2009 16:43:57	To me, it seems like the printed Razorclaw shifter would make a better Longstrider shifter. In fact, it seems like the 4e Longtooth are combinations of 3e shifter traits (extra bite equating to bonus damage) and a racial feat (Shifter Regeneration). If we take a look at the 4e Two-Weapon Fighting feat, we get the sense that an extra weapon, in the absence of a specific power, merely adds to the damage of your primary weapon. The off-hand weapon essentially strikes simultaneously with the main hand weapon, adding 1 damage to the attack. You could make a case for Razorclaw shifters getting the Longtooth damage bonus, abstracted so their off-hand claw is adding 2 to the damage of a regular attack. You could either just play a Longtooth shifter and claim the damage bonus comes from claws instead of a bite, or you could combine the two different types of shifters. If we look at both forms of 4e shifters, we get a list of 4 traits. * +2 Speed * Regeneration 2/tier * +2 Damage * +1 AC and Reflex Now, it's hard to say if any of those are equal or balanced with each other, or even if the presented Longtooths are balanced with the Razorclaws. These are MM races, mind you, and R&D hasn't extensively tested them for party balance. The race stats are there to help DMs to make NPCs with. But, if you're the DM and are willing to homebrew for your PCs, I don't see what's wrong with mixing and matching the above 4 traits to get back some of the flavor of your 3e shifter. If you do, I'd keep the "must be bloodied" thing intact for the resulting power. (For what it's worth, I'd probably make a Razorclaw that uses its claw as an offhand weapon +2 Damage and +1 to AC and Reflex)