Shifter Druid - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Shifter Druid

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
johnnyarkham
May 21, 2008 18:44:32 I have a player who would like to be a Lycanthrope...but I've talked him down to Shifter. However, he's still very interested in pursuing a path which might allow him to fully change into a Were Mountain Lion/Puma/Cougar/Panther.
But, he's still looking to embrace (and lose as little ground as possible) his primary class of Druid.
I'm wondering if there're any PrCs or the like which might enable him to balance both his goals.
Suggestions are welcome!
#2
Edymnion
May 21, 2008 19:34:27 Not really. Remind him of the idea of balance. If he wants to become a more powerful were-whatever, then he cannot keep the same amount of spellcasting power a straight druid would have. In the end, the overall power level needs to be roughly the same, if one half gets stronger, the other half *MUST* get weaker.

That said, Weretouched Master is only 5 levels long. He could still keep most of his Druid powers while still getting the 'thropic power he wants as well.
#3
johnnyarkham
May 21, 2008 20:33:41 Excellent points and well put.
Thanks Ed. I'll pass that along.
#4
EscherEnigma
May 21, 2008 22:12:56 As a druid he'll keep his wild shape, so why not just use that to become a big cat like he wants? It won't be quite like being a full were-big cat, but his character could still say it allows him to connect with his roots in a way that he otherwise couldn't do.

Now, if you're up for tweaking a little... something you could try would be to just replace the wildshape abilities of the druid class with him becoming more and more like an actual lycanthrope. This would probably take more work (as you would need to sit down and create a progression you felt was balanced) but it might create the result he's looking for without overpowering the character. If you do decide to go this route, you can try looking at the shapeshifter variant from PHB2 which replaces wild shape with something new also.
#5
Edymnion
May 22, 2008 11:44:36 Yes, and that approach would probably make the character easier for you to DM as well, since it wouldn't be able to turn into *EVERYTHING* anymore. One alternate form is much easier to handle than an entire MM full of them.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 johnnyarkham May 21, 2008 18:44:32	I have a player who would like to be a Lycanthrope...but I've talked him down to Shifter. However, he's still very interested in pursuing a path which might allow him to fully change into a Were Mountain Lion/Puma/Cougar/Panther. But, he's still looking to embrace (and lose as little ground as possible) his primary class of Druid. I'm wondering if there're any PrCs or the like which might enable him to balance both his goals. Suggestions are welcome!
#2 Edymnion May 21, 2008 19:34:27	Not really. Remind him of the idea of balance. If he wants to become a more powerful were-whatever, then he cannot keep the same amount of spellcasting power a straight druid would have. In the end, the overall power level needs to be roughly the same, if one half gets stronger, the other half MUST get weaker. That said, Weretouched Master is only 5 levels long. He could still keep most of his Druid powers while still getting the 'thropic power he wants as well.
#3 johnnyarkham May 21, 2008 20:33:41	Excellent points and well put. Thanks Ed. I'll pass that along.
#4 EscherEnigma May 21, 2008 22:12:56	As a druid he'll keep his wild shape, so why not just use that to become a big cat like he wants? It won't be quite like being a full were-big cat, but his character could still say it allows him to connect with his roots in a way that he otherwise couldn't do. Now, if you're up for tweaking a little... something you could try would be to just replace the wildshape abilities of the druid class with him becoming more and more like an actual lycanthrope. This would probably take more work (as you would need to sit down and create a progression you felt was balanced) but it might create the result he's looking for without overpowering the character. If you do decide to go this route, you can try looking at the shapeshifter variant from PHB2 which replaces wild shape with something new also.
#5 Edymnion May 22, 2008 11:44:36	Yes, and that approach would probably make the character easier for you to DM as well, since it wouldn't be able to turn into EVERYTHING anymore. One alternate form is much easier to handle than an entire MM full of them.