Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 kayhnis Mar 28, 2009 23:32:06	The Shifter's presented in the Player's Handbook 2 are the most underrated and sub par race so far, namely their racial power's and feats. I found this very disappointing, as I have always enjoyed the aspect of the Shifter race, without having to deal with the whole mess of true lycanthropy. Hopefully with the release of the Eberron Guide we'll see much more, and much better, Shifter love. Until then though, these are my suggestions below, all Shifter-related abilities for a homebrew game. I would appreciate any input. For well or ill to boot, other people are much better at finding faults with your work then your own self after all. Racial Powers Razorclaw Shifting Add onto the end: “At level 11 your AC and Reflex bonus increase to +2. At level 21 your speed increases to +3.” Lv11 = +2 AC and Reflex, +2 Speed Lv21 = +2 AC and Reflex, +3 Speed Longtooth Shifting Change to: "Until the end of the encounter, you gain a +1 bonus to Will and damage rolls. This bonus to damage increases to +2 at 11th level. At 21st level, these bonuses increase to +2 Will, + 3 damage." Lv11 = + 1 Will and +2 Damage Lv21 = + 2 Will and +3 Damage Heroic Tier Feats Blurring Claws Change to: “You gain a +1 bonus to melee damage against any target granting combat advantage against you. While under the effects of your razorclaw shifting racial power, this bonus increases to +2.” Gorebrute Charge Change to: “You gain a +1 bonus to damage rolls with charge attacks. While under the effects of your longtooth shifting racial power, this bonus increases to +2.” Wild Senses Change to: “Whenever you make Perception checks to find tracks, follow tracks and hide your own tracks, you can roll twice and use either result. You also gain a +3 feat bonus to initiative checks.” Paragon Tier Feats Beasthide Shifting Add onto the end: “At level 21 this ability increases to 4.” Cliffwalk Shifting Add onto the end: “You may spend a standard action to activate this ability without being under the effects of your razorclaw or longtooth shifter racial power. This ability lasts until the end of the encounter. You may use this ability once per encounter, even if you have not yet used your razorclaw or longtooth shifting racial power. Epic Tier Feats Burst of Savagery Replace: “in order to deal 2d6 extra damage” with: “in order to deal 2d10 extra damage” Replace: “you also gain 10 temporary hit points” with: “you also gain 15 temporary hit points” Add onto the end: “This ability may only be used once per encounter.” Racial Paragon Path I found the Moonstalker PP to be a decent enough choice. The fluff was good, but the implementation of the mechanics left much to be desired. Instead of simply changing Moonstalker, I've opted to create a new racial PP for use with Shifter's which dabbles much deeper in the core of the Shifter race. Tainted Kindred Path Features: Wereaction (11th level): You may spend an action point as a free action to activate your Shifter racial power, without being bloodied. You immediately drop to your Bloodied Value and gain all benefits of either your razorclaw or longtooth shifter racial power. ** Tainted Vision (11th level): You gain darkvision. In addition, you gain a +5 untyped bonus to all perception checks. Feral Tactics: (16th level): Whenever you are under the effects of either your razorclaw or longtooth shifting racial power and flanking an enemy, you can add an untyped bonus to the damage dealt by your Wisdom modifier, times three. In return, you grant all enemies combat advantage against you until the start of your next turn. You cannot use this ability again until the end of your next turn. Tainted Kindred Powers: Frenzied Assault * Tainted Kindred Attack 11 You share the fierceness of your ancestry, and your enemies feel the pain of that connection. Encounter * Weapon Minor Action * Close Burst 1 Target: Each enemy in burst that you can see Attack: Strength or Dexterity + 4 vs Reflex Level 21: Strength or Dexterity + 6 vs Reflex Hit: 2[w] + Constitution[x2] modifier damage. Special: When you choose this power, choose Strength or Dexterity as the ability you use when making attack rolls with this power. --- Unleash the Beast Within * Tainted Kindred Utility 12 Your body transforms into the werebeast within your blood, as your enemies cower in fear. Daily * Polymorph Standard Action * Personal Effect: You assume a form similar to that of the werebeast until the end of the encounter, until you fall unconscious, or until you drop to 0 hit points of fewer. In this form, you gain resistance to all damage equal to 2, and add half your Wisdom modifier to your speed. You can end this power prematurely as a standard action. Special: While in this form you maintain the ability to use At-Will and Encounter powers, but not Daily powers. Special: The resistance bonus provided by this power stacks with the feat bonus provided by Beasthide Shifting. This resistance does not stack with other forms of bonuses. --- Feral Outburst * Tainted Kindred Attack 20 As your enemies seek to harm you, you counter with a burst of screaming defiance. Daily * Fear, Psychic Standard Action * Close Burst 5 Target: Each enemy in burst Attack: Wisdom + 6 vs Will Hit: 3d8 + Wisdom modifier damage and each enemy hit suffers a -2 to both attack and damage rolls until the end of your next turn. Special: You may take 10 damage to sustain the Fear effects against the targets, until the start of your next turn, as a minor action. This extra damage cannot be avoided in any way to sustain this power. --- I won't go into detail over the fluff of the Tainted Kindred RPP, since that isn't a mechanical thing. Any suggestions, errors or improvements? --- This is a link to a cleaner page, which I'll use to "showcase" the final product, and use these forums for actual discussion of ideas. (4E)The Shifter Race, v2.0 - Upgraded THE SHIFTER RACIAL TRAITS Average Height: 5' 7” - 6' 0” Average Weight: 130 - 180 lb. Size: Medium Speed: 6 Squares Vision: Low-Light Languages: Common, choice of one other LONGTOOTH SHIFTERS Ability Scores: +2 Strength, +2 Wisdom Skill Bonuses: +2 Athletics, +2 Endurance Longtooth Shifting: You have the longtooth shifting power. LONGTOOTH SHIFTING (Longtooth Shifter Racial Power) Encounter * Healing Minor Action, Personal Requirement: You must be bloodied. Effect: Until the end of the encounter, you gain a + 1 bonus to Will and damage rolls. In addition, while you are bloodied, you gain regeneration 2. Level 11: Regeneration 4, + 2 damage Level 21: Regeneration 6, + 2 Will, + 3 damage --- RAZORCLAW SHIFTERS Ability Scores: +2 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom Skill Bonuses: +2 Acrobatics, +2 Stealth Razorclaw Shifting: You have the razorclaw shifting power. RAZORCLAW SHIFTING (Razorclaw Shifter Racial Power) Encounter Minor Action, Personal Requirement: You must be bloodied. Effect: Until the end of the encounter, your speed increases by 2, and you gain a + 1 bonus to AC and Reflex. Level 11: + 2 AC and Reflex Level 21: + 3 Speed --- SHIFTER RACIAL FEATS The following racial feats are minor adjustments to those found in the D&D Player's Handbook 2, and I take no credit for their original creation. Any feats created by myself will be marked to avoid confusion. These feats are marked with two **. HEROIC TIER FEATS Blurring Claws [Shifter] Prerequisites: Razorclaw Shifter Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus to melee damage against any target granting combat advantage against you. While under the effects of your razorclaw shifting racial power, this bonus increases to +2. Gorebrute Charge [Shifter] Prerequisites: Longtooth Shifter Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus to damage rolls with charge attacks. While under the effects of your longtooth shifting racial power, this bonus increases to +2. Wild Senses [Shifter] Prerequisites: Shifter Benefit: Whenever you make Perception checks to find tracks, follow tracks and hide your own tracks, you can roll twice and use either result. You also gain a +3 feat bonus to initiative checks. Bloodied Gift [Shifter] ** Prerequisites: Shifter, Con 13 Benefit: You can activate your razorclaw or longtooth shifting racial ability without being bloodied. Lv1-10: You may spend five of your own healing surges as a standard action on your turn. At the beginning of your next turn you gain all benefits of either your razorclaw or longtooth shifting racial encounter. Lv11-20: You may spend three of your own healing surges as a move action on your turn in order to activate either your razorclaw or longtooth shifting racial power. At the end of your current turn you gain all benefits of this ability. Lv21-30: You may spend two of your own healing surges as a minor action on your turn, in order to activate either your razorclaw or longtooth shifting racial power. You immediately gain all benefits of your racial encounter ability. PARAGON TIER FEATS Beasthide Shifting [Shifter] Prerequisites: 11th level, Shifter Benefit: While you are under the effect of your razorclaw or longtooth shifting racial power, you gain resist 2 to all damage. At level 21 this resistance increases to 4. Cliffwalk Shifting [Shifter] Prerequisites: 11th level, Shifter Benefit: While you are under the effect of your razorclaw or longtooth shifting racial power, you gain a climb speed equal to your speed. Alternatively; you may spend three healing surges to activate this ability without being under the effect of your razorclaw or longtooth shifting racial power. This ability may be used once per encounter. Tainted Vision [Shifter] ** Prerequisites: 11th level, Shifter, Wis 15 Benefit: You gain darkvision. Additionally, you gain a + 5 bonus to all Perception checks. EPIC TIER FEATS Burst of Savagery [Shifter] Prerequisites: 21st level, Shifter Benefit: While you are under the effect of your razorclaw or longtooth shifting racial power, you can end that power's effects as a free action in order to deal 2d12 extra damage to one target you hit. When you do so, you gain 15 temporary hit points. This ability may only be used once per encounter. Disclaimer: More to come when I have time.
#2 crazysamaritan Mar 29, 2009 11:17:43	I think the creation of a feat that allows a Shifter to shift without being bloodied would be a simpiler and more efficient and therefore less likely to become overpowered.
#3 kayhnis Mar 29, 2009 13:11:42	I think the creation of a feat that allows a Shifter to shift without being bloodied would be a simpiler and more efficient and therefore less likely to become overpowered. I worked with the idea of a feat, having to buy into a feat to use the Shifter's racial ability has merit, though I wasn't sure. Which is why I introduced it as a RPP instead. Do you think such a feat would be more appropriate at Paragon or Epic? Given the improvements to the base feats and racial abilities that I've made, I'm thinking that a feat such as a "Bloodied Gift", would be more appropriate as an Epic level feat, though I'm open to suggestions of course. If a feat sounds more appropriate to most, I'll make some adjustments to my Tainted Kindred RPP as well, perhaps something to do with shifting a number of squares equal to your Wisdom modifier as a free action, before or after using the action point to make an attack? Also, for your comments, I add you to my acknowledgments, thanks!
#4 crazysamaritan Mar 29, 2009 13:25:02	I worked with the idea of a feat, having to buy into a feat to use the Shifter's racial ability has merit, though I wasn't sure. Which is why I introduced it as a RPP instead. But the core issue is that the racial encounter isn't "as good as" the elf encounter, and for both, they only (in theory) are in operation half the time. You need to keep a restriction on the power's use, so it doesn't become a wasted action in combat (buff before entering melee), like Clerics did in 3e. It's not the same cost as the clerics (X turns), but it is the same concept (pay X actions to become effective). Using feats to "buy-off" the time restriction is one way. (first feat replaces bloodied with "when you spend a healing surge"?) (second feat replaces "healing surge" with "when you are hit"?) (third feat replaces "when you are hit" with "whenever"?) Using a Racial Paragon Path won't solve the core issue, as evidenced by the feats you attempt to introduce first.
#5 kayhnis Mar 29, 2009 13:48:53	Hmm, you raise some interesting and merit-worthy points. How does this sound? Bloodied Gift pre: Shifter, Heroic Tier Lv1-10 - You can spend five healing surges as a standard action to activate your shifting racial ability instead of waiting to become bloodied. Lv11-21 - The first time your hp is reduced by thirty or more (excluding temporary hp), you may activate your shifting racial ability as a move action instead of waiting to become bloodied. Lv21-30 - You may now activate your shifting racial ability as a minor action on your turn, whenever you choose, instead of waiting to become bloodied. This is a rough outline of what came to mind, I'll think more on it. But if you (or anyone else), has anything to add, feel free. But the core issue is that the racial encounter isn't "as good as" the elf encounter, and for both, they only (in theory) are in operation half the time. The shifting racial isn't as good as most of the other races racial abilities period, I agree. The Half-Elf non withstanding with Versatile Master now. No scaling benefits or feats to improve base shifting abilities, just a simple copy 'n' paste from the Monster Manual with nothing more. Even the Gnome got some retooling before being introduced. Shifter's really did get shafted on this one.
#6 crazysamaritan Mar 30, 2009 0:29:10	No scaling benefits or feats to improve base shifting abilities, just a simple copy 'n' paste from the Monster Manual with nothing more. Hold on, "scaling"? As in the other thread, there's nothing to scale. The 1/2 level mechanic takes care of that. The Dragonborn racial gets scaling, because you can't use the "normal" level tools to add to it, like weapon/implement enhancements. Part of the scaling is lacking in the ability, so it is added to the power. What needs scaling for the Shifter racial? Halflings/Half-elves/Humans/Elves/Eladrin don't get scaling for their powers.
#7 kayhnis Mar 30, 2009 0:44:21	Dragonborn and Goliath both get scaling abilities added to their racial encounter, along with the ability to acquiring feats to enhance their base racial encounter power. My idea for the Shifter's simply follows a similar route, with feats that only activate during razorclaw or longtooth shifting, without adding the mechanical benefits directly to them, thus keeping them more matched with other PCR's, without unbalancing them.
#8 crazysamaritan Mar 30, 2009 2:03:05	Dragonborn and Goliath both get scaling abilities added to their racial encounter, But why do they get scaling abilities and the other races don't? For the Dragonborn, it's obvious. (I don't recall the Goliath's so I can't say) The Shifters don't have an attack power, so why does it need to scale?
#9 kayhnis Mar 30, 2009 2:38:50	Each race has a specific racial encounter ability that defines them as a separate race of their own. In general, those racial encounter powers (the core abilities), can be expanded on or enhanced in some way. Either through scaling by level, or adding specific racial feats. Shifter's, unfortunately, do not have this luxury. Their race encounter abilities, outside of the Regeneration scaling of the Longtooth Shifter, are static bonuses that do not change with level or with feats, while other races encounter abilities do. In short; Shifter's got shafted. They gain some useful bonuses that are handy through Heroic, and less so during Paragon, becoming pretty much fluff by Epic tier. Why? Because no scale or feat bonuses so far gives Shifter's any advantage for their racial power, outside of Beasthide Shifting, which is a debatable point as is, given how weak the ability is. What I'm trying to get at is that Shifter feats generally only generate effects alongside their racial power, while not actively empowering or improving that racial power. Creating a tag-along-situational-bonuses nitch instead. Compared to the other races, even just within the PHB2, you'll see just how sub par their shifting racial ability falls behind. In order to correct this I propose a scaling system which provides them with just enough juice to be useful, without remaining dead weight for most of their Paragon and Epic career's. Or, we could invest in feats, and create those feats to improve the Shifter base racial encounter power. Or, even further, and a route I'd rather avoid; We scape the entire racial encounter power as-is and rebuild it from the ground up. I'm eager for any suggestions you (or anyone) may have on this matter though, so please share if you have an idea rattling around inside your mind.
#10 crazysamaritan Mar 30, 2009 2:49:18	I'm eager for any suggestions you (or anyone) may have on this matter though, so please share if you have an idea rattling around inside your mind. What's rattling around in my head is simply for any designer who looks to change shifters has to compare shifted-state Shifters to all other races. Not the bonuses that the power gives, but the state of being shifted itself, because the mechanic is supposed to represent an "improved" power level that the shifter is able to access. For example, the razerclaw has a speed of 8 when shifted. No other race has that, the closest are Elves with 7, most have 6. If it can maintain a shifted-state all the time, it is strictly better than every race. To avoid strictly better, you have to balance the cost to become better. The default cost is half-hitpoints.
#11 kayhnis Mar 30, 2009 2:55:52	I agree with that anaylsis, which is why I do not agree that Shifter encounter abilities are balanced as is compared to the mechanic level of other races. I can see some holding issue with an extra gain in Speed for a Razorclaw Shifter encounter power. So, we'll ignore my suggestion for that increase and maintain that Speed does not increase. With that in mind, what would you suggest as a viable solution to increasing the effectiveness of Razor and Longtooth Shifting encounters, without unbalancing any mechanical factors? As I say, I'm open to all suggestions. I'm not retooling the Shifter's for attention or recognition, I'm retooling them because as I see them now they (through their feats, racial encounter power and their racial PP), represent a very sub par PCR. How would you approach this situation?
#12 crazysamaritan Mar 30, 2009 9:52:14	How would you approach this situation? My approach is to wait for grok. My advice is that you need to remember that every other racial power is a single action. The written shifted-state is not an action, but a different level of power. If you balance that level of power against other races, then shifters are "shafted" because they have to waste an action to "buff". If you balance the level of power in the normal state, then they become overpowered by reaching the shifted-state. To balance the two, you have to give the shifted-state a cost. The higher the cost, the more limited the power is, which again "shafts" the shifters. Thank you for helping me become more clear in what I am saying.
#13 kayhnis Mar 30, 2009 11:40:51	I respect all opinions, no thanks is necessary. As long as your polite and courteous about it, you can complete disagree with me and say that I'm wrong on all fronts, and I'll still read what you (or anyone) has to say and respond in just a civil manner. I've taken your suggestion under review, and I've opted to try out more playtests with the Shifter abilities as is in Paragon and Epic tiers. I plan to test them out with a Goliath, an Elf, a Dragonborn and a Gnome in the party as well. I appreciate the suggestions, and I look forward to more.
#14 akodokoji Mar 30, 2009 13:23:36	Hmm, you raise some interesting and merit-worthy points. How does this sound? Bloodied Gift pre: Shifter, Heroic Tier Lv1-10 - You can spend five healing surges as a standard action to activate your shifting racial ability instead of waiting to become bloodied. Lv11-21 - The first time your hp is reduced by thirty or more (excluding temporary hp), you may activate your shifting racial ability as a move action instead of waiting to become bloodied. Lv21-30 - You may now activate your shifting racial ability as a minor action on your turn, whenever you choose, instead of waiting to become bloodied. . I like the basic idea and I think this fits better as a feat than a Paragon Path Power. I think this feat is a little wonky mechanically though. 5 healing surges is a huge resource. I would change it to Bloodied Gift pre: Shifter, Paragon Tier You may spend a healing surge as a minor action. Instead of regaining hitpoints you gain the benefits of your shifting power. 21rst level: You may gain the benefits of your shifting merely by spending a minor action.