PDA

View Full Version : Non-Druid Alternate Forms



bokodasu
2010-11-08, 02:04 PM
I've been kicking around a character concept; it starts with the character being raised in a society of Awakened bears and acquiring the ability to turn into a bear.

The Lycanthrope template comes with too much stuff (and too much LA); the Lycanthrope bloodline is pointless. (+2 to search is worth giving up a level of ANYTHING? Really?) Really, all I want is wildshape: bear, preferably as an at-will ability. (Eventually, although it can certainly start with something like Claws of the Bear and move up to being a full-blown bear whenever and for however long at later levels.)

Is there something that already does this? If not, any ideas on how to reasonably price this? (Feat with prereqs? Some class-feature exchange? Something with LA, and if so, what LA would you put on it?)

Prime32
2010-11-08, 02:08 PM
The bear warrior PrCCW lets you turn into a bear when you use barbarian rage.

Or you could try a level of druid with the Shapeshift variantPHB2 (give up wildshape and animal companion, weaker than wildshape but at-will)

Apart from that, I have a homebrew lycanthrope template (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=9175) which just adds your animal HD to your level (no LA).

dsmiles
2010-11-08, 02:29 PM
Then take levels in Warshaper. Being immune to crits is always in vogue. :smalltongue:

Quietus
2010-11-08, 02:32 PM
The bear warrior PrCCW lets you turn into a bear when you use barbarian rage.

Or you could try a level of druid with the Shapeshift variantPHB2 (give up wildshape and animal companion, weaker than wildshape but at-will)

Apart from that, I have a homebrew lycanthrope template (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=9175) which just adds your animal HD to your level (no LA).

I'd go with this - the shapeshift variant would let you describe your forms as being ursine in nature, and you can change at-will. You can still cast spells in your human form, too, and the ACF is considered to be better balanced than your "average" druid.

Coidzor
2010-11-08, 03:10 PM
Sadly, Divine Minion of Geb (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mb/20050209a)(scroll down) is LA+2 but is unlimited quick wildshape into brown bear.

Biffoniacus_Furiou
2010-11-08, 03:29 PM
If you're going to take the Divine Minion template at +2 LA, you may as well pick Osiris or Set for more options. Maybe there are other communities of awakened animals nearby, and he made friends with them and learned their forms as well. It's better than the +3 LA and racial HD of a Lycnathrope, but if you want lower than +2 maybe see if your DM will let you turn into a Black Bear instead of a Brown Bear for a +1 LA, since it is considerably weaker. You count as an 11th level Druid for Wild Shaping, so if you get Master of Many Forms 2 you'll be able to Wild Shape into a Dire Bear anyway. At Master of Many Forms 7 you'll be able to turn into a Dire Polar Bear from Frostburn. Pick up Warshaper 4 for even more bonuses when shaped. I'd probably go Human Divine Minion Ranger 1/ MoMF 4/ Warshaper 4/ MoMF 6/ etc., using the Wild Shape Ranger (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#ranger) variant to get Fast Movement in all forms.

Another option would be the Sentinel of Bharrai PrC from BoED, which can take the form of a Black/Brown/Polar Bear at will at the 3rd level. You could qualify with Wizard 5, (Cloistered) Cleric 5 (needs Kn: Nature as a class skill), Archivist (http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20051007a&page=3) 5, or maybe adapt it to work with Psion 5. It gets Wizard HP, BAB, and saves, but advances 10/10 spellcasting so you'll want some serious defensive buffs if you intend to do a lot of melee, otherwise it offers some nice bear form defenses to a primary spellcaster. It even allows you to summon dire bears, so it will probably be fitting if you plan on making an exalted character.

Keld Denar
2010-11-08, 04:04 PM
Frostburn also has the Primeavil PrC which can help you tear people apart with your bear hands.
Alas, I have started with the bear puns. Just grin and bear it!

Starbuck_II
2010-11-08, 04:45 PM
Another option would be the Sentinel of Bharrai PrC from BoED, which can take the form of a Black/Brown/Polar Bear at will at the 3rd level. You could qualify with Wizard 5, (Cloistered) Cleric 5 (needs Kn: Nature as a class skill), Archivist (http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20051007a&page=3) 5, or maybe adapt it to work with Psion 5. It gets Wizard HP, BAB, and saves, but advances 10/10 spellcasting so you'll want some serious defensive buffs if you intend to do a lot of melee, otherwise it offers some nice bear form defenses to a primary spellcaster. It even allows you to summon dire bears, so it will probably be fitting if you plan on making an exalted character.

Agreed, it is the bear minimum all Prc should hope for.

dsmiles
2010-11-08, 06:28 PM
Frostburn also has the Primeavil PrC which can help you tear people apart with your bear hands.
Alas, I have started with the bear puns. Just grin and bear it!


Agreed, it is the bear minimum all Prc should hope for.

*facepaw* Look at me, I'm a forum that requires 10 characters for a post!