Polymorph/Wild Shape

[cbaidchris]

I would like to make a character that's primarily a melee damage dealer that focuses on changing to become effective in combat (ie polymorph or wild shape) would I be better off going the polymorph route and building a gish for the BAB of just playing a druid and wild shaping? or is there something else out there that would be better?

[Shloogorgh]

You could do well with the wild shape ranger variant (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm), and potentially use that as an entry into master of many forms

[fishyfishyfishy]

You could do well with the wild shape ranger variant (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm), and potentially use that as an entry into master of many forms

That is excellent advice. Master of Many Forms (http://dndtools.eu/classes/master-of-many-forms/) is easier to enter as a Wildshape Ranger and the PrC gets around some of the restrictions Wildshape Ranger would normally have (Small and Medium sizes only). Get as many levels of Warshaper (http://dndtools.eu/classes/warshaper/) and be a shapeshifting melee monster.

[Norin]

You could do well with the wild shape ranger variant (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm), and potentially use that as an entry into master of many forms

And then look into Nature's warrior and Master of Many Forms.

Edit, ninja'd when leaving a tab open :smalltongue:

[cbaidchris]

would that really be better than a gish polymorph build? I've always thought polymorph was superior unless I'm missing something?

[tyckspoon]

would that really be better than a gish polymorph build? I've always thought polymorph was superior unless I'm missing something?

Wildshape's main advantage is its ludicrously longer duration. You don't have to worry about spending an action getting your shape-changing going mid fight or trying to bull your way through multiple combats before your Polymorph(s) run out; you just turn into your favorite bear or Tiger or Fleshraker or whatever at the start of the day and you're good to roll all day long.

Also Master of Many Forms lets you Wildshape into a lot of the better Polymorph combat forms anyway - a Ranger 5/MoMF 2 can Wildshape into a Troll, for example.

Edit: Also also a Wildshape Ranger build is a lot more forgiving of non-advancing levels; you can better afford to take things like Warshaper or Nature's Warrior, where as a spell-based gish always has to be mindful of what you're surrendering when you take a non-spellcasting level.

[Grod_The_Giant]

would that really be better than a gish polymorph build? I've always thought polymorph was superior unless I'm missing something?
Polymorph has more versatility, but is much more limited, and comes into play much later.
Wildshape has a smaller range of creature types, but lasts for hours/level, and is useful right from level 5.

But the prestige class Master of Many Forms shatters the limitations on wildshape into a billion, billion pieces. Each level gives you options for what you can turn into, as well as extra uses and assorted minor benefits. (You can talk in any form, starting from level 1. Plus, at seventh level you get to copy your new form's (Ex) special qualities, like energy resistance-- a major bonus.

Warshaper is a 5-level PrC that gives you nice but minor benefits for the first three levels, fast healing for the fourth, and the "did I just read that right?" Multimorph power as a capstone.

Multimorph allows a warshaper to change forms multiple times during the duration of the spell, spell-like ability, or class feature that enables her to change form.
Wild Shape lasts for hours/level. This is the closest thing to at-will shapeshifting you'll get without accruing massive LA.

The standard build is Ranger (Wildshape variant, from Unearthed Arcana) 5/Master of Many Forms X/Warshaper 5/Master of Many Forms (10-X). Take MoMF for a few levels to get new forms, jump over to Warshaper to pump up your offense and grab Multimorph, then back to MoMF for a grand finale. Along with way, pick up Frozen Wildshape and Exalted Wild Shape for still more forms. Take Assume Supernatural Ability only if you want to make your GM cry.