Would a perfect shapechanger be tier 0?

[gooddragon1]

If there was a class that had the ability to shapechange from level 1 (no specific individuals) and gain ALL their abilities would it be tier 0? I'm thinking because of spells from some monsters, sla's, and the rest of polymorph goodness it should be.

[SolioFebalas]

I think it would be tier 4 until very high HD [level], and even then (the time when you can assume form with wish sla or similar) it would be likely tier 2 because you must spend actions to assume new form, you havn't got metamagic (or this class have a casting progression too?, then it's an overbuffed druid), and so on...

[Karnith]

Assuming that you mean that it gets a constant/at-will Shapechange (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/shapechange.htm) at caster level = class level and that gets Extraordinary, Supernatural, and Spell-like Abilities (and everything else; yes this means you, spellcasting), it would be at least Tier 1, and likely the fabled Tier 0, because it gets you access to so many game-breaking abilities (and very, very quickly).

At level 1 you'd get access to forms like Darkmantle (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/darkmantle.htm) (blindsight 90 ft., darkness as a supernatural ability, skill bonuses), Lantern Archon (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/archon.htm#lanternArchon) (archon traits, light rays, some at-will spell-like abilities, greater teleport at-will, constant tongues and magic circle against evil, DR and immunities), Merflok (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/merfolk.htm) (swim speed 50 ft.), Nixie (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/sprite.htm#nixie) (swim speed, water breathing), and Pixie (www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/sprite.htm#pixie) (flight, greater invisibility, a bunch of spell-like abilities).

At level 2 you'd get have access to Dretch (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/demon.htm#dretch) (telepathy, plus a bunch of resistances and DR), small Elementals (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/elemental.htm) (100 ft. fly speed, earth glide), Ethereal Marauder (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/etherealMarauder.htm) (Ethereal Jaunt as an at-will, Supernatural ability), Lemure (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/devil.htm#lemure) (see in magical darkness plus a bunch of resistances and DR), and Skum (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/skum.htm) (Strength 19, three natural attacks, a rake attack, swim 40 ft., and skill bonuses).

At level 3 you'd get things like Aranea (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/aranea.htm) (climb speed, web, sorcerer spellcasting, and poison, plus change shape, because why not?), Carrion Crawler (8 tentacles that can paralyze), Juvenile Arrowhawk (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/arrowhawk.htm) (once per round electricity ray dealing 2d6 damage, fly 60 ft., immunities and resistances), Leopard (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/leopard.htm) (three natural attacks and pounce!), Ravid (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/ravid.htm) (Animate Objects at CL 20 once per round, though it's random), Shadow (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/shadow.htm) (incorporeality, Strength damage as a touch attack, undead traits), and Thoqqua (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/thoqqua.htm) (tunneling forever, tremorsense 60 ft.).

It gets more absurd from there, especially once you reach creatures with spellcasting of their own. Many monsters that I didn't mention in the 1-3 HD range also have save-or-die or save-or-lose effects built in, as well. And all of this is just in Core.

As a side-note, because of issues with items and changing shape, this would also probably be a class that wouldn't be horribly gimped by VoP.

[prufock]

I think it would be tier 4 until very high HD [level], and even then (the time when you can assume form with wish sla or similar) it would be likely tier 2 because you must spend actions to assume new form, you havn't got metamagic (or this class have a casting progression too?, then it's an overbuffed druid), and so on...

I would think tier 3, minimum, even at low levels. You should have a decent variety of good combat forms, plus quite a bit of versatility. Remember that he's granting SLAs and spells as well, and that you can switch forms as a free action 1/round.

Choice forms just from level 1-3:
Baboon (1 HD) - decent combat form, can manipulate tools and use weapons, climb speed.
Choker (3HD) - extra standard actions, improved grab, constrict, darkvision, 2 natural attacks.
Darkmantle (1 HD) - blindsense, hide bonus, darkness, improved grab, constrict.
Elemental (2HD) - various immunities, natural attacks, special attacks, terrain immunities.
Ethereal Marauder (2HD) - Ethereal Jaunt at will.
Grick (2HD) - FIVE natural attacks, scent + track, damage reduction, darkvision.
Magmin (2HD) - BURN EVERYTHING.
Mephits (3HD) - breath weapons, various SLAs, flight, immunities, fast healing, summon mephit.
Pseudodragon (2HD) - blindsense, poison, flight, telepathy, tiny size, racial hide bonus, two natural attacks.
Shadow (3HD) - incorporeal, flight, touch attack str damage, darkvision, hide bonus, undead immunities, CREATE SPAWN.
Sprites (up to 1HD) - flight or swim speeds, various SLAs (mostly illusion/enchantment), greater invisibility, irresistible dance, stealth bonuses.
Stirge (1HD) - touch attack, grapple bonus, con drain, flight.
Troglodyte (2HD) - good combat form, natural armor, darkvision, stench, three natural attacks.

Once you hit 4-6 HD your world opens up to much, MUCH more with blink dogs, wights, rust monsters. As you increase in level you become an earth-shatterer; I would call this a tier 1 class.

[Piggy Knowles]

In practical play, it would be insanely good.

In theoretical optimization, it would be Pun-Pun.

[SolioFebalas]

Yea, if dnd it's only a bloody massacre, slaughter and fights i agree with tier 1 or even above.

[Person_Man]

It'd be easy enough to make a Tier 3ish class out of it. It's actually a fun concept that wouldn't be too hard to pull off in practice. You just need to put some rails on it.

In particular, I would make the shape changing process take a full round action that provokes an attack of opportunity, and limit it to a creature you have physically touched in the past 24 hours, and limit the hit dice to your class level. That way, the DM has a built in balance mechanic. If he doesn't want you to turn into Pun Pun, he just shouldn't have you fight Pun Pun.

[Dr. Yes]

Tier 1 is defined by the ability to break the game in a different way every day, and that's pretty much what this sounds like.

[Grod_The_Giant]

If there was a class that had the ability to shapechange from level 1 (no specific individuals) and gain ALL their abilities would it be tier 0? I'm thinking because of spells from some monsters, sla's, and the rest of polymorph goodness it should be.
Tier 1 and borked. Change into something that casts spells as a T1 caster and presto! You're now a T1 caster, with all that entails. Out of spells? That's OK, change into something else that casts spells and get them all back again.

Without casting... still T1. There are just too many things out there that get too many and too powerful SLAs. Efreet, anyone?

Without casting or SLAs... depends on how willing you are to comb the books for broken Su abilities. I'm not coming up with any off the top of my head, but I just woke up. Assume Supernatural Ability is generally reckoned to be painfully broken, though.... could be either low T1 or stupidly high T3, depending.

Without casting, SLAs, or many Sus... then we reach T3. A very, very strong T3, but without the ability to annihilate encounters that casters have.