Best planes to choose for Planar Shepard?

[killem2]

Just curious, I didn't realize I lose nothing by being a planar shepard.

But I don't know a lot about planes. :(

[Muja]

What setting will the character be played in?
What level of absurdity do ou want for planar traits for your bubble?

[killem2]

If you mean campaign setting, it's everything into one.

Go as cheesy as you want, I have the will power not to wreck my DMs game lol.

[LordConcrete]

Dal Quor (I think)

Have 10 times the amount of time enemies have. Cast 10 spells per round. Laugh

There's also the fire one that lets you wild shape into Efreets and the like.
I still think the above is better, because one will get Shapechange, etc later any way.

[killem2]

is there anyway to know the list of things and what planes they come from? :smallconfused:

[jaydubs]

Planar Shepherd handbook.

http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/1081076

Includes lists of things you can wild shape into from the various planes. Of course, this covers only the standard Eberron stuff where you would normally find planar shepherds.

And if you want to get really cheesy, a liberal reading of some Dragons Magazine material theoretically allows a Dal'Quor planar shepherd to assume the form of any creature at all. But that's probably not the type of thing that would make it into actual games.

[Muja]

Personally I think you should ask the DM what the planar cosmotology is like, since Eberron's planes are waaaay different compared to the standard settings like Greyhawk or Faerun. If you want cheesy then the above examples are an option.

[killem2]

It's cool, they all exist, it's fine. :smallcool:

[A Tad Insane]

I forget its actual name, but the plane of basketweaving lets you cast imprisonment at will, with no save, to any thing you can see every round

[Cog]

Just curious, I didn't realize I lose nothing by being a planar shepard.
I wouldn't say you lose nothing.

It's so easy to overshadow your group with that class that you could very easily lose your dignity.

[Alleran]

Plane of Dreams is a good one (Dal Quor if Eberron). So is the Plane of Fire for handing out free wishes to your party.

[Phelix-Mu]

A better one might be "Planes that You Definitely Shouldn't Choose for Planar Shepherd." Work backwards to get your answer.

[Alleran]

A better one might be "Planes that You Definitely Shouldn't Choose for Planar Shepherd." Work backwards to get your answer.
"Any of them" isn't really helpful. :smalltongue:

[Phelix-Mu]

No, I'd say we could definitely start a list of ones that are distinctly not the superior options. Like...Sigil. I'm not sure it has any native creatures, and it's main traits seem to be unusual geography. So, assuming I have any of that right, it doesn't seem like a good option.

Likewise, it might not be a good choice to have Positive/Negative Energy Plane. They have nice planar traits, but not many forms for wildshaping. Xagya, Xagyi, Lumi...vivacious creatures, ravids.... Hmm. Ravid form might be exploitable.

Anyway, while there are many superior options, I think looking at the inferior ones might shed some light on exactly what degree/flavor of superior is desired by the OP.

Or I'm just totally wrong. Decent chance of that.

[killem2]

That three wishes is seriously cool, but I do have a team to think of, and that planar bubble seems really fun.

We currently have a focused specialist spell gifted master specialist (conjurer) in our party, as well as a level 8 warblade, and a level 6 fighter/2 warrior (don't ask, we made him a sniper with fire arms)

[Wraith]

No, I'd say we could definitely start a list of ones that are distinctly not the superior options. Like...Sigil. I'm not sure it has any native creatures, and it's main traits seem to be unusual geography. So, assuming I have any of that right, it doesn't seem like a good option.

Sigil is in the Manual to the Planes, and for the purposes of a Shepherd would be very dull.
It has Normal Gravity, Normal Time Flow, no Energy traits and is mildly Neutral. The only creature genuinely native to the Plane - and this is only a strong assumption, mind - is the Lady of Pain. Good luck getting enough HD to Wildshape into her! :smalltongue:

I think the only thing you get from Sigil as a physical effect would be the Outlands Effects - the closer you are to the Spire, the harder it is to cast magic and use magic-like effects (within 100 miles, all Divine Powers and Spells are anulled even for Greater Deities!).
One could argue that in a Planar bubble, this effect would apply with the Shepherd as Ground Zero... or you could rule that they are always more than 1,200 miles away from Sigil (the limit of the effect on the Plane) and thus nothing happens.

Anyways.... Generally speaking, OP, the 'worst' Plane to be a Shepherd for is supposed to be the Plane of Faerie - there aren't that many useful effects, and the creatures available aren't particularly impressive. I'd say, pick a theme that you like (Undead? Darkness? Madness? Good?) and go with that - there's always something fun whatever you pick. :smallsmile:

[KnotKnormal]

is there anyway to know the list of things and what planes they come from? :smallconfused:

Planes can be anything you want, alot of the base one you can find in books like the deities and demigods. however im a fan of making up my own. the Eternal Lesser Plane of Ranch Dressing is always a fun one to play around with out of combat.

[geekintheground]

i suggest working with your DM to make your own plane so you know the actual rules for it and stuff. as far as i know, there arent any lists of what creatures are on what planes.

[Alleran]

That three wishes is seriously cool, but I do have a team to think of, and that planar bubble seems really fun.
Efreeti wishes can only be granted to non-genies. Your party are presumably non-genies.

[Necroticplague]

For sheer variety of creatures to select, I think the plain of shadow would be a good pick. Just slap the shadow template on anything and its now native to the plane of shadow.shadow ifrit? No prob. Shadow octopus tree? Alright. Repeat to be any creature you want.

[molten_dragon]

This is slightly off topic, but can a Planar Shepherd pick the material plane?

You wouldn't get any useful traits, but you'd get quite a few useful creatures.

[Necroticplague]

This is slightly off topic, but can a Planar Shepherd pick the material plane?

You wouldn't get any useful traits, but you'd get quite a few useful creatures.

Nope, specifically says any except the material.

As a follow up to idea of using shadow as a plane:bit has the useful trait of making shadow spells more real by a good chunk.

[Lokd0wn]

For Forgotten Realms I always thought The House of Nature was a very thematic and reasonably balanced plane for a Planar Shepherd.

A whole smorgasbord of magical beasts and outsiders to Wildshape into plus 100% vindication of using dinosaur Wildshapes as Ubtao resides there.

Plus having all your spells Enlarged (makes Entangle even more hilarious) and Extended (really makes your buffs shine) isn't anything to sniff at either.

[Psyren]

Region of Dreams (MotP 201) is the best one - Fast Time (10:1), benign environment, and contains every creature in the game so you can cherry-pick outsiders (including wish-granting ones) for your wildshaping pleasure. It's a great thematic fit for a fey-inspired druid too. It's also Highly Morphic if you have ranks in Lucid Dreaming, letting you instantly break line of effect with something nasty e.g. gaze attackers.

[killem2]

Region of Dreams (MotP 201) is the best one - Fast Time (10:1), benign environment, and contains every creature in the game so you can cherry-pick outsiders (including wish-granting ones) for your wildshaping pleasure. It's a great thematic fit for a fey-inspired druid too. It's also Highly Morphic if you have ranks in Lucid Dreaming, letting you instantly break line of effect with something nasty e.g. gaze attackers.

Psyren, You are a bad bad person. DM's for years to come shall weep your name. I like it. :smallbiggrin:

So this issue of spells not "really" being cast, is that going to effect say my wizard team mate?

And does this mean since time is 10:1, she could cast 10 spells in one round? :smallconfused:

[Psyren]

And does this mean since time is 10:1, she could cast 10 spells in one round? :smallconfused:

You (and your allies) get 10 whole rounds in the bubble for every 1 round outside. That means up to 30 spells per person in one round, assuming move-action casting (though 20 is more likely since move-action spells tend to be rare.)

As for what it would look like, it would work just like a longer-lasting Time Stop. So something like Panel 4 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0638.html), only longer and the whole party instead of just you.

[killem2]

You (and your allies) get 10 whole rounds in the bubble for every 1 round outside. That means up to 30 spells per person in one round, assuming move-action casting (though 20 is more likely since move-action spells tend to be rare.)

As for what it would look like, it would work just like a longer-lasting Time Stop. So something like Panel 4 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0638.html), only longer and the whole party instead of just you.

Do constructs exist in the dream world even though they do not sleep? Do they exist because OTHERs can dream of them, so they exist via other dreams?

Sounds like a trippy place.


Also, if the wizard does cast spells from my bubble do they actually burn up spell slots?

And so I understand, lets just say the wizard loaded up with magic missles only for all her spell slots, and she had 40 slots available. She herself would burn through 10 of them, when it comes to her turn?

[Psyren]

Do constructs exist in the dream world even though they do not sleep? Do they exist because OTHERs can dream of them, so they exist via other dreams?

The latter. Same for any other creatures that don't sleep, like undead.



Also, if the wizard does cast spells from my bubble do they actually burn up spell slots?

Yes. For them, time is proceeding normally, i.e. they get a round of actions and each action will resolve.

The RAW is not clear as far as casting spells on targets outside the bubble. I recommend for sanity that you/your DM treat it like a time stop spell, i.e. you can use the bubble to buff and summon but not affect other creatures or the environment directly.



And so I understand, lets just say the wizard loaded up with magic missles only for all her spell slots, and she had 40 slots available. She herself would burn through 10 of them, when it comes to her turn?

As I said, I would advise against spells that affect others, like magic missile. It's an unnecessary headache for both you and the DM to deal with.

Putting that aside, remember that time is flowing normally for those in the bubble. That means everyone takes turns as normal - it's not like one person gets 10 rounds worth of actions, then the next, then the next. Rather, it goes Person A -> Person B-> Person C -> back to Person A-> etc for 10 rounds of apparent time, while the enemy appears to be frozen. Think of it like everyone in the bubble gets 10 rounds of normal intiative while everyone outside has to wait for them to finish or the bubble to go away.