ChudoJogurt
2022-12-12, 07:32 PM
Aberrant Shifters have been infected. Either from birth, inheriting strange legacies of their unnatural parents, or through contact with aberrations and abominations, through curses or profane and blasphemous poisons, anarchic influences or contact with other Aberrant Shifters.
Now their flesh flows in ways that are against the design of men and gods, a perverse, viscous thing that is only held together by their will.
Some suffer quietly, joining the ranks of lepers and plague-bearers, fearing to show their rotting faces and ichor-dripping bodies, lest they be chased out or killed. Others seek a cure, prostrating themselves before priests and clerics or bargaining with demons and devils.
Some... some find the power hidden in their condition.
This is the path of the Aberrant Shifter.
[QUOTE]This class was sort of inspired by some flavour text in, I think, Aboleth Curse, and some ideas about VtMs Vicissitude.
It is imagined as a Tier 3 Class, and meant to use some mechanics somewhere between Binders and Incarnates.
Also, I wanted cooler, more customizable shapeshifting.
Basic Stats
Alignment
Any nonlawful
HD: d8
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Proficient with all simple weapons. Proficient with light armour.
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Skills: Climb, Jump, Swim, Bluff, Intimidate, Hide, Move Silently, Control Shape, Knowledge (dungeoneering, history, planes), Disguise
"Level""Base
Attack Bonus""Fort
Save""Ref
Save""Will
Save""Special""Shapechange/Day""1st""0""2""0""2""Warped Flesh (foul blood), Shape Features (maw)""1""2nd""1""3""0""3""Deformity""1""3rd""2""3""1""3""Shape Features (claws, feet)""1""4th""3""4""1""4""Warped Flesh (Laboured breathing)""1""5th""3""4""1""4""Shape Body""1""6th""4""5""2""5""Warped Flesh: (One Disease Body)""2""7th""5""5""2""5""Deformity""2""8th""6""6""2""6""Shape Features (head, shoulders, tail)""2""9th""6""6""3""6""Free Shape (mouth)""2""10th""7""7""3""7""Warped Flesh: (Many Eyes)""2""11""8""7""3""7""Deformity""3""12""9""8""3""8""Shape features (torso, waist, skin)""3""13""9""8""3""8""Free Shape (claws, feet)""3""14""10""9""3""9""Warped Flesh: (Inhuman Anatomy)""3""15""11""9""3""9""Deformity""3""16""12""10""3""10""Free Shape (tail)""4""17""12""10""3""10""Shape Essence""4""18""13""11""3""11""Warped Flesh (Viscous Flesh)""4""19""14""11""3""11""Free Shape (skin)""4""20""15""12""3""12""Pseudonatural Apotheosis""4""""
Special abilities
Aberration Blood: Gain feat 'Aberration Blood'. You can ignore the prerequisite.
Deformity: Gain "Willing Deformity" chain feat or [Aberration] feat. You need not be evil.
Shape Features (Su)
Aberrant Shifter learns to control over their condition, the unnatural anatomy and fluidity of the aberrant blood allowing them to shape it in some minor, and eventually major ways.
As a standard action, the character may change their shape, in part or in full (with Shape Body) changing or forming additional appendages. All choices of appendages are made during the Shape Features action. The change lasts for a number of hours equal to the class level, but it can be stopped with another standard action at any time. Each appendage change gives various effects (see list effects)
Aberrant Shifter may have at most Constitution Score - 10 Shaped Features at any given time, and each time they Shape Features, no matter how many, it consumes one use of Shape Features.
Items worn on the Shaped parts of the body are melded into the new shape and are suppressed for the duration as per Wildshape rules.
Whenever you shape flesh, drawing the power from their unnatural anatomy and aberrant blood, is not without side effects. When the character Shapes Features or undergoes Shape Body, the effects of their Warped Flesh activate, unless controlled (see below.)
Shape Body (Su):
Aberrant Shifter can change their appearance entirely, taking an appearance of an aberration, animal or humanoid (Small or Medium, regardless of actual size). This is not a perfect facsimile -- it is merely shaping of the flesh towards general required appearance.
This is analogous to the Change Shape special ability, except that the Aberrant Shifter does not gain the natural weapons, movement modes, and extraordinary special attacks of the new form, and has to emulate them with their Shape Features ability.
If they try to use that appearance to fool observers into thinking they belong to the corresponding species or take on an appearance of a specific individual, they need to roll the Disguise skill check as usual. They gain a bonus (or malus) equal to 10-Deformity Score to that roll. Any Features shaped on top of the Body shape that the emulated form does not possess (e.g. putting a carapace on a shape of a dog, or tentacles on humanoid shape) would make the disguise moot automatically.
This ability counts as Wildshape for the purposes of prerequisites, feats, etc.
Warped Flesh:
Warped Flesh:Once the shifter reaches for their ability, their aberrant blood runs rampant, adding new organs, shifting flesh and changing their entire biology. They gain additional unnatural organs or nigh-permanently shift exisiting ones in twisted, aberrant ways. That, however, is not without benefit.
--Foul Blood
The blood of the Aberrant Shifter becomes blackened and viscously thick, covering them in a network of necrotically-black capillaries that is a tell-tale sign of their corruption, and the brittle and viscous capillaries break when the Shifter moves, dripping blackened blood in small droplets.
They are considered to have Aberrant Blood and Willing Deformity feats for the purposes of Feat prerequisites. They don't get the effects of those feats unless they have those feats as actual feats.
Finally, Aberrant Shifter's blood is contagious. Anyone who comes in wound-to-wound contact with their blood gets infected as if with Aboleth Slime, with DC = 10 + number of [Willing Deformity] and [Aberrant] Feats you possess. The blood drawn from the body maintains this property for less than a minute, and it generally requires significant contact, making it unsuitable for Injury poisoning, unless via some special delivery mechanism. Examples of cases when the transmission is possible when making a transfusion when drinking Aberrant Shifter's blood, injection of substantial (at least several ounces) of Aberrant Shigter's blood through specially designed weapon/arrow, major surgery performed without proper protection for the surgeon, etc, as well as using Aberrant Shifter's blood as a magical component.
-- Laboured Breathing
Shifter's lungs change, half-filling with strange ichors and viscera, half-air-breathing half-water-breathing, equally torturous in both environments. The Shifter gasps for air, suffocating, and often coughs, sometimes coughing up strange slimes and their own tainted blood. They can control their coughing in cases of extreme need (e.g. when sneaking) but unless they control their Warped Flesh, the coughing inevitably comes back.
However, while their lungs are adapted for neither water nor air, they are half-adept at both. The Aberrant Shifter can survive under water for 10 minutes per point of Constitution, and they get +4 on saving throws against any smoke- or gas- based effects, mundane or magical.
--One Disease Body
Aberrant Shifter's body is diseased, and this disease accepts no competitors. While their skin is covered in sores, scabs and scaly out, they are immune to any other disease and gain +4 to any attempts to change their shape against their will, including Baleful Polymorph, Flesh to Stone etc.
--Many Eyes
Multiple eyes of every shape and size sprout all over the aberrant shifter's body. They allow for 360-degree vision which means the Aberrant Shifter who has this Warped Flesh effect active cannot be flanked.
--Inhuman Anatomy
Aberrant Shifter's organs shift, move, and take alien functions and abilities to process the unnatural viscera that pump through their body. The new organs bulge out her flesh, and shift her bones, giving her a lopsided, twisted figure, but they are much less vulnerable than mere humans, giving the Aberrant Shifter 25% Fortification
--Viscous Flesh
Aberrant Shifter has no defined shape -- at any given time you can compress or extend, ignoring the conservation of mass and the laws of geometry, gods and men. Clammy, wet and porous, even when the Shifter attention, it flows and shifts constantly, changing form and texture and occasionally dripping straight off their pliant bones in fist-sized gobs of viscous goo. Their skeleton becomes unnaturally pliant, their joints and bones bending unnaturally when they move or try to use their hands.
They can squeeze through any aperture at least as big as a man's fist, and, as a full-round action, they can change their size, increasing or decreasing it by one category. This increase/decrease stacks with the changes caused by Shape Body and with the one caused by Bulky/Compact Shape Feature size, allowing the Aberrant Shifter to take sizes form Diminutive to Huge.
Deformity Score(DS):
The character's deformity score is a measure of the potency of their aberrant blood. The higher it is, the more easily and more efficiently their flesh can be reshaped, but the harder it is to control it.
Character's deformity score is equal to the number of Willing Deformity and [Aberration] feats they have (controlled or not) + the number of Warped Flesh effects they have active (not controlled) + 2 if they are using Shape Body + 5 if they are also using Shape Essence. If the check is caused by an attempt to Shape Features or Shape Body, only the Warped Flesh effects active prior to the activation are counted towards the Deformity Score.
Unless specified otherwise, all Saving Throws against effects of Shaped Flesh or other class-related abilities is equal to 10+DS/2+Con Modifier and the caster level is equal to Class Level.
Controlling Warped Flesh
With an effort of will, the character can hide the unnatural changes to their anatomy caused by their Warped Flesh and, eventually with Pseudonatural Apotheosis, their Deformities.
The character has to attempt to Control Warped Flesh when they use Shape Features, Free Shape, Shape Body or Shape Essence class abilities when they suffer damage to their Wisdom score, or when they spend at least 48 hours without a chance for prolonged (at least 8 hours) rest, and an hours worth of quiet meditation.
They may (but don't have to) additionally try to Control Warped Flesh when they cease to their Shape Features ability (either when reverting back consciously, or when the duration runs out naturally), or any time they have had a chance to rest for eight hours and have an hour to clear their mind and force their flesh to obey. In the latter case, they may take 10 for their roll.
This requires a roll Control Shape DC =10+Current deformity Score. If the check succeeds, the appearance and effects of the Warped Flesh (all, or any specific effects that the character chooses) and is suppressed until the time the character rolls and fails his Control Shape.
If the character has failed (intentionally or by rolling poorly) their Control Shape roll, not only do the outward appearances of the warped flesh become visible, but the aberrant blood starts to affect their very minds. While the cosmetic changes may sometimes be covered with clothes and illusions, the change goes deeper then the flesh - speech patterns, mannerisms, gestures, thought patterns become uncanny, unnatural, and even sinister. They suffer a penalty on any rolls for social interactions other than Intimidate equal to half their Deformity Score against any creature other than aberrations and chaotic outsiders. Moreover, strange and unnatural compulsions whispered through their blood, may overtake you. GM may select certain unnatural urges -- cravings for strange substances or humanoid flesh, desire to infect others with yoof the ur aberrant blood, need to destroy and desecrate the objects of Lawful or Good auras. The character who fails to follow that compulsion, suffers -2 to his attack rolls, AC and skill checks, due to constant distraction, until they remove themselves from the presence of the object of their urge or follows their compulsion to completion.
Free Shape:
As they become more proficient at controlling their disease, the Aberrant Shifter can start more precise manipulation of their flesh.
As a full-round action, Aberrant Shifter may shape or un-shape a single feature without expending their daily Shape Feature uses.
At level 9 they may Free Shape their maw
At level 13 they may Free Shape their claws and feet
At level 16 they may Free Shape their tail
At level 19 they may Free Shape their skin.
Shape Essence (Su)
Aberrant Shifter changes not just their body, but also their soul. When using Shape Body, they may choose an aberration of their HD or lower, that is Large, Medium or Small as an object of emulation. If they do, in addition to gaining their appearance, they gain all of their Ex and Su abilities
Pseudonatural Apotheosis:
Aberrant Shifter is no longer the humanoid they started out to be -- they undergo a transformation into an aberration. Their type changes to aberration, and they gain Darkvision out to 60 feet. They also gain a +2 racial bonus to their Constitution score. Their Deformities can be hidden (suppressing their benefits and drawbacks as well as their appearance) with the same Control Shape roll as Warped Flesh effects.
Aberrant Shifter has a fairly big range of sizes, from two categories down with Compact + Viscous Flesh to three categories up (Probscosis + Viscous Flesh + Bulky), even excluding additional magic. For calculation of bonii and malii to attributes use the following table , regardless of starting size:
Two Size Category Smaller: -4 Str, +4 Dex, -20ft speed
One Size Categoty Smaller: -2 Str, +2 Dex, -10ft speed
Same
One Size Category Larger: +2 Str, -2Dex
Two Size Category Larger: +4 Str, -4 Dex,
Three Size Category Larger: +8 Str, -8 Dex
Any other size change modifiers are then applied in the Shifter's order of preference, as described in their effects'.
Sample Features:
Maw:
Rending Teeth: Gain a bite attack, with damage equal to 1d8+Deformity Score. The character's maw is unnaturally wide, filled to the brim with sharp, fanged, shark-like teeth
Acid Spit: 1/5 rounds spit acid, dealing Deormity Score d6's of damage to a single target up to 60 ft away, Reflex Half. The spit constantly drips from the corners of the character's mouth, evaporating in tiny clouds of foul smoke.
Shout: A beak-like cone-shape ridge surrounds the shifter's mouth. It allows their speech to carry vast distances, magnified up to hundred times, allowing them to speak to armies be discerned as far as half a mile. It also allows a sonic attack 1/5 rounds, dealing DSd4 sonic damage in a 15ft cone.
Gbbering Mouth:. Gain ululating, gibbering, many-mouthed wail. Lesser Confusion, 1/5 rounds, 30ft radius centred on self, Will negates. Targets are immune to the Gibbering Mouth for the next 24 hours, regardless of whether they saved or not. The character's voice becomes interleaved with soft murmuring that seems to echo what he says, with just enough delay to make it unpleasant.
Enchanting Voice: +DS/2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy, Bluff, can cast Suggestion once per 5 rounds.
Long Tongue: The tongue elongates, becoming studded and oddly shaped, no longer fitting entirely in Shifter's mouth. Gain Scent ability
Slime Spittle: Aberrant Shifter's throat bulges out with a bile sack or sacks, making them occasionally spit or cough up [even more] viscous goop that hardens on contact with air.
Once per 5rnds as a standard action, Aberrant Shifter can spit it out at a target up to 10ft away. If spat on the ground/legs or wings it acts as Tanglefoot bag. If spat at the face, should the target fail it's saving throw, it instead rendered unable to speak (and use verbal spell components), shout or breathe, until it breaks free.
Probscosis: Tongue curls into a hard tube, making speech mangled and ugly. It can be extracted from the mouth, in an elongated tube-like mosquito probscosis The character may use it to attack a helpless warm-blooded creature, and drain it, leaving behind nothing but an empty skin husk.
For every HD worth of creatures so drained, he gains 5hp temporary hit points. If he drains a creature of his HD and at least equal to him in size, he gains Deformity (Obese) if he did not have one.
If he has Viscous Flesh active, he may increase his size by one category instead.
The temporary hit points expire when this feature is unshaped.
Claws:
Claws: Gain two claw attacks with damage equal 1d4+DS/5
Clinging suckers: Climb speed 5+5*DS feet
Elongated Fingers: Aberrant Shifter's hand change, fingers growing longer, more slender and much more sensitive. Additional digits sprout, some of them inhuman in appearance -- with too many segments, extra segments or connected by thin fleshy membranes.
The character gains +DS to tasks requiring manual dexterity and sensitivity -- Open Lock, Sleight of Hand and Disable Device. In addition to that, by putting his bare hands against a hard surface (which would be equivalent to being prone when touching the floor) he gains tremorsense to a radius equal to DS*5 ft.
Handblades: Aberrant Shifter's hand or both hands turn into long, sharp-tipped horns, akin to Narhwal honrs. They are the same as a rapier, except both can be welded as if they were light weapons, that have enhancement bonus equal to DS/5 (enhancement bonus of +0 means that this weapon would not overcome DR/magic).
While this feature is shaped, Aberrant Shifter cannot use the hands to make somatic spells for components, hold objects, use tools or silverware or do any other manipulations that require having fingers.
Feet:
Cloven Feet: +10 ft speed
Fins: Swim Speed 5+5*DS
Centipedal: Stability +5+DS vs Trip, Bull Rush, Overrun
Grasshopper legs: Jump +5+DS. Can Jump as Swift Action 1/5 rnds.
Evasive footwork: The Shifter's legs taper, and become thin, spike-like, completely rigid, yet allowing them to move with unnatural grace. Add DS/5 dodge bonus to AC
Head
Horns: 1d6+DS gore attack. When charging becomes 2d6+DS*2
Antennae Detect Thoughts, Telepathy at will.
Eyestalks: Gain beholder eyestalks (+2 to Spot) and Beholder ray (Inflict Moderate Wounds) once every 5 rounds.
Inhuman Mind +DS/2 profane bonus to Int. Additionally the Shifter can make rolls in Knowledge (dungeoneering) and (planes) as if they had ranks in that skill, even if they don't.
Medusa Eyes: Hold Person as a Gaze attack, once every 5 rounds.
Single Eye: Both Shifter's eyes meld into a single large eye in the centre of their face. They can cast a cone of Dispell Magic (Greater), 30 ft, at will.
Shoulders:
Tentacles: Gives +DS to climb, and two secondary tentacle attacks, each dealing 1d4+DS/4 damage.
Gills: Able to breathe underwater
Bulging Muscles: +DS/2 profane bonus to Str
Leather Wings: Gain DS*5ft Flight Speed, average manoeuvrability (becomes good when you have Viscous Flesh not-controlled, becomes Perfect with Pseudonatural Apotheosis)
Hypnotic Wings: Fly (30ft, average). Can use a standard action to change colours rapidly
like a squid, creating a mesmerizing display. Gain concealment and fascinates all who can see it (Will negates). Those fascinated by a
Hypnotic Wings approach the Aberrant Shifter at walking speed. When using this ability, Shifter can hover, but not fly.
Yellow Musk Spores: 30ft radius, spores. As poison. Slow/Sleep, Fort Negates. Sleep only affects creatures with HD<DS. Only usable once per Shape Feature.
Pheromones: Aberrant Shifter exhudes an unnatural odour, that is both cloyingly sweet and nauseating at the same time. They gain +DS circumstance bonus to Diplomacy on any humanoid within 15ft. This is a Su, [Mind-Affecting] effect that can be negated with a Will save. They may also decide to exude a massive wave of pheromones as a SLA, once per Shape Features duration creating the effect of Mass Charm Person within 30ft radius.
Torso
Bulky:Increase size by category
Compact:Decrease size by category (gaining bonuses as per Enlarge Person)
Unnatural Vitality: +DS/2 profane bonus to Con
Shooting Spines . As a standard action, you can shoot one or more spines at one or more opponents, each spine dealing 2d4+2 damage. Roll once for each opponent, and only add precision damage (such as Sneak Attack) against the first opponent attacked.
Once DS spines have been exhausted, new Shape Features activation is needed to replenish Spines.
Manta Generator: The character generates electricity in his body. 1/5 rounds deal DSd6 damage (maximum 15d6) as a touch attack.
If the character also has Manta Tail, he may instead use Lightning Bolt (Su ability as spell with the same name).
Skin
Thick skin: +DS/3 to natural armor
Slime: As Freedom of Movement, standard action, 1 every 5 rounds.
Liquid Skin 25% Fortification, 100% if with Viscous Skin
Flesh like Water: DR DS/magic
Hard Carapace: DR (1/2*DS)/magic and bludgeoning
Сhameleon: Gain +DS to Hide, gain Hide in Plain Sight
Explosive Pustules: Pustules filled with explosive substance cover Aberrant Shifter's body. Whenever he is damaged, they explode, dealing 2d6 damage to the attacker if he was using a melee non-reach weapon.
Toad Poison: When a character grapples or is grappled by someone, the other grappler is affected by a toxin. 1d6 Str/1d6 Str, Fort negates. The toxin stacks with itself.
Permeating Flesh: The skin so shaped becomes pliant and viscous, easily melding with itself and then un-sticking as the Shifter moves.
1/5 rounds, The Aberrant Shifter can deliver a touch attack, that deals 5*DS direct damage to any creature with discernible biology. In addition this immediately causes a Trigger check for Aboleth curse.
Fort negates the Aboleth Curse, and halves the damage.
Tail:
Scorpion's Tail 1d8 attack, 1d6 Con/1d6 Con poison. Fort Saves.
Slithering Tail: Can Constrict at 1d10+DS. Can maintain grapple while doing other things at Str = 10+DS
Prehensile Tail: Can hold objects or hang off hangable surfaces without occupying hands. Can't use it to fight, or climb.
Manta Ray Tail: The tail deals 2d6 Electricity Damage as a Ranged touch attack with 15ft range.
Brain Extractor: A three-pronged tail, ending with hollow tubes. If Aberrant Shifter has pinned someone (or is attacking otherwise completely immobilised target), they may (as a grapple action) attack them with the tail, dealing 1d12 damage and DS/3 Int damage. If the target is a spell-caster or possesses a Spell-like ability, the Shifter may steal it -- the target loses one use of that ability, or corresponding spell-slot, while the Shifter gains a single use of the ability or the spell. The spell has all the numerical variables exactly the same as the original caster. If the shifter is aware of the spell prepared/known or spell-like ability, they may choose to absorb a specific one, otherwise the highest-level ability is selected (if there are multiple, select one at random).
The shifter may not hold more than 3 spells or spell-like abilities at any given time, and he loses all of them when the Brain Extractor is un-shaped.
It's a bit of a grab-bag of effects, and I really should come up with more, but they are generally inspired by various abilities of aberrations in various books. It should allow for about the same versatility as Wildshape does, with maybe a few more skillmonkey-light abilities.
DS goes scales pretty fast as written, though.
If the character controls their Warped Flesh then at a minimum they have (4 Deformities + 2 from Shape Body) 6 DS at Level 20, which is not much -- as it should be, but that allows them to look and act like somewhat ugly humanoids.
If the character does not control their Warped Flesh and uses Shape Essence it raises their DS to 17 at level 20, mostly keeping it on par with their HD, with some lag at levels 10-15.
If the character goes all-out, and purchases Deformities and [Aberrant] feats every time they get a feat, and they are a human using their bonus feat for the same, though, their DS outpaces their HD by 2 at low levels, by 4 mid-game and up to 7 at high levels, allowing them to have their maximum DS of 25 at level 18. That may be problematic if you play a dungeon-delving game with no social interactions, as that does make them rather more powerful than intended, if completely inhuman in appearance.
It can become even worse with Flaws.
This uses the Curse idea from my other homebrew here: (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?632345-The-Curse-of-the-Dead-River-Help-me-tune-my-idea), originally stolen from Grimm Hollow.
Description: The character has been infected with the very essence of inhuman-ness. And now the energies of chaos and tiny parasites in his blood shift his organs, mutate his body and twist his mind and very soul.
Trigger: Rolling a Natural 1 on a saving Throw when subjected to Aboleth Curse, either from Aboleth, or contact with viscera from an Aberrant Shifter with Warped Flesh (One Disease). Further rolls happen once per week of strenuous activity (trekking through wilderness, fighting, and essentially any other adventuring) or once per month spent doing nothing but light work in comfortable conditions.
Stage 1: Joints become more mobile, flesh - more pliable, ligaments stretch easily, and almost pleasurably. Gain +4 to Escape Artist checks and +1 dodge bonus to AC.
Stage 2: Alien voices constantly whisper in their ears, and alien worlds and impossible geometries occur to you in their dreams. The distraction and the erosion of sanity results in -2 to Wis. But the things they say are true -- in their own, unnatural, perverse ways. You may use Commune once a day, asking a single yes/no question, and trying to glimpse the answer in the ever-shifting patterns of Chaos itself. Whether you get an answer or not, you suffer further 1d4 damage to Wis
Stage 3: Skin becomes a clear, almost-transparent membrane, stretched taut over the shifting, wriggling muscles. It needs to be moistened with at least a flask-full of cool, fresh water or take 1d12 points of damage every hour as it dries, cracks and peels. Gain DR 1/bludgeoing when properly moistened, as the flesh, while frail, closes seamlessly when cut.
Stage 4: Gray slime that smells like rancid grease. constantly drips off the skin, as long as it's moistened. Light hurts, causing Light Sensitivity (as orc or drow). Fire is anathema, instantly drying the frail skin, and causing extra 1d12 damage from any source of fire damage. The need to stay in the water becomes unbearable, and the character is not considered rested, or having slept at all unless he did it submerged to their neck in cool, fresh water.
Stage 5: Gain the ability to breathe water, lose the ability to breathe air, as gills sprout from the character's neck and ribs. Alien whispers become voices now, further eroding sanity by another -4 to Wis. If that changes the character's Wisdom to 2 or lower, progress to Stage 6 immediately.
Stage 6: The character effectively dies, as his soul, mind and body are overtaken by the infection, making him an aboleth.
Special: A character who is cursed with this strain of the Aboleth Curse may choose to take levels of Aberrant Shifter. If they do, the Curse stops progressing as long as they have at least one level of Aberrant Shifter, and, moreover, for every level of Aberrant Shifter the character gains, his Curse goes down one level.
The Curse cannot be fully expunged that way, though. It lingers at Stage 0 (where it has no mechanical effects, other than the possibility of progressing to further stages as normal). If the character ever loses his levels of Aberrant Shifter, the Curse will progress to Stage 1 and continue progression normally from there.
I could really use a pre-read on this, and general evaluation if the mechanics are clear, not too cumbersome, make sense, and not very abusable.
Now their flesh flows in ways that are against the design of men and gods, a perverse, viscous thing that is only held together by their will.
Some suffer quietly, joining the ranks of lepers and plague-bearers, fearing to show their rotting faces and ichor-dripping bodies, lest they be chased out or killed. Others seek a cure, prostrating themselves before priests and clerics or bargaining with demons and devils.
Some... some find the power hidden in their condition.
This is the path of the Aberrant Shifter.
[QUOTE]This class was sort of inspired by some flavour text in, I think, Aboleth Curse, and some ideas about VtMs Vicissitude.
It is imagined as a Tier 3 Class, and meant to use some mechanics somewhere between Binders and Incarnates.
Also, I wanted cooler, more customizable shapeshifting.
Basic Stats
Alignment
Any nonlawful
HD: d8
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Proficient with all simple weapons. Proficient with light armour.
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Skills: Climb, Jump, Swim, Bluff, Intimidate, Hide, Move Silently, Control Shape, Knowledge (dungeoneering, history, planes), Disguise
"Level""Base
Attack Bonus""Fort
Save""Ref
Save""Will
Save""Special""Shapechange/Day""1st""0""2""0""2""Warped Flesh (foul blood), Shape Features (maw)""1""2nd""1""3""0""3""Deformity""1""3rd""2""3""1""3""Shape Features (claws, feet)""1""4th""3""4""1""4""Warped Flesh (Laboured breathing)""1""5th""3""4""1""4""Shape Body""1""6th""4""5""2""5""Warped Flesh: (One Disease Body)""2""7th""5""5""2""5""Deformity""2""8th""6""6""2""6""Shape Features (head, shoulders, tail)""2""9th""6""6""3""6""Free Shape (mouth)""2""10th""7""7""3""7""Warped Flesh: (Many Eyes)""2""11""8""7""3""7""Deformity""3""12""9""8""3""8""Shape features (torso, waist, skin)""3""13""9""8""3""8""Free Shape (claws, feet)""3""14""10""9""3""9""Warped Flesh: (Inhuman Anatomy)""3""15""11""9""3""9""Deformity""3""16""12""10""3""10""Free Shape (tail)""4""17""12""10""3""10""Shape Essence""4""18""13""11""3""11""Warped Flesh (Viscous Flesh)""4""19""14""11""3""11""Free Shape (skin)""4""20""15""12""3""12""Pseudonatural Apotheosis""4""""
Special abilities
Aberration Blood: Gain feat 'Aberration Blood'. You can ignore the prerequisite.
Deformity: Gain "Willing Deformity" chain feat or [Aberration] feat. You need not be evil.
Shape Features (Su)
Aberrant Shifter learns to control over their condition, the unnatural anatomy and fluidity of the aberrant blood allowing them to shape it in some minor, and eventually major ways.
As a standard action, the character may change their shape, in part or in full (with Shape Body) changing or forming additional appendages. All choices of appendages are made during the Shape Features action. The change lasts for a number of hours equal to the class level, but it can be stopped with another standard action at any time. Each appendage change gives various effects (see list effects)
Aberrant Shifter may have at most Constitution Score - 10 Shaped Features at any given time, and each time they Shape Features, no matter how many, it consumes one use of Shape Features.
Items worn on the Shaped parts of the body are melded into the new shape and are suppressed for the duration as per Wildshape rules.
Whenever you shape flesh, drawing the power from their unnatural anatomy and aberrant blood, is not without side effects. When the character Shapes Features or undergoes Shape Body, the effects of their Warped Flesh activate, unless controlled (see below.)
Shape Body (Su):
Aberrant Shifter can change their appearance entirely, taking an appearance of an aberration, animal or humanoid (Small or Medium, regardless of actual size). This is not a perfect facsimile -- it is merely shaping of the flesh towards general required appearance.
This is analogous to the Change Shape special ability, except that the Aberrant Shifter does not gain the natural weapons, movement modes, and extraordinary special attacks of the new form, and has to emulate them with their Shape Features ability.
If they try to use that appearance to fool observers into thinking they belong to the corresponding species or take on an appearance of a specific individual, they need to roll the Disguise skill check as usual. They gain a bonus (or malus) equal to 10-Deformity Score to that roll. Any Features shaped on top of the Body shape that the emulated form does not possess (e.g. putting a carapace on a shape of a dog, or tentacles on humanoid shape) would make the disguise moot automatically.
This ability counts as Wildshape for the purposes of prerequisites, feats, etc.
Warped Flesh:
Warped Flesh:Once the shifter reaches for their ability, their aberrant blood runs rampant, adding new organs, shifting flesh and changing their entire biology. They gain additional unnatural organs or nigh-permanently shift exisiting ones in twisted, aberrant ways. That, however, is not without benefit.
--Foul Blood
The blood of the Aberrant Shifter becomes blackened and viscously thick, covering them in a network of necrotically-black capillaries that is a tell-tale sign of their corruption, and the brittle and viscous capillaries break when the Shifter moves, dripping blackened blood in small droplets.
They are considered to have Aberrant Blood and Willing Deformity feats for the purposes of Feat prerequisites. They don't get the effects of those feats unless they have those feats as actual feats.
Finally, Aberrant Shifter's blood is contagious. Anyone who comes in wound-to-wound contact with their blood gets infected as if with Aboleth Slime, with DC = 10 + number of [Willing Deformity] and [Aberrant] Feats you possess. The blood drawn from the body maintains this property for less than a minute, and it generally requires significant contact, making it unsuitable for Injury poisoning, unless via some special delivery mechanism. Examples of cases when the transmission is possible when making a transfusion when drinking Aberrant Shifter's blood, injection of substantial (at least several ounces) of Aberrant Shigter's blood through specially designed weapon/arrow, major surgery performed without proper protection for the surgeon, etc, as well as using Aberrant Shifter's blood as a magical component.
-- Laboured Breathing
Shifter's lungs change, half-filling with strange ichors and viscera, half-air-breathing half-water-breathing, equally torturous in both environments. The Shifter gasps for air, suffocating, and often coughs, sometimes coughing up strange slimes and their own tainted blood. They can control their coughing in cases of extreme need (e.g. when sneaking) but unless they control their Warped Flesh, the coughing inevitably comes back.
However, while their lungs are adapted for neither water nor air, they are half-adept at both. The Aberrant Shifter can survive under water for 10 minutes per point of Constitution, and they get +4 on saving throws against any smoke- or gas- based effects, mundane or magical.
--One Disease Body
Aberrant Shifter's body is diseased, and this disease accepts no competitors. While their skin is covered in sores, scabs and scaly out, they are immune to any other disease and gain +4 to any attempts to change their shape against their will, including Baleful Polymorph, Flesh to Stone etc.
--Many Eyes
Multiple eyes of every shape and size sprout all over the aberrant shifter's body. They allow for 360-degree vision which means the Aberrant Shifter who has this Warped Flesh effect active cannot be flanked.
--Inhuman Anatomy
Aberrant Shifter's organs shift, move, and take alien functions and abilities to process the unnatural viscera that pump through their body. The new organs bulge out her flesh, and shift her bones, giving her a lopsided, twisted figure, but they are much less vulnerable than mere humans, giving the Aberrant Shifter 25% Fortification
--Viscous Flesh
Aberrant Shifter has no defined shape -- at any given time you can compress or extend, ignoring the conservation of mass and the laws of geometry, gods and men. Clammy, wet and porous, even when the Shifter attention, it flows and shifts constantly, changing form and texture and occasionally dripping straight off their pliant bones in fist-sized gobs of viscous goo. Their skeleton becomes unnaturally pliant, their joints and bones bending unnaturally when they move or try to use their hands.
They can squeeze through any aperture at least as big as a man's fist, and, as a full-round action, they can change their size, increasing or decreasing it by one category. This increase/decrease stacks with the changes caused by Shape Body and with the one caused by Bulky/Compact Shape Feature size, allowing the Aberrant Shifter to take sizes form Diminutive to Huge.
Deformity Score(DS):
The character's deformity score is a measure of the potency of their aberrant blood. The higher it is, the more easily and more efficiently their flesh can be reshaped, but the harder it is to control it.
Character's deformity score is equal to the number of Willing Deformity and [Aberration] feats they have (controlled or not) + the number of Warped Flesh effects they have active (not controlled) + 2 if they are using Shape Body + 5 if they are also using Shape Essence. If the check is caused by an attempt to Shape Features or Shape Body, only the Warped Flesh effects active prior to the activation are counted towards the Deformity Score.
Unless specified otherwise, all Saving Throws against effects of Shaped Flesh or other class-related abilities is equal to 10+DS/2+Con Modifier and the caster level is equal to Class Level.
Controlling Warped Flesh
With an effort of will, the character can hide the unnatural changes to their anatomy caused by their Warped Flesh and, eventually with Pseudonatural Apotheosis, their Deformities.
The character has to attempt to Control Warped Flesh when they use Shape Features, Free Shape, Shape Body or Shape Essence class abilities when they suffer damage to their Wisdom score, or when they spend at least 48 hours without a chance for prolonged (at least 8 hours) rest, and an hours worth of quiet meditation.
They may (but don't have to) additionally try to Control Warped Flesh when they cease to their Shape Features ability (either when reverting back consciously, or when the duration runs out naturally), or any time they have had a chance to rest for eight hours and have an hour to clear their mind and force their flesh to obey. In the latter case, they may take 10 for their roll.
This requires a roll Control Shape DC =10+Current deformity Score. If the check succeeds, the appearance and effects of the Warped Flesh (all, or any specific effects that the character chooses) and is suppressed until the time the character rolls and fails his Control Shape.
If the character has failed (intentionally or by rolling poorly) their Control Shape roll, not only do the outward appearances of the warped flesh become visible, but the aberrant blood starts to affect their very minds. While the cosmetic changes may sometimes be covered with clothes and illusions, the change goes deeper then the flesh - speech patterns, mannerisms, gestures, thought patterns become uncanny, unnatural, and even sinister. They suffer a penalty on any rolls for social interactions other than Intimidate equal to half their Deformity Score against any creature other than aberrations and chaotic outsiders. Moreover, strange and unnatural compulsions whispered through their blood, may overtake you. GM may select certain unnatural urges -- cravings for strange substances or humanoid flesh, desire to infect others with yoof the ur aberrant blood, need to destroy and desecrate the objects of Lawful or Good auras. The character who fails to follow that compulsion, suffers -2 to his attack rolls, AC and skill checks, due to constant distraction, until they remove themselves from the presence of the object of their urge or follows their compulsion to completion.
Free Shape:
As they become more proficient at controlling their disease, the Aberrant Shifter can start more precise manipulation of their flesh.
As a full-round action, Aberrant Shifter may shape or un-shape a single feature without expending their daily Shape Feature uses.
At level 9 they may Free Shape their maw
At level 13 they may Free Shape their claws and feet
At level 16 they may Free Shape their tail
At level 19 they may Free Shape their skin.
Shape Essence (Su)
Aberrant Shifter changes not just their body, but also their soul. When using Shape Body, they may choose an aberration of their HD or lower, that is Large, Medium or Small as an object of emulation. If they do, in addition to gaining their appearance, they gain all of their Ex and Su abilities
Pseudonatural Apotheosis:
Aberrant Shifter is no longer the humanoid they started out to be -- they undergo a transformation into an aberration. Their type changes to aberration, and they gain Darkvision out to 60 feet. They also gain a +2 racial bonus to their Constitution score. Their Deformities can be hidden (suppressing their benefits and drawbacks as well as their appearance) with the same Control Shape roll as Warped Flesh effects.
Aberrant Shifter has a fairly big range of sizes, from two categories down with Compact + Viscous Flesh to three categories up (Probscosis + Viscous Flesh + Bulky), even excluding additional magic. For calculation of bonii and malii to attributes use the following table , regardless of starting size:
Two Size Category Smaller: -4 Str, +4 Dex, -20ft speed
One Size Categoty Smaller: -2 Str, +2 Dex, -10ft speed
Same
One Size Category Larger: +2 Str, -2Dex
Two Size Category Larger: +4 Str, -4 Dex,
Three Size Category Larger: +8 Str, -8 Dex
Any other size change modifiers are then applied in the Shifter's order of preference, as described in their effects'.
Sample Features:
Maw:
Rending Teeth: Gain a bite attack, with damage equal to 1d8+Deformity Score. The character's maw is unnaturally wide, filled to the brim with sharp, fanged, shark-like teeth
Acid Spit: 1/5 rounds spit acid, dealing Deormity Score d6's of damage to a single target up to 60 ft away, Reflex Half. The spit constantly drips from the corners of the character's mouth, evaporating in tiny clouds of foul smoke.
Shout: A beak-like cone-shape ridge surrounds the shifter's mouth. It allows their speech to carry vast distances, magnified up to hundred times, allowing them to speak to armies be discerned as far as half a mile. It also allows a sonic attack 1/5 rounds, dealing DSd4 sonic damage in a 15ft cone.
Gbbering Mouth:. Gain ululating, gibbering, many-mouthed wail. Lesser Confusion, 1/5 rounds, 30ft radius centred on self, Will negates. Targets are immune to the Gibbering Mouth for the next 24 hours, regardless of whether they saved or not. The character's voice becomes interleaved with soft murmuring that seems to echo what he says, with just enough delay to make it unpleasant.
Enchanting Voice: +DS/2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy, Bluff, can cast Suggestion once per 5 rounds.
Long Tongue: The tongue elongates, becoming studded and oddly shaped, no longer fitting entirely in Shifter's mouth. Gain Scent ability
Slime Spittle: Aberrant Shifter's throat bulges out with a bile sack or sacks, making them occasionally spit or cough up [even more] viscous goop that hardens on contact with air.
Once per 5rnds as a standard action, Aberrant Shifter can spit it out at a target up to 10ft away. If spat on the ground/legs or wings it acts as Tanglefoot bag. If spat at the face, should the target fail it's saving throw, it instead rendered unable to speak (and use verbal spell components), shout or breathe, until it breaks free.
Probscosis: Tongue curls into a hard tube, making speech mangled and ugly. It can be extracted from the mouth, in an elongated tube-like mosquito probscosis The character may use it to attack a helpless warm-blooded creature, and drain it, leaving behind nothing but an empty skin husk.
For every HD worth of creatures so drained, he gains 5hp temporary hit points. If he drains a creature of his HD and at least equal to him in size, he gains Deformity (Obese) if he did not have one.
If he has Viscous Flesh active, he may increase his size by one category instead.
The temporary hit points expire when this feature is unshaped.
Claws:
Claws: Gain two claw attacks with damage equal 1d4+DS/5
Clinging suckers: Climb speed 5+5*DS feet
Elongated Fingers: Aberrant Shifter's hand change, fingers growing longer, more slender and much more sensitive. Additional digits sprout, some of them inhuman in appearance -- with too many segments, extra segments or connected by thin fleshy membranes.
The character gains +DS to tasks requiring manual dexterity and sensitivity -- Open Lock, Sleight of Hand and Disable Device. In addition to that, by putting his bare hands against a hard surface (which would be equivalent to being prone when touching the floor) he gains tremorsense to a radius equal to DS*5 ft.
Handblades: Aberrant Shifter's hand or both hands turn into long, sharp-tipped horns, akin to Narhwal honrs. They are the same as a rapier, except both can be welded as if they were light weapons, that have enhancement bonus equal to DS/5 (enhancement bonus of +0 means that this weapon would not overcome DR/magic).
While this feature is shaped, Aberrant Shifter cannot use the hands to make somatic spells for components, hold objects, use tools or silverware or do any other manipulations that require having fingers.
Feet:
Cloven Feet: +10 ft speed
Fins: Swim Speed 5+5*DS
Centipedal: Stability +5+DS vs Trip, Bull Rush, Overrun
Grasshopper legs: Jump +5+DS. Can Jump as Swift Action 1/5 rnds.
Evasive footwork: The Shifter's legs taper, and become thin, spike-like, completely rigid, yet allowing them to move with unnatural grace. Add DS/5 dodge bonus to AC
Head
Horns: 1d6+DS gore attack. When charging becomes 2d6+DS*2
Antennae Detect Thoughts, Telepathy at will.
Eyestalks: Gain beholder eyestalks (+2 to Spot) and Beholder ray (Inflict Moderate Wounds) once every 5 rounds.
Inhuman Mind +DS/2 profane bonus to Int. Additionally the Shifter can make rolls in Knowledge (dungeoneering) and (planes) as if they had ranks in that skill, even if they don't.
Medusa Eyes: Hold Person as a Gaze attack, once every 5 rounds.
Single Eye: Both Shifter's eyes meld into a single large eye in the centre of their face. They can cast a cone of Dispell Magic (Greater), 30 ft, at will.
Shoulders:
Tentacles: Gives +DS to climb, and two secondary tentacle attacks, each dealing 1d4+DS/4 damage.
Gills: Able to breathe underwater
Bulging Muscles: +DS/2 profane bonus to Str
Leather Wings: Gain DS*5ft Flight Speed, average manoeuvrability (becomes good when you have Viscous Flesh not-controlled, becomes Perfect with Pseudonatural Apotheosis)
Hypnotic Wings: Fly (30ft, average). Can use a standard action to change colours rapidly
like a squid, creating a mesmerizing display. Gain concealment and fascinates all who can see it (Will negates). Those fascinated by a
Hypnotic Wings approach the Aberrant Shifter at walking speed. When using this ability, Shifter can hover, but not fly.
Yellow Musk Spores: 30ft radius, spores. As poison. Slow/Sleep, Fort Negates. Sleep only affects creatures with HD<DS. Only usable once per Shape Feature.
Pheromones: Aberrant Shifter exhudes an unnatural odour, that is both cloyingly sweet and nauseating at the same time. They gain +DS circumstance bonus to Diplomacy on any humanoid within 15ft. This is a Su, [Mind-Affecting] effect that can be negated with a Will save. They may also decide to exude a massive wave of pheromones as a SLA, once per Shape Features duration creating the effect of Mass Charm Person within 30ft radius.
Torso
Bulky:Increase size by category
Compact:Decrease size by category (gaining bonuses as per Enlarge Person)
Unnatural Vitality: +DS/2 profane bonus to Con
Shooting Spines . As a standard action, you can shoot one or more spines at one or more opponents, each spine dealing 2d4+2 damage. Roll once for each opponent, and only add precision damage (such as Sneak Attack) against the first opponent attacked.
Once DS spines have been exhausted, new Shape Features activation is needed to replenish Spines.
Manta Generator: The character generates electricity in his body. 1/5 rounds deal DSd6 damage (maximum 15d6) as a touch attack.
If the character also has Manta Tail, he may instead use Lightning Bolt (Su ability as spell with the same name).
Skin
Thick skin: +DS/3 to natural armor
Slime: As Freedom of Movement, standard action, 1 every 5 rounds.
Liquid Skin 25% Fortification, 100% if with Viscous Skin
Flesh like Water: DR DS/magic
Hard Carapace: DR (1/2*DS)/magic and bludgeoning
Сhameleon: Gain +DS to Hide, gain Hide in Plain Sight
Explosive Pustules: Pustules filled with explosive substance cover Aberrant Shifter's body. Whenever he is damaged, they explode, dealing 2d6 damage to the attacker if he was using a melee non-reach weapon.
Toad Poison: When a character grapples or is grappled by someone, the other grappler is affected by a toxin. 1d6 Str/1d6 Str, Fort negates. The toxin stacks with itself.
Permeating Flesh: The skin so shaped becomes pliant and viscous, easily melding with itself and then un-sticking as the Shifter moves.
1/5 rounds, The Aberrant Shifter can deliver a touch attack, that deals 5*DS direct damage to any creature with discernible biology. In addition this immediately causes a Trigger check for Aboleth curse.
Fort negates the Aboleth Curse, and halves the damage.
Tail:
Scorpion's Tail 1d8 attack, 1d6 Con/1d6 Con poison. Fort Saves.
Slithering Tail: Can Constrict at 1d10+DS. Can maintain grapple while doing other things at Str = 10+DS
Prehensile Tail: Can hold objects or hang off hangable surfaces without occupying hands. Can't use it to fight, or climb.
Manta Ray Tail: The tail deals 2d6 Electricity Damage as a Ranged touch attack with 15ft range.
Brain Extractor: A three-pronged tail, ending with hollow tubes. If Aberrant Shifter has pinned someone (or is attacking otherwise completely immobilised target), they may (as a grapple action) attack them with the tail, dealing 1d12 damage and DS/3 Int damage. If the target is a spell-caster or possesses a Spell-like ability, the Shifter may steal it -- the target loses one use of that ability, or corresponding spell-slot, while the Shifter gains a single use of the ability or the spell. The spell has all the numerical variables exactly the same as the original caster. If the shifter is aware of the spell prepared/known or spell-like ability, they may choose to absorb a specific one, otherwise the highest-level ability is selected (if there are multiple, select one at random).
The shifter may not hold more than 3 spells or spell-like abilities at any given time, and he loses all of them when the Brain Extractor is un-shaped.
It's a bit of a grab-bag of effects, and I really should come up with more, but they are generally inspired by various abilities of aberrations in various books. It should allow for about the same versatility as Wildshape does, with maybe a few more skillmonkey-light abilities.
DS goes scales pretty fast as written, though.
If the character controls their Warped Flesh then at a minimum they have (4 Deformities + 2 from Shape Body) 6 DS at Level 20, which is not much -- as it should be, but that allows them to look and act like somewhat ugly humanoids.
If the character does not control their Warped Flesh and uses Shape Essence it raises their DS to 17 at level 20, mostly keeping it on par with their HD, with some lag at levels 10-15.
If the character goes all-out, and purchases Deformities and [Aberrant] feats every time they get a feat, and they are a human using their bonus feat for the same, though, their DS outpaces their HD by 2 at low levels, by 4 mid-game and up to 7 at high levels, allowing them to have their maximum DS of 25 at level 18. That may be problematic if you play a dungeon-delving game with no social interactions, as that does make them rather more powerful than intended, if completely inhuman in appearance.
It can become even worse with Flaws.
This uses the Curse idea from my other homebrew here: (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?632345-The-Curse-of-the-Dead-River-Help-me-tune-my-idea), originally stolen from Grimm Hollow.
Description: The character has been infected with the very essence of inhuman-ness. And now the energies of chaos and tiny parasites in his blood shift his organs, mutate his body and twist his mind and very soul.
Trigger: Rolling a Natural 1 on a saving Throw when subjected to Aboleth Curse, either from Aboleth, or contact with viscera from an Aberrant Shifter with Warped Flesh (One Disease). Further rolls happen once per week of strenuous activity (trekking through wilderness, fighting, and essentially any other adventuring) or once per month spent doing nothing but light work in comfortable conditions.
Stage 1: Joints become more mobile, flesh - more pliable, ligaments stretch easily, and almost pleasurably. Gain +4 to Escape Artist checks and +1 dodge bonus to AC.
Stage 2: Alien voices constantly whisper in their ears, and alien worlds and impossible geometries occur to you in their dreams. The distraction and the erosion of sanity results in -2 to Wis. But the things they say are true -- in their own, unnatural, perverse ways. You may use Commune once a day, asking a single yes/no question, and trying to glimpse the answer in the ever-shifting patterns of Chaos itself. Whether you get an answer or not, you suffer further 1d4 damage to Wis
Stage 3: Skin becomes a clear, almost-transparent membrane, stretched taut over the shifting, wriggling muscles. It needs to be moistened with at least a flask-full of cool, fresh water or take 1d12 points of damage every hour as it dries, cracks and peels. Gain DR 1/bludgeoing when properly moistened, as the flesh, while frail, closes seamlessly when cut.
Stage 4: Gray slime that smells like rancid grease. constantly drips off the skin, as long as it's moistened. Light hurts, causing Light Sensitivity (as orc or drow). Fire is anathema, instantly drying the frail skin, and causing extra 1d12 damage from any source of fire damage. The need to stay in the water becomes unbearable, and the character is not considered rested, or having slept at all unless he did it submerged to their neck in cool, fresh water.
Stage 5: Gain the ability to breathe water, lose the ability to breathe air, as gills sprout from the character's neck and ribs. Alien whispers become voices now, further eroding sanity by another -4 to Wis. If that changes the character's Wisdom to 2 or lower, progress to Stage 6 immediately.
Stage 6: The character effectively dies, as his soul, mind and body are overtaken by the infection, making him an aboleth.
Special: A character who is cursed with this strain of the Aboleth Curse may choose to take levels of Aberrant Shifter. If they do, the Curse stops progressing as long as they have at least one level of Aberrant Shifter, and, moreover, for every level of Aberrant Shifter the character gains, his Curse goes down one level.
The Curse cannot be fully expunged that way, though. It lingers at Stage 0 (where it has no mechanical effects, other than the possibility of progressing to further stages as normal). If the character ever loses his levels of Aberrant Shifter, the Curse will progress to Stage 1 and continue progression normally from there.
I could really use a pre-read on this, and general evaluation if the mechanics are clear, not too cumbersome, make sense, and not very abusable.