Shapeshifter duels

[Heliomance]

The Shapeshifter Showdown is a staple of fantasy worlds, and downright awesome to boot. And yet there's no real way to do it in D&D, despite the fact that shapeshifting is common. Is there a way to do it justice, either in D&D or another system?

[Eldariel]

MoMF vs. MoMF can be like this. The problem is, of course, that if they're well-built, there are very few optimal combat forms for them and it just isn't that useful to keep shifting around, but as they can shift as a move/swift action, it's often affordable.

Still, yeah, "switching combat modes" is an interesting option for characters of that kind; go from stealth to detection to earth gliding to reach to brawler. They tend to have enough Wildshape uses to afford it.

[Kobold-Bard]

Be a Shapeshift Druid each and use either these alternate form feats (DaTedinator) or be a Battle Shifter (The Demented One).

All of a sudden you have loads more forms to play with, maybe make up a few new ones (ones that give smaller sizes etc).

Just an idea, which I know relies on homebrew to succeed, but when the homebre is this awesome nothing should stop you