Overhaul Changes

The uses/day of shifter abilities have been removed.

The DCs and the like still being reviewed.

Potential Changes

The item merging is a bit all over the place. Makes some forms much more viable than others. The polymorph abilities / spells also need a once over.

Some potential improvements:

  • Use effects tied to the polymorph effect to mimic some of the basic merging (eg; 2 AC enchanting items can just add bonus AC effects instead of adding as an item property)
    • Needs engine improvements to not lose polymorph on save/char export
  • Have the icons for spell abilities that are limited get greyed out when the uses have been depleted - https://nwnlexicon.com/index.php?title=SetTextureOverride
    • More consistency on it as well, to be honest why some powerful ones are unlimited and some really bad ones are limited I've no idea
    • Maybe just make them all unlimited but rebalance them (ie some damage / power on some abilities is high, some is very low not worth wasting a round over!)
  • Have a NUI panel to show what forms grant what final bonuses/stats as a sort of "preview"
  • We could add more forms - although Bioware didn't add more than 3 in some cases. At least more utility forms might be nice.

Polymorph Updates

There are some updates we'll be doing to the Polymorph 2da which will include shifter forms.

Normalising Spells and Abilities

Polymorph spells and spell-like abilities will be changed to the basic normal ones. Whether or not they'll be restricted in usage can be tracked in the spell script.

  • This brings down the number of spells.2da entries and simplifies the list for builders (and the AI)
  • This brings down the number of scripts in use - especially useful for fixing bugs in many of these abilities
  • It will make it so the spell ID is the same across uses for the purposes of detecting that spell specifically for whatever reason
  • It should make the saving throws / spell save DCs / etc. all more consistent as per Spells and Abilities its a mess
    • For the shifter variants the save DCs and so forth also will be better standardised (some are all over the place)
  • It makes some perhaps useful for monster abilities like Hurl Rocks available to builders with a fixed up script
  • It makes some shifter variants of abilities just simply act more similarly to the monster versions - perhaps in some cases there will be exceptions but some of the shifter versions are just awful!
  • It allows future polymorph forms to be more consistent in how they're created and used

Statistics and Creature Items Review

Some creatures need a review. The base stats in polymorph.2da plus the hide and other creature item properties. Doing this consistently can also allow us to document such forms in a standardised way.

The Shifter ones in particular are a bit of a mess on what bonuses are copied from magical items and what the abilities of those forms are.

Overhaul Description

(PRESTIGE CLASS)
A shifter has no form they call their own. Instead, they cloth themselves in whatever shape is most expedient at the time. While others base their identities largely on their external forms, the shifter actually comes closer to their true self through all of their transformations. Of necessity, their sense of self is based not on their outward form, but on their soul, which is truly the only constant about them. It is the inner strength of that soul that enables them to take on any shape and remain themselves within.

- Hit Die: d8.
- Proficiencies: A shifter does not gain any additional weapon or armor proficiencies.
- Skill Points: 4 + Int Modifier.
- Class Skills: Animal Empathy, Concentration, Craft Armor, Craft Trap, Craft Weapon, Heal, Hide, Listen, Lore, Persuade, Spot.
- Primary saving throw(s): Fortitude, Reflex.
- Base attack bonus: Medium (+3/4 per level).

REQUIREMENTS:

Feats: Alertness, Wildshape.
Spellcasting: Level 3 or higher.

ABILITIES:

Level
1: Greater Wildshape I  - Can change into a chromatic wyrmling dragon three  times per day and gain use of their breath weapon.
3: Greater Wildshape II - Can change into harpy, minotaur and gargoyle.
4: Infinite Greater Wildshape I - Can use Greater Wildshape I unlimited times per day.
5: Greater Wildshape III  - Can change into a drider, basilisk and manticore, gaining some of the creatures special abilities three times per day.
7: Infinite Greater Wildshape II -  Can use Greater Wildshape II unlimited times per day.
  Humanoid Shape - Can change into humanoid type creatures three times per day.
10: Greater Wildshape IV  - Can change into medusa, huge dire tiger and mindflayer forms, gaining some of the creatures special abilities three times per day.
  Infinite Greater Wildshape III - Can use Greater Wildshape III unlimited times per day.

EPIC LEVELS:

You are the master of shapeshifting, able to become virtually any creature imaginable. Your powers continue to grow as an epic shifter.

Hit Die: d8.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int Modifier.
Bonus Feats: The epic shifter gains a bonus feat every three levels.
Special:
  Increases Shifting - At level 13 the shifter gains the ability to use his Humanoid Shape Ability infinite times.
  At level 16 he gains unlimited use of his Greater Wildshape IV ability.
  Many aspects of the shifter's Greater Wildshape forms continue to improve as he gains epic levels.

Epic Shifter Bonus Feats List:
Automatic Quicken Spell, Automatic Silent Spell, Automatic Still Spell, Construct Shape, Dragon Shape, Energy Resistance, Epic Spell Focus, Epic Spell Penetration, Improved Combat Casting, Great Wisdom, Outsider Shape, Undead Shape.
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