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MASTER OF MANY FORMS (Complete Adventurer 58-60)
A master of many forms has no shape that she calls her own. Instead, she
occupies whatever body is most expedient for her at the time. While
others base their identities largely on their external forms, a master
of many forms actually comes closer to her true self through her
transformations. Of necessity, her sense of self is based not on her
outward form, but on her soul, which is truly the only constant about
her. It is the inner strength of that soul that enables her to take on
any shape and remain herself within.
The path of the master of many forms is ideal for a spellcaster of any
race who has experienced shapechanging and yearns for more of it. Such a
character can be a great force for either good or ill in the world. An
evil master of many forms in particular poses a terrible threat, for she
can appear anywhere, in any body. The same opponents may face her again
and again, in one shape after another, never realizing that they are
actually facing a single enemy. NPC masters of many forms are typically
loners, moving between communities of various creatures as suits their
whims. They sometimes find work as spies or explorers.
The class description presented here is an updated version of the
shifter prestige class that originally appeared in Masters of the
Wild
Adaptation: Masters of many forms can be introduced into a
campaign in many ways. They might form an elite group of spies and
scouts, they might be high-ranking members of a doppelganger-worshiping
cult, or they might be a small group of druids who see beauty and power
in all of nature's forms, not just animals and elementals.
Hit Die: d8.
REQUIREMENTS
To qualify to become a master of many forms, a character must fulfill
all the following criteria.
Feats: Alertness, Endurance.
Special: Wild shape class feature.
CLASS SKILLS
The class skills of the master of many forms (and the key ability for
each skill) are Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (any) (Int),
Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Hide (Dex), Jump
(Str), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str),
and Survival (Wis).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Level |
Base Attack Bonus |
Fort Save |
Ref Save |
Will Save |
Special |
1st |
+0 |
+2 |
+2 |
+0 |
Shifter's speech, improved wild shape (humanoid) |
2nd |
+1 |
+3 |
+3 |
+0 |
improved wild shape (giant, Large) |
3rd |
+2 |
+3 |
+3 |
+1 |
Fast wild shape, improved wild shape (monstrous humanoid) |
4th |
+3 |
+4 |
+4 |
+1 |
improved wild shape (fey; Tiny) |
5th |
+3 |
+4 |
+4 |
+1 |
improved wild shape (vermin) |
6th |
+4 |
+5 |
+5 |
+2 |
improved wild shape (aberration; Huge) |
7th |
+5 |
+5 |
+5 |
+2 |
Extraordinary wild shape, improved wild shape (plant) |
8th |
+6 |
+6 |
+6 |
+2 |
improved wild shape (ooze; Diminutive) |
9th |
+6 |
+6 |
+6 |
+3 |
improved wild shape (elemental) |
10th |
+7 |
+7 |
+7 |
+3 |
Evershifting form, improved wild shape (dragon; Gargantuan) |
CLASS FEATURES
All of the following are class features of the master of many forms prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Masters of many forms gain no
proficiency with any weapon or armor.
Shifter's Speech (Ex): A master of many forms maintains her
ability to speak normally (including verbal components of spells)
regardless of the form she takes. Furthermore, she can communicate with
other creatures of the same kind while in wild shape, as long as such
creatures are normally capable of communicating with each other using
natural methods.
Improved Wild Shape (Su): A master of many forms knows how to use
her wild shape ability to assume a wider range of forms. At 1st level,
she can assume a humanoid form with wild shape. She later gains the
ability to assume the form of a giant (at 2nd level), a monstrous
humanoid (at 3rd level), a fey (at 4th level), a vermin (at 5th level),
an aberration (at 6th level), a plant (at 7th level), an ooze (at 8th
level), an elemental (at 9th level), and a dragon (at 10th level).
The size limit of the shapes she can assume also increases as she gains
levels. At 2nd level, she can assume the form of a Large creature; at
4th level, a Tiny creature; at 6th level, a Huge creature; at 8th level,
a Diminutive creature; and at 10th level, a Gargantuan creature.
A master of many forms also gains one additional daily use of her wild
shape ability per class level gained.
Fast Wild Shape (Ex): Starting at 3rd level, a master of many
forms can use her wild shape ability as a move action, rather than as a
standard action.
Extraordinary Wild Shape (Ex): Starting at 7th level, a master of
many forms gains the extraordinary special qualities of any form she
assumes with wild shape.
Evershifting Form: A 10th-level master of many forms has reached
the pinnacle of her shapechanging abilities. She gains the shapechanger
subtype and becomes immune to any transmutation effect unless she is
willing to accept it.
In addition, she no longer takes ability penalties for aging and is not
subject to magical aging, though any aging penalties she already may
have taken remain in place. Bonuses still accrue, and a master of many
forms still dies of old age when her time is up.
SAMPLE MASTER OF MANY FORMS
Galatea: Female elf druid 5/master of many forms 2; CR 7; Medium
humanoid; HD 7d8+7; hp 38; Init +2; Spd 20 ft.; AC 18, touch 12,
flat-footed 16; Base Atk +4; Grp +5; Atk or Full Atk +6 melee (1d6+2, +1
scimitar) or +7 ranged (1d8+2, +1 composite longbow); SA spells; SQ
animal companion (eagle), animal companion benefits, elf traits,
improved wild shape (humanoid, giant; Large), low-light vision, resist
nature's lure, shifter's speech, trackless step, wild empathy +4 (+0
magical beasts), wild shape 3/day, woodland stride; AL CN; SV Fort +8,
Ref +6, Will +8 (+10 against enchantments); Str 12, Dex 15, Con 12, Int
10, Wis 18, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: Knowledge (nature) +12, Listen +18, Search +2,
Spot +18, Survival +16; Alertness, Endurance, Natural Spell.
Languages: Common, Elven; Druidic.
Animal Companion (Ex): Galatea has an eagle named Metrius as an
animal companion. Metrius's abilities and characteristics are summarized
below.
Animal Companion Benefits: Galatea and Metrius enjoy the link and
share spells special qualities.
Link (Ex): Galatea can handle Metrius as a free action. She also
gains a +4 circumstance bonus on all wild empathy checks and Handle
Animal checks made regarding her eagle.
Share Spells (Ex): Galatea can have any spell she casts on
herself also affect her animal companion if the latter is within 5 feet
at the time. She can also cast a spell with a target of "You" on her
eagle.
Elf Traits: Elves have immunity to magic sleep effects. An elf
who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is
entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she where actively looking
for it.
Improved Wild Shape (Su): Galatea can assume humanoid or giant
forms when she uses wild shape. She can also take the form of Large
creatures.
Resist Nature's Lure (Ex): Galatea gains a +4 bonus on saving
throws against the spell-like abilities of fey.
Shifter's Speech (Ex): Galatea can speak normally regardless of
the form she takes, and she can communicate with creatures of whatever
kind she transforms into.
Trackless Step (Ex): Galatea leaves no trail in natural
surroundings and cannot be tracked.
Wild Shape (Su): Galatea can change into a Small, Medium, or
Large animal, humanoid, or giant, and back again, as per the polymorph
spell. This ability lasts for 5 hours or until she changes back.
Woodland Stride (Ex): Galatea can move through natural thorns,
briars, overgrown areas, and similar ter- rain at her normal speed and
without damage or other impairment. However, thorns, briars, and
overgrown areas that are magically manipulated to impede motion still
affect her.
Druid Spells Prepared (caster level 5th): 0-cure minor
wounds, detect magic, know
direction, resistance, virtue; 1st-cure light
wounds, endure elements, entangle (DC 15), magic
fang; 2nd-barkskin, bear's endurance, cat's
grace; 3rd-cure moderate wounds, greater magic fang.
Possessions: +1 hide armor, +1 buckler, +1
composite longbow (+1 Str bonus) with 20 arrows, +1
scimitar, periapt of Wisdom +2, druid's vestment.
Metrius, Eagle Companion: CR -; Small animal; HD 3d8+3; hp 16;
Init +3; Spd 10 ft., fly 80 ft. (average); AC 17, touch 14, flat-footed
14; Base Atk +2; Grp -2; Atk +6 melee (1d4, talons); Full Atk +6 (1d4, 2
talons); SQ bonus tricks (2), evasion, low-light vision; AL N; SV Fort
+4, Ref +6, Will +3; Str 11, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Listen +2, Spot +16; Flyby Attack, Weapon Finesse.
Tricks: Attack, guard, seek.
Evasion (Ex): If Metrius is subjected to an attack that normally
allows a Reflex saving throw for half damage, it takes no damage if it
makes a successful saving throw.
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