What do you recommend as a shapeshifter class to a beginner?

[Ángelos]

Hello, I've start playing WOTR recently and I started as a Druid. My main goal is to play with a shapeshifter class (within the base game).

I read somewhere that we also have other classes that can shapeshift. Can someone recommend me one that is beginner friendly? Druid fits this "criterion"? I wanted to play as a melee specially.

[Erei]

Shapeshifter is the best at, well, shapeshifting. At the end of the day, Druids are caster who can shift (at least most of them). While shapeshifter are just that.
Elemental rampager for druid is the "shapeshifter" druid, but honestly, I'd say it's inferior to shifter when it comes to that.
Also, if you're not afraid of multiclassing, you get most of the most class at lvl 13, leaving 7 level to increase your potency other ways. Although, there is no harm in going all the way to 20 if you are new and all that.

When you end the first chapter, you get a way to make that shift "permanent" (it's still at will, don't worry, you can change back to "human" form anytime, but you can stay shifted for as long as you want, which is best anyway). Trying not to spoil. Don't waste feat into extending shift duration or whatever.

Currently, child of the manticore is for ranged (good class) and weretouched is usually considered one of the best for melee shapeshifter. But base shifter is good to, so is feyform I heard.

Although, it should be noted the companion that come with the DLC is pretty much one of the best shifter one can be. He has a unique class that is super strong.

[canuck250]

Do you have any dlc? Saying base game makes me think not but might just mean campaign. The shifter class comes with the last sarkorians dlc which has a shifter companion and gives you access to the class yourself. I would say this is the most "beginner friendly". Once you get the mythic feat master shapeshifter, your shifting is permanent so no timers, shift in and out whenever you want as there are no spell charges to limit you.

Thanks @Erei, I totally derped on Druids, divine casters do not get the spells but they do have class features that give access.

Otherwise shifting spells (transmutation school) are arcane, the first spell Beast Shape is level 3, limited casters (bloodrager) get lvl 3 spells at lvl 10, half casters at lvl 7 (magus), fulls at lvl 6 (sorc), wizards cheat and get it at lvl 5 (tangent - why neino is amazing at level 5, she gets haste access).

Then there is the workaround, the brown fur transmuter, at lvl 9 they can share transmutation buffs (beast shape), this way you can shapeshift anyone in your party. While it sucks for space and movement, it sure is fun to make a party of all dragons, depending on how many pet classes you have, it is rather silly!\

Should also mention Demon Mythic path, you get access to demon shapeshifting.

Another mention but not recommended is divine classes like Oracle and Shaman who can select mysterys or the like, which can get access to these transmutation spells. I once tried to make a shaman who shifted into a water elemental to play off the cold effects my party was doing, it did not feel good at all :).

[canuck250]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Erei:

Although, it should be noted the companion that come with the DLC is pretty much one of the best shifter one can be. He has a unique class that is super strong.

I will also mention Lann as a shapeshiter, with his +2 mongrel ac, he can become a great tank thru shifter class. Do the OP witch dip into spider aspect, you are set.

[pete3great]

a well-built feyform shifter is like using a cheat to delete mobs.

[Razer]

For Druid the best shapeshifting class is Elemental Rampager. You get free claws as a weapon and a rampage ability that grants extra +attack and damage which helps a lot. You also get full druid list and many shapeshift forms that are very useful. Plus by the end you can shift into a dragon of your choosing for more juicy shapeshifting. Do note that Shapechange cannot be made 24h duration for some reason, but it can be shifted from human to dragon back and forth as many times as you want during the spells duration.

From Shifter class (which is awesome by the way) I think Feyshifter is the best. Followed by Wereshifter and base shifter class. Dragonshifter sucks. They even buffed it compared to table top rules, but it still sucks. You're better off just playing a Druid elemental rampager if you want dragon form.

Feyshifter is frikking awesome. Get 5 attacks at level 4 with sneak attack and rogue feats. Scales nicely too the further you get into the game. Lots of aspects to choose from that give good buffs.

I recently played a Druid Elemental Rampager -> Angel into Gold Dragon. It was amazing.

[Stink Bug]

The Demon Mythic path has a load of demon forms to shapeshift into, and some of them are quite good. It synergizes well with the Elemental Rampager Druid others have mentioned.

Unfortunately, Owlcat has crippled Druid’s normal Wildshape progression (you’re supposed to be able to become a leopard at level 4 and dire tiger at level 6, instead you do at 6 and 10), and in a campaign where most enemies have damage reduction Druid’s shapeshifting is doubly weak in comparison until you get the relevant mythic feats.

[Razer]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Stink Bug:

The Demon Mythic path has a load of demon forms to shapeshift into, and some of them are quite good. It synergizes well with the Elemental Rampager Druid others have mentioned.

Unfortunately, Owlcat has crippled Druid’s normal Wildshape progression (you’re supposed to be able to become a leopard at level 4 and dire tiger at level 6, instead you do at 6 and 10), and in a campaign where most enemies have damage reduction Druid’s shapeshifting is doubly weak in comparison until you get the relevant mythic feats.

One thing to note for Demon is that there's 2 demon shapes that have a weapon AND natural attacks. You can enable shifter's fury on the natural attacks and still get itterative attacks on the weapon like normal for a crazy number of attacks per round.

[Realm Walker]

If you want to shapeshift into a dragon the Dragon Disciple prestige class is there to go. It requires you to have a draconic bloodline from another class, which you can get from eldritch scion (subclasses of the same name from the Magus und the Arcanist) or from sorcerer. A Dragon Disciple continues to learn spells from the class of origin (i think) but is more shapeshifting oriented.