Shapeshifter Werewolf/Greater Werewolf Stats

[Maalox]

Is there an official and up-to-date breakdown of the werewolf forms stats for Shapeshifters? This kit has BY FAR the most out of date information floating around the web about it. I can't find the info in the game guide or patch notes. Where can I find this information?

As another question, does anyone know what the developer's rationale is for not increasing the damage from werewolf form to greater werewolf? I think the strength boost is kind of irrelevant, because aren't there a handful of ways you can bump your strength to 25 anyway, especially considering you can cast DUHM while shifted? You get some nice beefy defense, but why do the claws stay at 1d6? Also, wouldn't slashing damage make more sense than piercing?

Honestly, I'm just curious as to WHY this is the way it is. Someone consciously looked at the greater werewolf form and said "yup, that's just how we want it!" WHY?? I'm not one of those people who thinks the kit is worthless and unplayable (that's all overdramatic exaggeration), but COME ON. It's like the developers WANT us to not like this kit, I swear. Throw this kit a freaking bone already.

[red255]

the main issue with the kit is it only hits as +2. which isn't enough to hit more and more stuff as the game goes on.

[ÄmJii]

How are you gonna cast DUHM as a Druid? Yes, you have Bhaal powers, but they get taken away during Chapter 4. Druids have very limited set of self-buff spells, Ironskins being the most notable one, and spellcasting is disabled while you're in werewolf form.

What does kill Shapeshifter for me is that Cleric/Mage with Polymorph and Shapechange spells does shapeshifting much better... plus, I just have a soft spot for C/M's in general.

[Maalox]

The claws are actually +3 now. I do know that much.

[Maalox]

Also I've never finished BG2 before, so I guess I learned something about the story today...

[ÄmJii]

Originally posted by Maalox:

Also I've never finished BG2 before, so I guess I learned something about the story today...

My apologies for unintentional spoilers, I simply assumed that event is common knowledge by now. Bhaal powers are fairly minor spells so the loss is not really a gamechanger.
The explanation for "why?" is fairly well presented in the game, that's all I'm going to say about it. Keep playing and you'll see.

[Eisenfell]

#WALL OF TEXT
you wont get any more details so you are welcome :)



Allright lets go ...Naked Stats

Werwolf

STR 19
DEX 16
CON Your Actual Stats
INT Your Actual Stats
WIS Your Actual Stats
CHA Your Actual Stats

-1 AC
2 APR
Weapons hit as +2
20 Magic Resist (Cant be boosted always sets to 20)


Greater Werewolf

STR 21
DEX 20
CON Your Actual Stats
INT Your Actual Stats
WIS Your Actual Stats
CHA Your Actual Stats

-10 AC
3 APR
Weapons hit as +3
40 Magic Resist (can be boosted with items after transformation)
50% Fire/Acid/Electric/Cold




what you can actually do with Shapeshifter Kit. (copy paste from old post long ago.) (was for a BG1 start)


Can in Werewolf...

-Use a Buckler and gain bonus AC.
-Use Single Weapon combat Style and gain +1AC/+1Crit range
-Use Sword/Shield Style and benefit from -2AC to Missiles.
-Use Rings/Necklaces with Bonus AC.
-Use Usable Gear like shield amulet and all other gear with a "use" function while shapeshifted.
- Benefit from Elemental Resistance on Gear (Fire/Cold/Electricity)
-Drink Potions and use Wands/Scrolls usable by druids.
-Benefit From Speed Boots (double movement rate)
-Pick up loot and manipulate his Inventory (you can not switch your weapon though !)
-Suffer from cursed items like the constitution hit of claw from kazgaroth.
-Use Gloves with +hit/dmg and Gauntlets of Crushing (+4hit/dmg with fists) for its 4 Damage Bonus
-Benefit from items who raise values like Str/Dex/Con by 1/2/3 etc


Can't in Werewolf...

-Benefit from Extra magic Resistance , its set to 20 and stays on this. (BG2 Greater werewolf gets extra MR worn after the transformation, but has to requeip it every time)
-Change his base AC1 (-1 with fixed dex) with AC bracers.
-Swap his Weapon or use any Weapon.
-Cast his Druid Spells.
-Change his paws to strike anything Higher as a +2 Weapon. (maybe a problem with some enemy's but you can count those at one "paw".) (+3for Greater werewolf)
-Benefit from gear that sets Values fixed like 18 Dex Bracers. (werewolf still has 16 dex)
-Get Bonus Attacks from Gear.

Note the Greater Werewolf in BG2 gets 40 MR and 50 Fire/Cold/Electricity resistance out the box , so dragon helm or gift of peace (+ the druid 10% bonus at lvl 18/21/24) make you actually immune to elemental dmg.

With all that in Mind my Tactic for a Shapeshifter is the Following.
Wisdom/Dex/Con 18 is a must have , you could skimp on Strength but you generally want 18 there to (DEX and STR get overwriten by Werewolf but CON is your actuall characters value.
Start out with 1 Point in Daggers/Sword-Shield style, load up with a Buckler and throwing daggers then get going.

You can now be either in second line and support with spells/chug daggers or go front line as Wolf and tank (load up on all AC items!), during BG1 you are equal if not better than a pure Fighter.

beginning with BG2 you will lag behind Fighters , their Gear is getting better , they load up on APR and they have the better THAC0 progression (druids still have second best in game yay!) you will however catch up once you get Greater Werewolf, and then surpass them in matters of tankyness (better AC tons of resistances, Iron Skin etc) but never again in matters of dmg output, this is about the moment then you can gear your druid towards total Magic/Elemental immunity ...just letting him walk into bossmobs/liches and soak up all the magic , but don't ever hope to hit those Bossmonsters since most of them need a +4 weapons and your claws will be capped as +3 piercing.

Note around this time your Barkskin spell will also be good enough to be a replacement for any armor your normal counterpart druids could use so combat in Human form is also possible to make use of high magic items for said bosses , and fling spells freely.


In a Nutshell , Shapeshifter is Valid and Fun, you just have to play him right.