We here at Lost Spheres love shapeshifters. Conceptually, the group of characters that encompases the ability to take on another form is pretty broad particularly including third-party options. With so many choices out there we thought some of you wouldn’t mind a few suggestions for your next morphic champion. Metamorph (from Amora Game and found in Liber Influxis Communis) is an evolution driven shapeshifter with persistent abilities somewhat consistent with its “cousin” the synthesist eidolon. Over the next week or so we’d like to showcase a few different ‘shifter character concepts from third party companies for those looking for a little change before the new year. Welcome to the 12 days of Shift-mas!
Shapeshifting: The Metamorph
The metamorph probably compares most clearly to druid while wild-shaped. Both most likely rely on natural attacks in combat situations. That said the intense variation of evolutions for this class can result in so many differences that role is far from guarenteed:
Under the Tree – Dozens of shiny little boxes. With an evolution driven mechanic, the metamorph gets a pile of options from multiple attacks to poisons to new forms of movement. While evolutions are generally high commitment within level, each level you may reallocate if your choices are not to your liking. While this may make it the “slowest” shifter we have looked at so far, it is also the least intensive resource-wise. You get what you get and you never run out of it. Your only real limit is your “phenotype” which describes the ultimate form your character is on his or her way to. This choice limits your level by level evolutions available and provides an overall direction for the characters feel. The other amazing little gift is your genesis. This is your metamorph’s origin story and provides a selection of your primary attribute. This might come in handy later (see below). Oh yes, let’s not forget the built in heals. Never a bad thing.
Battery Life – Fusion Reactor. As above, the metamorph is an “always on” shifter, your evolutions only rarely have usage limits of any kind. In the world of pounce-masters your bestial or monstrous phenotype metamorph is a serious contender.
Wrapping Fees – Ask Mom first. While there is a feat to unlock more evolution points (and you really might not need much more) you really ought to see which, if any, Eidolon related feats your GM will allow porting for your evolutions. A really kind GM may even allow allied spell casters to learn some variant of transmogrify. If not, again, you might want some of the Path of War feats from to get maneuvers of the Broken Blade discipline to pump up your mutant.
Under the Mistletoe – Come up an see me sometime. Metamorph certainly rewards commitment, its 20 level omega allows you to shift your evolutions with 8 hours of meditation. That said, most other evolution-based classes get access to shifting mid-level or even combat based shift mechanics, if you end up with something similar, the loss of a 20th level metamorph isn’t all that painful, but you lose the rarely seen type change mechanic if you don’t stay locked. That brings us to the other thing: with the genesis ability, metamorph is super dip-able. Want Intelligence-based constitution dissolving spores for you wizard? Charisma-based poison bite for your sorcerer or paladin? They can happen. Simply put, metamorph will reward you up to your interest level. Players wanting to have a shifter who is becoming… something… should look at this class.
Comeback tomorrow for the next Present of Shift-mas! Day 5 – the Masquerade Reveler! Don’t forget ANY shapeshifter can benefit in Mythic games from the Master-of-Shapes path from Mythic Paths of the Lost Spheres and you can get it on: RPGNow or Paizo or d20.pfsrd.com!
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