SHIFTER
A shifter is an expert in assuming the forms of other creatures, making their strength his own. Lycanthropes using magic to control their transformations, worshipers of animal totems, or simply magic-users who were uncomfortable in their own skins, shifters embody the idea of chaos of form, becoming whatever they need to be at a moment’s notice.
Alignment: Any non-Lawful
Hit Die: d10
Class Skills: The Shifter’s class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Athletics (Str), Craft (Int), Deception (Cha), Fly (Dex), Handle Animal (Wis), Influence (Cha), Knowledge (nature; Int), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), and Survival (Wis).
Skill Ranks per Level: 4 + Int modifier
Table: The Shifter
CLASS FEATURES
The following are the class features of the shifter
Weapon and Armor Proficiency:
A shifter is proficient with simple weapons, as well as light armor and bucklers. In addition, if this is this character’s first level in any class, they may select a martial tradition of their choice.
Casting
A shifter may combine spheres and talents to create magical effects. A shifter is considered a Low-Caster and uses Wisdom as his casting ability modifier. (Note: All casters gain 2 bonus talents and may select a casting tradition the first time they gain the casting class feature.)
Spell Pool
A shifter gains a small reservoir of energy she can call on to create truly wondrous effects, called a spell pool. This pool contains a number of spell points equal to his level + his Wisdom modifier (minimum: 1). This pool replenishes once per day after roughly 8 hours of rest.
Blended Training
A shifter gains a combat or magic talent every time he gains a caster level, according to Table: The Shifter. This does not stack with caster levels gained from other sources.
Shapeshifter
At first level the shifter gains the Alteration sphere as a bonus magic talent. The shifter uses his class level as his caster level for this sphere. This stacks normally with caster levels gained from other sources.
Wild Empathy (Ex)
A shifter gains wild empathy as the druid class feature, treating his shifter levels as druid levels for this purpose.
Quick Transformation
At 2nd level, the shifter may use the Alteration sphere to apply a shapeshift to himself and only himself as a move action. Maintaining this effect through concentration only requires a move action each round.
Endurance (Ex)
At 3rd level the shifter gains Endurance as a bonus feat.
Bestial Trait
At 4th level and every 2 levels thereafter, the shifter gains a bestial trait, representing the ways he has changed through his assumption of other forms. The shifter may choose to keep these traits when he assumes other forms, even if the trait would normally be removed (such as natural claws).
All of the available bestial traits can be found HERE.
Lingering Transformation
At 4th level, when the shifter applies a shapeshift to himself and maintains it through concentration or decides not to maintain the shapeshift at all, the shapeshift lasts an additional number of rounds equal to 1/2 his shifter level before ending.
Enhanced Attacks (Su)
Starting at 4th level, the shifter’s magic begins to augment his natural attacks, in both his normal and transformed shapes. All the shifter’s natural attacks are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. At 7th level they are treated as silver and cold iron weapons. At 10th level, the shifter has come to embody fluidity so much that his natural attacks are treated as Chaotic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. At 16th level, they are treated as adamantine weapons for this purpose.
Steal Language (Su)
At 5th level, a shifter can not only change his body, but also his mind. The shifter may touch a target, gaining for 24 hours the ability to speak and understand one language that creature speaks. This can work on animals and other creatures that don’t have a language, but only allows communication with that particular type of creature (eagle, dog, wolf, etc.). You may only have one language acquired at a time in this manner; acquiring a second language dismisses the first.
Enhanced Physicality (Ex)
At 7th level, the shifter's body begins to become naturally enhanced through his transformations. He gains a +2 inherent bonus to his Constitution score. This increases to +4 at 13th level, and +6 at 19th level.
Immunity to Poison (Ex)
At 8th level, the shifter gains immunity to all poisons.
Extended Transformation (Sp)
At 9th level, the shifter’s control over Alteration magic makes his transformations unusually powerful. Whenever the shifter spends a spell point to allow a shapeshift to continue without concentration, the effect lasts for 10 minutes per level instead of 1 minute per level.
Boundless Communication (Ex)
At 11th level, the shifter’s ability to communicate increases. He may understand and be understood by any creature with a language.
Immunity to Disease (Ex)
At 12th level, the shifter gains immunity to all diseases, including magical diseases.
Endless Communication (Ex)
At 15th level, the shifter’s communicative powers encompasses all life. He may communicate with and understand any living creature, even those without languages such as animals and plants.
Greater Transformation (Su)
At 17th level, whenever the shifter spends a spell point to allow a shapeshift to endure without concentration, the effect lasts for 1 hour per level.
Second Skin (Ex)
At 20th level the shifter becomes a master of Alteration magic. Whenever he changes his own form with the Alteration sphere it is considered an extraordinary ability instead of a magical effect. This means it does not provoke an attack of opportunity, cannot be dispelled or countered, and can be used within an antimagic field. Changes to himself never cost a spell point and always have an unlimited duration.