Transforming Beast (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

This is a work in progress.

The transforming beast is a druid archetype for non-humanoid creatures, mainly awakened animals. Instead of the normal druid's ability to wildshape into animal and monster forms, they gain the ability to transform into various humanoid forms.

For rules about animal characters, see The Noble Wild, Copyright 2009 by Lee Garvin and Skirmisher Publishing LLC.

Class Information

This is a druid archetype.

Hit Dice: d8.

Class Abilities

Except as noted here, the transforming beast class abilities are those of a normal druid.

Beast Spellcasting

A transforming beast can complete the verbal and somatic components of druid spells while in a non-humanoid form. She substitute various noises and gestures for the normal verbal and somatic components of a spell. She can ignore any divine focus or material components that lack a gold piece cost.

Tame Shape (Su)

At 4th level, a transforming beast gains the ability to turn herself into any or into an anthropomorphic shape and back again once per day. The ability to assume an anthropomorphic form works like anthropomorphic animal but without any change in intelligence or proficiencies. The effect lasts for 1 hour per transforming beast level, or until she changes back. Changing form (to humanoid or back) is a standard action and doesn’t provoke an attack of opportunity.

A transforming beast can use this ability an additional time per day at 6th level and every two levels thereafter, for a total of eight times at 18th level. At 20th level, a transforming beast can use tame shape at will. As a transforming beast gains in levels, this ability allows the transforming beast to take on the form of larger and smaller humanoids, elementals, and plants. Each form expends one daily usage of this ability, regardless of the form taken.

At 6th level, a transforming beast can use wild shape to change into a Small or Medium humanoid or a Small elemental. Her options for new forms include Small and Medium creatures with the humanoid type. Except as noted here, the ability to assume a humanoid form functions like the alter self spell. The form chosen must be that of a humanoid race and species the transforming beast is familiar with. When taking the form of an elemental, the transforming beast’s wild shape functions as elemental body I.

At 8th level, a transforming beast can use wild shape to change into a Large humanoid, a Medium elemental, or a Small or Medium plant creature. When taking the form of humanoids, a transforming beast’s wild shape now functions as giant form I. When taking the form of an elemental, the transforming beast’s wild shape now functions as elemental body II. When taking the form of a plant creature, the transforming beast’s wild shape functions as plant shape I.

At 10th level, a transforming beast can use wild shape to change into a Large elemental or a Large plant creature. When taking the form of an elemental, the transforming beast’s wild shape now functions as elemental body III. When taking the form of a plant, the transforming beast’s wild shape now functions as plant shape II.

At 12th level, a transforming beast can use wild shape to change into a Huge humanoid, Huge elemental or a Huge plant creature. When taking the form of a humanoid, a transforming beast’s wild shape now functions as giant form II. When taking the form of an elemental, the transforming beast’s wild shape now functions as elemental body IV. When taking the form of a plant, the transforming beast’s wild shape now functions as plant shape III.

This replaces Wild Shape.

A Thousand Snouts (Su)

At 13th level, a transforming beast gains the ability to change her form at will, altering such details as fur and bark color and texture, making herself larger or smaller without changing her size category, and otherwise appearing as a different individual of her natural kind. This is a transmutation (polymorph) effect and gives a +10 bonus on Disguise checks to appear as a different individual.

Summary of Changed Class Abilities

These abilities of the original class are lost or modified in this archetype:

• Wild Shape
• A Thousand faces

External Links

• The Noble Wild: An Animal Player’s Handbook for Fantasy Role-Playing Games (PFRPG)

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