Shape Dancer (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

The shape dancer is not a summoner at all. Rather than summoning creatures, he changes shape to become the monsters he wants.

Class Information

This is an archetype for the classic summoner (not the unchained summoner) that shifts their own shape instead of summoning other creatures.

Class Skills

Acrobatics (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int ), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Fly (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).

Skill points per level: 4 + Int mod.

Class Features

This archetype has all normal class features, except as noted.

Spells

A shape dancer casts and learns spells as a summoner, but uses the alchemist formula list for his spell list. The spells on the list are not elixirs to the shape dancer, they are regular spells. He must chose this spell as a known spell to be able to cast it. Spells that affect alchemist abilities the shape dancer does not have, such as bombs or discoveries, are not on the shape dancer's spell list. The shape dancer cannot use cantrips and ignores the level zero column in Table: Summoner Spells Known. This modifies spells and replaces cantrips.

Eidolon Form (Su)

As a standard action a shape dancer assumes the form of a powerful magical beast, an eidolon. The shape dancer assumes the eidolon's shape and abilities. Use the classic summoner's eidolon ability for eidolon form, not the unchained summoner's eidolon. The eidolon form is built as if it was a classic summoner's eidolon, with the modifications outlined here.

The eidolon form retains the shape dancer's alignment, type, and subtypes. The shape dancer uses his own base attack bonus, base saves, feats, skill ranks, and class skills (modified by the eidolon's attribute modifiers and size); the eidolon form has no skills, class skills, or feats of its own. A shape dancer in eidolon form uses his own base attack bonus and base saving throw modifiers. He gains the eidolon's armor bonus (not natural armor), darkvision, and all the eidolon’s evolutions. The eidolon form is limited to the eidolon’s maximum number of natural attacks. The eidolon form uses the shape dancer's ability scores as its base form ability scores, modified by the eidolon's evolutions and the Str/Dex bonuses from Table: Eidolon Base Statistics. The eidolon form cannot apply the ability increase evolution to mental ability scores or the skilled evolution to skills with mental key attributes (Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma). The eidolon form cannot select any evolutions that are spell-like abilities, and can spend no more than one third of its evolution points on evolutions that are supernatural abilities.

While in eidolon form, the shape dancer gains the eidolon’s hit points as temporary hit points. Temporary hit points are persistent from one use of Eidolon Form to another. When these hit points reach 0, the eidolon form is dispelled, returning the shape dancer to his normal form. The shape dancer cannot use eidolon form again until he has used renew shape to restore his eidolon's temporary hit points. The eidolon’s temporary hit points can be restored with the rejuvenate shape ability, the rejuvenate eidolon spell, and other effects that specifically restore eidolon hit points, but not by other means such as natural rest or cure spells. The temporary hit points can never exceed the eidolon's starting hit points. While using eidolon form, the shape dancer loses the benefits of his armor. The shape dancer can use all of his own abilities and gear, except for armor. To cast spells with somatic components, the eidolon form must have arms.

The shape dancer can use transmutation (polymorph) effects simultaneously with eidolon form, further transforming himself. When he does so, he loses darkvision and all evolutions that are exceptional abilities, except those affecting natural armor and physical ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution). He keeps the eidolon form's armor bonuses.

This is a modification of the eidolon ability.

Renew Shape (Sp)

The shape dancer can restore the temporary hit points of his eidolon shape to full with a 1-minute ritual. This ability can be used even if the eidolon form has been "slain". This ability can be used once per day at 1st level, and one additional time per day for every four levels after the first. This replaces summon monster I, III, V, VII, and IX.

Shapechanger Subtype (Ex)

The shape dancer becomes a natural shape changer and gains the shapechanger subtype. This replaces life link.

Shape Link (Su)

At 2nd level the shape dancer can use his own health to maintain his eidolon shape. Whenever the temporary hit points from his eidolon shape would be reduced to 0, the shape dancer can sacrifice any number of his own hit points. Each hit point sacrificed this way prevents 1 point of damage (thus preventing the loss of the shape dancer’s temporary hit points), preventing the eidolon shape from being disrupted. This ability bond senses.

Shape Dance (Sp)

At 3rd level, as a 15-minute ritual, the shape dancer can change the distribution of his eidolon form's evolution points, as transmogrify^APG (sp). If this ritual is interrupted, the shape dancer cannot use eidolon form until he has successfully finished this ritual on a later attempt. At third level the shape dancer can use this ability once per day. At level 7, and every 4 levels thereafter, the shapedancer gain an additional daily use, up to a maximum of 4 times per day at level 15. A ritual that is interrupted does not count against this limit. This replaces summon monster II, IV, VI, and VIII.

Shielded Shape (Ex)

At 4th level, whenever the shape dancer is using eidolon form, he gains a +2 shield bonus to his Armor Class and a +2 circumstance bonus on his saving throws. This ability replaces shield ally.

Swift Eidolon Form (Su)

At 6th level the shape dancer can use eidolon form as a swift action. This ability replaces maker's call.

Greater Shape Dance (Su)

At 8th level the shape dancer can change his eidolon form's base form when using shape dance. This ability replaces transposition.

Greater Shielded Shape (Ex)

At 12th level, whenever the shape dancer is in the shape of his eidolon, he gains a +4 shield bonus to his Armor Class and a +4 circumstance bonus on his saving throws. This ability replaces greater shield ally.

Fast Shape Dance (Su)

At 14th level the shape dancer can use shape dance in one minute. This ability replaces life bond.

Split Forms (Su)

At 16th level, as a swift action, the shape dancer can split into two creatures: the shape dancer and the eidolon. The eidolon emerges in a square adjacent to the shape dancer, squeezing if it must. It has statistics identical to the shape dancer's eidolon form. The the eidolon now has its own hit points instead of granting the shape dancer temporary hit points. All effects and spells currently affecting the shape dancer affect both the shape dancer and the eidolon. The shape dancer cannot use Eidolon Form and Split Forms at the same time.

The shape dancer can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to his class level. This time need not be consecutive. The shape dancer can end this effect at any time as a free action. This ability replaces merge forms.

Shapechange (Sp)

At 19th level, the shape danger can use shapechange (sp) three times per day. This replaces gate.

Greater Split Forms (Su)

At 20th level, the shape dancer can use split form and eidolon form at the same time. This ability replaces twin eidolon.

Table: The Shape Dancer

Class Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Spells per Day
						1	2	3	4	5	6
1st	+0	+0	+0	+2	Eidolon form, shapechanger subtype, renew shape I	1	—	—	—	—	—
2nd	+1	+0	+0	+3	Shape link	2	—	—	—	—	—
3rd	+2	+1	+1	+3	Shape dance	3	—	—	—	—	—
4th	+3	+1	+1	+4	Shielded shape	3	1	—	—	—	—
5th	+3	+1	+1	+4	Renew shape (2/day)	4	2	—	—	—	—
6th	+4	+2	+2	+5	Swift eidolon form	4	3	—	—	—	—
7th	+5	+2	+2	+5	Shape dance (2/day)	4	3	1	—	—	—
8th	+6/+1	+2	+2	+6	Greater shape dance	4	4	2	—	—	—
9th	+6/+1	+3	+3	+6	Renew shape (3/day)	5	4	3	—	—	—
10th	+7/+2	+3	+3	+7	Aspect	5	4	3	1	—	—
11th	+8/+3	+3	+3	+7	Shape dance (3/day)	5	4	4	2	—	—
12th	+9/+4	+4	+4	+8	Greater shielded shape	5	5	4	3	—	—
13th	+9/+4	+4	+4	+8	Renew shape (4/day)	5	5	4	3	1	—
14th	+10/+5	+4	+4	+9	Fast shape dance	5	5	4	4	2	—
15th	+11/+6/+1	+5	+5	+9	Shape dance (4/day)	5	5	5	4	3	—
16th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+5	+10	Split forms	5	5	5	4	3	1
17th	+12/+7/+2	+5	+5	+10	Renew shape (5/day)	5	5	5	4	4	2
18th	+13/+8/+3	+6	+6	+11	Greater aspect	5	5	5	5	4	3
19th	+14/+9/+4	+6	+6	+11	Shapechange	5	5	5	5	5	4
20th	+15/+10/+5	+6	+6	+12	Greater split forms	5	5	5	5	5	5

Summary of Changed Class Abilities

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

• Eidolon
• Summon monster
• Bond senses
• Transposition
• Shield ally
• Maker's call
• Greater shield ally
• Life bond
• Merge forms
• Twin eidolon

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