Abdel - The Shapeshifter

[Abdel - Bhaal Spawn]

After discovering I could not dual my Ranger into a Mage I decided to start all over, this time around however I would keep my first roll and play through both the BG series with that character. I didn’t get a great roll at first but after the tomes in BG1 my character is pretty much the way I would like him to be.

Name: Abdel
Race: Human
Class: Druid / Shapeshifter
Str: 17 (18)
Dex: 9 (10)
Con: 15 (16)
Int: 9 (10)
Wis: 15 (18)
Cha: 17 (18)

Weapon Proficiencies: Spear, Darts, Club & Quarterstaff

Abdel may have lived inside Candlekeep his whole young life, but he always believed in the balance in this world and loved to sneak out with Imoen and enjoy nature as much as possible. Abdel love for nature eventually caught up with him and allowed him to control simple plants. This allow Abdel to entangle some wolves who threaten him and Imoen one day when they were out and about on one of their adventures outside Candlekeep. Upon reaching adult, Abdel life quickly changed and he was forced out of Candlekeep and was attacked that same night by a mysterious figure, who he later learned was his brother. After the attack he ran into his long time friend Imoen and they quickly got on the road to find the companion his step father mentioned to him, Kahlid and Jaheria. Abdel and Imoen ended up lost and ran into a woman who was running from a solider. Abdel felt it in his heart that this lady, Viconcia, was being mistreated and assisted her. After that Viconcia decided to travel with her new friends and help them on their journey and find their way to the Friendly Arms Inn. Abel meet up with Kahlid and Jaheria and all five of them took off south to find out what was going on because there was rumors that there is trouble with the Naskel mines. Traveling to Naskel was deadly. Abdel lost one of his new friends, Kahlid to an Ogre. Abdel and Jaheria both tried to use nature to help heal their fallen comrade, but it wasn’t enough to save his life. Upon reaching Naskel, a mysterious Mage named Edwin requested the services of Abdel and of course Abdel listened and agreed to hunt down and kill a witch, after all witches are evil and should be destroyed. After finding and destroying the witch Abdel and his friends traveled back to Naskel to rest and regain their strength. Upon reaching Naskel, a rugged man, Minsc, approached Abdel and asked for his assisted in finding his witch. Abdel looked puzzled and looked at the Mage he thought was friend but now knew he was tricked. After talking with this warrior and explaining what has happened, Minsc and Abdel agreed that Jaheria would be his new witch and they both agreed that even though Edwin was evil his skills were needed. After the group rested they went and resolve the troubles of the mines and learned that the troubles of the Naske Mines was just the beginning. They than traveled to a bandit camp and than Cloakwood Mines which eventually lead into Baldur’s Gate and back to Candlekeep. After leaving Candlekeep, Abdel knew something was up and decided to stay at a small town outside of Baldur’s Gate. Upon entering the town he was approached by a man asking him to travel to an island and Abdel being a good person of course accepted this man request to help him by traveling to this island. The isladn was infested with Wolfeweres and Werewolves. Upon finding a boat Abdel and friends quickly left the island in hopes to find this man who sent him there. Upon finding this man they quickly learn they were betrayed. Before this man died at Abdel feet with Abdel's spear thrust into his heart, he was able to bite Abdel and inflict him with the disease. Abdel and company went back into Baldur’s Gate to find the person behind all of the trouble and it so happened to be Abdel brother, Saverok. Once they got inside Baldur’s Gate they had to be careful as all guards were looking for them. The Shadow Thieves were able to assist them and help them find Saverok. One quick battle resulted in the death of Abdel brother, but Abdel also learned his true heritage. After the death of Saverok, Viconcia and Edwin each went their separate ways. Abdel, Imoen, Minsc and Jaheria traveled south to check on Durlag's Tower. During their travels south they were ambushed and attacked; Abdel awakend to find himslef in a dungeon. While trapped in his cell Abdel became a werewolf on the first full moon. Since he had little else to do, Abdel used his knowledge and skills that he has gained from nature and his travels to help control this form and to his surprise he was able to change at will and control his werewolf form. Abdel believes this form will help him and his comrades, if they are ever able to escape, return the favor that is owed to who ever brought him here and has imprisoned him and maybe his friends, that is if they are still alive.

Over the weekend I was able to get through BG1. I am going to start BG2 tonight. I already know I can dual this character into a fighter. If I do, what level should I dual him or should I just play as a Shapeshifter? I know if I dual him into a fighter his THACO would be lower and I could become grand master in Spears, Quarterstaff or scimitars. So I am not sure what I want to do. I do know that as a werewolf my character is extremely powerful but would he become more powerful being dual class?

[ January 30, 2006, 16:10: Message edited by: Abdel - Bhaal Spawn ]

[Goli Ironhead]

Well, i would not dual before level 14, when you get the "Shapeshift Greater Werewolf" ability. It will make your character very powerful fighter.

[Silverstar]

If you wanted to be GM in staves, spears etc. why did you make him a Shapeshifter? Once shapeshifted, he will not get any benefit from GM in weapons I guess.

But dualling into a fighter is neat as it will give you fighter HLAs which are simply awesome. Your call. Druid HLAs suck hard most of the time though.

[Abdel - Bhaal Spawn]

Silverstar, do Druids gain any HLA at level 15? If so I might just have him reach level 15 as a Druid to gain one high level ability.

[Goli Ironhead]

Yes they do, at least i got one. Sorry for answering, but Silverstar seemed to be offline.

[starwalker]

Unless you are going to run him to level 16 to have the 7 7th level spells you gain at that level plus a bunch of others. To be used a lot to your advantage.

Then I can tell you how to get all the bonuses of GW form and get the powers of your staff. But it means staying in GW form unless you understand how the glitch works to exploit it in other ways if it can be.

[Abdel - Bhaal Spawn]

Are you talking about the glitch when in ww form that the weapon is showing instead of the ww paws? If that is what you are talking about, I know how to abuse that glitch. It isn't too hard, but I try not to since I really don't like to cheat. I heard if you equip Belm in your off hand when in ww form you gain an extra attack around, is it true?

[starwalker]

I haven't tried with Belm. I used Cernd and he came ready equipped with a nice staff so I always used staves. And I kept him in that form so much because he would heal when I slept with him in that GW form that when the drow affect got removed by the silver dragon he gained the power to hold the weapons in his hands. If I unshift it disappears.

I would try it for you but currently I don't have a game with all the right stuff in one place to try.

[Abdel - Bhaal Spawn]

I wish I could get Crend staff. That would be good for my character. I heard however there is a nice staff for druids in the game later on, maybe ToB.

[starwalker]

The best staff I've come across for them is from Rilifane. Gives you bark skin as well as +3 AC...Practically the end of SoA but it gives you plenty of use in ToB at least. It's a +4 weapon as well. It's almost like it was made with the shape shifters in mind.

The staff of Thunder and Lignting is in the Asylum though and also nice. Though it's only +2.

[Silverstar]

Staff of Thunder and Lightning can also be acquired via Druid Challenges. It's magic is deadly and useful!

That staff of woods can further be upgraded with Item Upgrade Mod in ToB.

Reaching level 15 at druid is not a good idea, as they require 3.000.000 XP in order to be level 15, but they get awesome bonuses, MANY level 6-7 spells, HLA and a few bonus as well. Hmm it sounds like a grand idea now to me, since getting to level 16 in fighter class is not that hard. SO if you trust yourself go for it! It may be freakingly powerful!

[starwalker]

I love the elemental princes but I haven't used them with Cernd.

[Drew]

I wouldn't dual until he has 3,000,000 xp and an HLA. He'll have as many spell slots as a cleric of a much higher level and (assuming you've installed one of the various shapeshifter fixes available) he will be able to go wild in greater werewolf form.

[Silverstar]

^Yes definitely go for 3M XP!

[starwalker]

I've read the shape shifter fixes. Their all twinked out for powergaming. You want an easy over powered fix either do one of two things. Make the werewolves claws hit for a bit more powerful magical weapon. Or alter it so it can cast spells while shape shifted. That's all you need to do. the other stuff I've read is all into munchkin land in their alterations or abuse of the kit. Even the power to cast spells while shape shiftedwould make them uber powerful. The greater werewolf form does regenerate noticably outside of combat. And you can put regeneration items on them to increase it if you really want to.

But the shape shifter kit fixes. You might as well just work the one cheat in the game already and control y anything you can't beat and boost your xp as if you had killed them.

[Silverstar]

Yes I agree that 'REBALANCED SHAPESHIFTER' component is NOT balanced at all! It is freakingly powerful, with AC better than just anything, all saving throws are -10, and regeneration rate is just like a joke! DO NOT use them!

[Abdel - Bhaal Spawn]

Right now I am in the Underdark with Abdel, Druid / Shapeshifter – Level 13. After achieving level 13 Abdel changed into the Greater Werewolf (GWW) and has not changed back to human form since. After Abdel changed into the GWW he should have paws for weapons but it was the weapons he had equipped as a human, game bug. I don’t like to cheat since the weapon glitch is a game bug I don’t consider it cheating. Abdel is the first of the group to go into battle and by the time the rest of the group catches up to him 50%+ of the monsters are dead. After the fight Abdel requires no healing since he can regenerates his HP. If you want power gaming at its finest go for the Druid Shapeshifter kit.

[starwalker]

If you truely feel the need to you can unshapeshift and then that game bug would disappear and he would again use his weapons. i didn't bother since I use him pretty much like a fighter at this point.

Since the healing spells you memorize heal automatically when you rest. The shapeshifter is like a major tank and even benefits the other members in your party and doesn't have to leave his greaterwerewolf form to do it.

[Affable Atheist]

How does Cernd fair as a shapeshifter? The gww form sounds awesome, but I'm not sure if I want a sshifter as my main character.

[starwalker]

The Greater Werewolf form for Cernd basically fixes all of his stat flaws. he works really well as one. Shape Shifters as you get them up over 16 will end up with excellent elemental resistances.

[Drew]

The refinements shapeshifter fix is outstanding and definitely not for power-gamers. That's the fix I use. I don't think refinements is mirrored at SP. You can get it over at Spellhold Studios

[ February 04, 2006, 05:09: Message edited by: Drew ]

[starwalker]

If I understand the site right the paws are something you equip which goes for cheese because that just plain cuts around the bug that we have to exploit in the core game altogether.

They've added in a heal affect when you switch back which is more cheese and highly abusable and not realistic for the shape shifter form.

Sure you can't talk in their version and it takes a round but those really aren't really drawbacks really.


It gets worse if you have more of the mod installed with things like Blessing of Nature as an HLA. Which is a requirement for Tranquility.

And combining even one of those two let alone both with Feral Spirit is just outright overboard.

My high level Shape Shifter Druid already has 80% in every elemental resistance as well as Magical Fire and Magical Ice. Further increasing their bonuses just plain puts them through the roof. Fireballs. Incindiary clouds. Other things they will either be completely immune or even gain hitpoints back for standing in these spells. When I can cast 7 Fire Storms in quick succession and then stand in them. That is just outright sick and wrong.

So yes. It is rather unbalanced. Not so much in only the one component but when combined with others it is out there and over the top. I've looked at the Refinement mod in the past. The potential is not quite as bad as the outright power gaming flipout of the shape shifter rebalancing mod. But it is still way out there.

[Drew]

Actually, you are supposed to get slightly healed when shapeshifting back. It's from Pnp. You don't equip the claws. What they are talking about is removing the exploit where a druid can shapeshift and wield his own weapons anyway after someone casts dispel magic. In all seriousness, characters become weaker, not stronger with the refinements HLA system. For example, while powerful, the Refinements shapeshifter takes a full round (!) to shapechange and can't cast spells or talk while changed. Even in the most powerful incarnation of the (post feral spirt HLA) werewolf form, the shapeshifter still won't be able to go toe to toe with a fighter of the same experience level using halfway decent weapons.

[starwalker]

With what they give I could toe to toe a fighter with half way decent weapons and win if that mod is installed. I can do it now and that just gives me more that I can do it with. My shape shifter is core game right now and Cernd in his GW form stands up to more stuff than my wizard slayer does.

They don't need to heal when shifting back. But maybe Felinoid can chime in on that little bit if he is paying attention to the thread.

The primary thing though is that they didn't solve the dispelling issue and they instead made the cheese even easier to perform by equipping them yourselves. Just shape change and keep your normal weapon anyway. STaff of the Woodlands is far better afterall.

[Felinoid]

They don't need to heal when shifting back. But maybe Felinoid can chime in on that little bit if he is paying attention to the thread.

Oh fine. From the PHB, p.52:

Upon assuming a new form, the druid heals 10-60% (1d6 * 10%) of all damage he has suffered (round fractions down).

However, this is a normal druid changing into normal animals, like a bear, or a bird, or a snake. I never found a Complete Druid's Handbook (and doubt that there is one after the amount of effort I put into finding it ), so I can't speak to the druid kits. IMHO though, supernatural shapeshifts (like werewolves and such) should not have this "natural" healing component.