Elemental Rager

[Yojimbo]

Still working this out but the idea is to make use of Elemental Forms in a quasi class.

Requirements:
Druid 16 (This is when you get Elemental Shape)
Barbarian 15 (This is when you get Greater Rage)
Epic Weapon Focus (Unarmed)

Upon achieving the quasi status players receive a token which lets them chose the element they wish to invoke. This token will consume a rage when used and polymorph the player into an Elemental Rage.

Form ability DCs are calculated as 10 + (Quasi Level/10) + CON Modifier + (Barbaian Level/3 not including LLs)

Improved Elemental Shape ads +3 DC
Mighty Rage ads +1 DC

Need To Plan:
-More quasi requirements besides classes and EWF?
-More functions for Mighty Rage and Improved Elemental Shape feats?

[Yojimbo]

So I broke it out a little bit here still planning this one out but I think it could be really cool.

[Yojimbo]

Expanded on it a little more would love to see some input and thoughts on it

[desocupado]

First some questions:
All in all is this an attempt to turn Elemental Shapes into a Shifter form group? (don't get me wrong, I always liked these shapes)
What kind of ability would the shapes have? Elemental damage-wise, how are they better than dragon shapes?
What kind of advantage/difference does a character like this have over a shifter? Would the mechanics be any different?
What happens to druid spells? (keep in mind bonus spell slots are gone when you polymorph)
Also, Druids get improved Elemental Shapes at level 20, how would this interact with you quasi powers?
Barbarians get several types of rage: Mighty Rage, Thundering Rage and Terrifying Rage. Would their powers be any different?

Evaluating the power of the quasi
Seems the DC you propose top at 10 + 6 + CON Modifier + 8 = 24 + Con
That's the same of a level VII spell with LSF. Dragon breath with LFF 2 has the same dc.
Considering Barbarian's +4 con at LL, it evens out against a level IX spell, which druids have and is named Elemental Swarm.
Considering elemental shapes would have decent Physical attributes, as epic weapon focus unarmed is a pre-requisite, wouldn't this a be Tank with absurd HPS and DC?


Sketching an idea:
Elemental shape got to have noticeable differences, let's see at their original setup.

Air - High DEX, low STR and CON - Famous for the Air vaccum, that knocks foes (that druids don't get).
Fire - Bellow Average Dex and STR and very high CON - Does additional fire damage
Water - Good STR and DEX but low Con. the best overall fighter
Earth - Great STR and Con, but lousy DEX. Were supposed to be more sturdy than other shapes, but aren't.

That translates into:
Air - Dexter
Fire - Glass cannon with lots of HP
Water - Uni fighter
Earth - Str Tank

Thinking like this we will end up with a character that fills the same role of a Shifter using Humanoid and Dragon Shapes, no?

Proposed solution
Perhaps some ideas could be throw for a LFF: Elemental feat series.
Then we could have a pseudo shifter Druid with Elemental and Dragon shapes. Still right now it seems that Dragon shapes are the upgrade from elemental shapes.

[Yojimbo]

Yeah its trying to find a use and niche for Elemtanl Shape becuase like you I liked them and its neat and fun idea from that starting point. I haven't gotten back to the drawing board on this in a while to figure abilities. The damage I am hoping to have as a weaker version of Staffmaster since you will be focused in on a single element with likely some exoctic for flavoring. The physical damage type is likely to be different based on forms perhaps 2 types per form using best of the 2 in that form. The idea isn't to give it an advantage but to make a form based tank more viable and add varity to the options for form based tanks. It would be most akin to Dragon shape shifter. The specifics of how to really bring it into its own and stand apart is my trouble at the moment apart from my constant off and on process to it. I don't know how often and form based Druid or Shifter uses spells so Im not sure what would need to be done with them. I might consider a few minor spell edits like allowing combined class for casting things like Heal for curing festering and other party support spells. I am aware of when druids get Improved Elemental Shape one function will be the +3 DC to form abilities that I list in OP. I do believe it need to provide further benefits but I don't yet know what. Mighty Rage I would have add +1 DC and needs further improvements beyond that to offer. I don't know about Thundering or Terrifying I am not opposed to using them but I don't know how yet. I would intend for Mighty Rage to function to improve the tank and damage output of the forms. I would intend that a build focusing more on a Barbarian track is more of a tank than one which functions on a druid track which would provide better abilities DCs. Looking at my DC calculation though doesn't exactly flow with that since I see no bonus for the Druid route except that 20 Druid levels would get +3 to DC at a cost of -2 from Barbarian levels for a total net of +1. DC will need a new formula since my original intent was Druid CC would basically = ability focused tank and Barbarian CC would = damage focused tank.

The forms would be respect the nature of them Air would be DEX and Earth STR with Water and Fire more as Uni options. I do like the toss in of Fire as a glass canon I hadnt much considered it.

This very well may but I was looking for a use for Elemental Shape which is very neglected on HG.

[redbeard]

Here’s a slightly different approach, or maybe just more details with a specific focus. It basically takes a barbarian druid that fights in elemental form and adds some bonuses to compensate for the level split that reduces lots of abilities.

The Elemental Rager focuses his Barbarian rage through the Druid’s Elemental forms to subdue opponents in melee.


Requirements:
Druid 16 (This is when you get Elemental Shape)
Barbarian 15 (This is when you get Greater Rage)
Epic Weapon Focus (Unarmed)
Improved Unarmed Strike



Class Bonuses:
When raging in elemental form, the Elemental Rager adds elemental damage of Wisdom bonus to damage inflicted.
When in elemental form, the Elemental Rager receives 25% immunity to the form’s element and 25% vulnerability to the element’s opposite.
When raging in elemental form, an Elemental Rager with Terrifying Rage does elemental kick back. (Scale comparable to Mestil’s Acid Sheath at CL = Barb + Druid)
When raging in elemental form, the Elemental Rager does appropriate elemental damage instead of sonic.
When raging in elemental form, an Elemental Rager with Mighty Rage can do a ranged touch attack of Elemental Rager level /2 d4 appropriate elemental damage. (short range? Add STR Mod?)
Legendary rage bonuses (Regen, crit immune) apply as normal.
Elemental buffs do not transfer to weapons when in shifted forms. IOF, GMW and Keen are the only weapon buffs that transfer.

Damage types:
Form Damage Type Opposite
Fire fire cold
Water Cold fire
Air Electric Acid
Earth Acid Electric
(Currently, the fire elemental form is the only one that adds elemental damage.)

The Elemental Rager uses his elemental affinity to cast the following spells using Barbarian plus Druid level for caster level. Spell slots would still be lost when shifting.

Level 1:
Endure Elements
Foundation of Stone

Level 2:
Flame Lash
Desert Sirocco

Level 3:
Call Lightning
Protection from Elements
Spike Growth
Caustic Weapon
Shock Weapon

Level 4
Flame Strike (possibly only flame? Nah, too much work)

Level 5
Wall of Fire
Ice Storm
Inferno

Level 6
Energy Buffer
Drown
Elemental Immunity

Level 7:
Fire Storm

Level 8:
None

Level 9:
Elemental Swarm
Storm of Vengeance
Earthquake

Class limitations (balancing thoughts)
I’m not real good at spell pen and DC, but non-ER offensive spells will be pretty hard to land and ER offensive spells will be cast with low wisdom, so that’s poor DC (or is it spell pen?).
Spells still cannot be cast when shifted.
If the Rager raises wisdom to druid levels, raging will be limited because strength won’t be raised, and no crit immune while raging.
Number of rages and form shifts will be limited by level split. (probably 6 and 3)
No druid epics.

Variability of builds:
Here’s where this quasi fails to shine. The DM team wants people to have different build options to customize the character to their play style. I expect we’ll see mostly 19/20 Druid/Barbarian builds to get 3 form shifts per day and 6 rages. Most builds will have 40 strength at level 60 (for crit immune) which will reduce the room for wisdom. The mighty rage requirement of 21 con will also crimp the wisdom. There will be a lot of monk splashes for monk BAB progression and tumble dump.

Things that would give more OOMPH to the quasi:
Allow weapon buffs to transfer the way they do to humanoid shifter forms.
Add orbs to the spell list.
Give infinite shape changes at level 41 instead of Druid 26.