Metamorph (3.5e Class)

Author: Elohim (talk) Date Created: 01-13-2017 Status: Complete Editing: Clarity edits only please

Rate this article Your rating for this article: Favor Like Neutral Dislike Oppose Submit | Cancel Discuss this article

Shapechanger. 20

Moderate Good Good Poor Other

Metamorph

The metamorph is a consummate shapechanger. The are equally apt to to crave social grouping as to live as a hermit in the wild. Noted for their physical capabilities they are a valued addition to the offense of any group.

Making a Metamorph

The metamorph functions best in melee and scouting roles.

Abilities: Constitution.

Races: All.

Alignment: Any.

Starting Gold: 4d4×10 gp (100 gp).

Starting Age:Simple.

Table: The Metamorph

Hit Die: d6

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+0	+2	+2	+0	Shift Humanoid Size +0,Extend Life 25%
2nd	+1	+3	+3	+0	Creature Affinity
3rd	+2	+3	+3	+1	Shift Animal
4th	+3	+4	+4	+1	Shift Vermin
5th	+3	+4	+4	+1	Shift Plant, Mutable Adaptation Minor
6th	+4	+5	+5	+2	Shapechanger Affinity
7th	+5	+5	+5	+2	Shift Giant Size +1
8th	+6/+1	+6	+6	+2	Shift Ooze
9th	+6/+1	+6	+6	+3	Practiced Shapechanger
10th	+7/+2	+7	+7	+3	Mutable Adaptation Major, Extend Life 50%
11th	+8/+3	+7	+7	+3	Shift Monstrous Humanoid
12th	+9/+4	+8	+8	+4	Creature Knowledge
13th	+9/+4	+8	+8	+4	Shift Magical Beast Size +2
14th	+10/+5	+9	+9	+4	Expert Shapechanger
15th	+11/+6/+1	+9	+9	+5	Shift Fey, Mutable Adaptation Greater
16th	+12/+7/+2	+10	+10	+5	Shift Aberration
17th	+12/+7/+2	+10	+10	+5	Shift Outsider, Variations
18th	+13/+8/+3	+11	+11	+6	Shift Dragon
19th	+14/+9/+4	+11	+11	+6	Shift Size +3
20th	+15/+10/+5	+12	+12	+6	Shift Elemental, Perfect Shapechanger, Extend Life, Mutable Adaptation Perfect
Class Skills (2 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Control Shape (Wis), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str).

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Metamorph.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Metamorphs are proficient with the following weapons: club, dagger, dart, quarterstaff, scimitar, sickle, shortspear, sling, and spear. They are also proficient with all natural attacks (claw, bite, and so forth) of any form they assume with shift (see below). Metamorphs are proficient with light armor. Metamorphs are proficient with bucklers and light shields.

Shift (Su): The metamorph's prized ability is that of shape-shifting; it is her preferred base for combat, travel and any task that could be aided by changing form. Simply put, metamorphs find great enjoyment in interacting with the world through the forms of different creatures.

A metamorph can, using a standard action, change into the form of any creature whose type and size she has unlocked (see Table: The Metamorph for details about when forms and size changes are unlocked), shifting makes her vulnerable to an attack of opportunity. She may only change into forms of her normal size to begin with (medium for a human metamorph for example); as she progresses she gains the ability to alter her size as well, each Size +1 allows her to alter her size up or down by one step (Size +2 would allow a two step change, etc). She may choose forms with HD up to her class level. Example: a 13th level human metamorph with size +2 unlocked could change into creatures ranging in size from tiny to huge with up to 13 HD. She may change forms a number of times per day equal to her metamorph level plus her CON modifier (minimum +1); changing back to her normal form from an alternate one does not count as a use of Shift. The metamorph is always aware of how many shifts are left available to her. The new form does not disorient her in any manner.

Equipment worn or carried by the metamorph can be absorbed into the new form or not, at her own discretion. This allows her to make use of equipment in her new form, a magical sword or ring for example, if she wishes. Absorbed equipment is unavailable and has no effect on the metamorph while she is transformed. Parts of the metamorph's body, including equipment on those parts, that are separated from her revert to their original forms; the metamorph and all absorbed equipment revert to normal upon unconsciousness or death.

Shifting may be used in two ways, normal (non-combat) and combat, see below...

Normal Shifting: Non-combat shifting allows the metamorph to assume any allowed form, but she does not gain any extrodinary, spell-like, psi-like or supernatural abilities of the assumed form. The metamorph retains her normal HD, CON, INT, WIS and CHA while in an assumed form. If the assumed for has greater STR or DEX she gains those stats while in the form. If the assumed form has lesser STR or DEX she may increase those abilities by up to her CON modifier, but not to exceed her base STR or DEX. She gains the natural armor and natural weapon attacks of the form she assumes. She also gains access to any normal movement of the form: such as the burrowing of a badger, the flight of a bird or the swimming of of a dolphin, but not magically powered versions of these. She may be in normal assumed forms for no more than 30 minutes per level per day, thus a 10th level metamorph could be in normal shifted form for up to five hours a day. Eight hours of rest or sleep will reset this counter. Exhausting this limit will prevent her from being able to combat shift as well.A metamorph is considered proficient with the available natural weapons and movement of her assumed forms while shifted.

Combat Shifting: During combat, while in assumed form, or shifting into an alternate form while in combat, allows the metamorph the ability to tap much further than normal into the abilities of the assumed form. It is, however, quite stressful on the metamorph, using up an additional shift count, and ends with the encounter. If the metamorph only has one shift left available she may still combat shift, but will be left fatigued after the encounter ends.

During a combat shift, the metamorph gains any abilities unlocked via Mutable Adaptation (below). When in assumed form in combat, the metamorph gains that form's BAB and number of (physical) attacks per round; she retains her own BAB and number of attacks if greater. When emulating an outsider form, she is always considered to have the Native subtype.

Extend Life (Ex): The mastery a metamorph has over her body allows her to suffer less from the ravages of natural aging. She has each age category, based upon race, extended by 25%; at 10th level this becomes a 50% extension but is not retroactive for past age categories. This ability does not affect magical or other inflicted aging.

Beginning at 20th level, once she reaches the venerable age category she ceases to age, her maximum age becomes infinite and aging effects no longer affect her.

Creature Affinity: At second level, the metamorph has a rudimentary knowledge of creatures due to her shapechanging. She can always take 10 on a Knowledge skill check to identify a creature and its abilities. This also gives her the innate knowledge of the creature's normal language, but only while she remains in that form. This ability is similar to a very limited tongues spell.

Mutable Adaptation:The metamorph's knowledge of how creatures work gives her an almost supernatural understanding of their traits and qualities. She gains the ability to make use of the Spell-like and Psi-like abilities of the forms she takes while combat shifting. She is limited to the normal usage limits of the form she assumes.

Minor: The metamorph may make use of those abilities, special attacks and qualities, that would have a spell level equivalency of one third her class level (rounded up) or less. Example: a 9th level metamorph would be able to make use of spell-like abilities of up to 3rd level.

Major: 10th level increases the special attack effect limit to one half her class level. She also gains all Sp and Ps special qualities.

Greater: 15th level increases the special attack effect limit to her class level. She also gains any Ex and Su special qualities.

Perfect: With 20th level her ability extends to spell-like and psi-like abilities available to her character level, she also gains access to the form's Supernatural and Extraordinary special attacks.

Shapechanger Affinity:At sixth level, the metamorph gains the ability to recognize other shapechangers for what they are. She knows when a being is in an assumed form and what its true form is. This ability cannot be fooled by beings of HD /level of her class level or less, otherwise make a charisma check.

Practiced Shapechanger Affinity:At ninth level, the metamorph has improved her shifting speed substantially. She can now use Shift as a swift action instead of a standard action.

Creature Knowledge:At twelfth level, the metamorph gains a greater knowledge of creatures due to her shapechanging expertise. She can always take 20 on a Knowledge skill check to identify a creature and its abilities. This also gives her the innate ability to understand a creature's normal language, but only if she is capable of assuming that form. This ability is similar to a limited tongues spell. She need not be in the creature's form, but only capable of it.

Expert Shapechanger:Upon reaching fourteenth level, the metamorph's shapechanging becomes pure instinct. She may now use Shift without being subject to attacks of opportunity.

Variations (Su): At 17th level, a metamorph gains the ability to change her appearance at will, she can freely designate her form’s minor physical qualities (such as hair color, hair texture, and skin color) within the normal ranges for a creature of that kind. The form’s significant physical qualities (such as height, weight, and gender) are also under her control, but they must fall within the norms for the form’s kind. If she uses this ability to create a disguise, she gets a +10 bonus on her Disguise check.This affects the metamorph’s body but not her possessions. It is not an illusory effect, but a minor physical alteration of the her appearance, within the limits described above. This ability functions in her normal form, as well as all assumed forms.

Perfect Shapechanger:At twentieth level, the metamorph has reached the pinnacle of shapechanging. She no longer has a limit to how often she can use Shift (normal) per day; nor is she limited in duration. Her number of combat shifts is still limited to class level plus CON bonus (minimum +1); she retains the ability to normal shift even when unable to combat shift. She gains the Shapechanger subtype. The Shift and Variations class abilities becomes extraordinary.

Epic Metamorph

Table: The Epic Metamorph

Hit Die: d6

Level	Special
21st	Recovering Shift, Hale and Whole
22nd	Ultimate Shift
23rd
24th	Bonus Feat
25th	Ultimate Shift, Epic Extend Life,
26th
27th
28th	Ultimate Shift, Bonus Feat
29th
30th	Hale and Whole, Epic Extend Life
2 + Int modifier skill points per level.

Recovering Shift: The metamorph now regains hit points equal to 1d6 multiplied her CON modifier each time she shifts into a different form, reverting to her normal form does allow healing via this ability. This ability is limited to her CON modifier times per day.

Hale and Whole: The metamorph's mastery of her own body has made her immune to disease and poison. Furthermore, she is immune to the sickened, nauseated and exhausted conditions, she may still become fatigued.

At 30th level she gains the ability to regrow severed body parts at the rate of CON modifier points per day. This ability cannot bring her back from the dead, nor does it restore hit points except as part of regrowing lost body parts. This does not stack with any regeneration gained in an alternate form, from spells, feats or items (use whichever is best), but otherwise if functions in all forms.

Ultimate Shift: The metamorph's body attains a minor apotheosis, add +1 to CON, and +1 to either STR or DEX.

Epic Extend Life: Beginning at 25th level, once she reaches the old age category she ceases to age, her maximum age becomes infinite and aging effects no longer affect her. She continues to accrue mental benefits. If the metamorph has already past the old age category she reverts to old age, losing physical penalties while retaining any mental benefits.

At 30th level, once she reaches the middle age category she ceases to age, her maximum age becomes infinite and aging effects no longer affect her. She continues to accrue mental benefits. If the metamorph has already past the middle age category she reverts to middle age, losing physical penalties while retaining any mental benefits.

---

Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Classes → Base Classes