Shapeshifters / Shapechangers, Are they too powerful to play? Options

[Astelaron]

Do the GMs out there allow shapeshifters in their games and campaigns?


If a shapeshifter is a spell caster they can cast some powerful mojo provided they do not take deadly drain and all of the damage will be gone at the beginning of the next combat round. The only limit to this extreme power is if the drain is physical because the shapeshifter learned a spell greater than his magic rating, something that is very unlikely given the rules for leaning new spells. If the drain is physical it takes them one minute per box of damage to recover.

How do the GMs handle their regeneration?


Shapeshifting is a magical transformation so why do the stats of a shapeshifter not transfer between human and animal form? Given their impressive ability to sling major mojo and the fact that their respective physical stat lines must be raised separately, why would anyone make a shapeshifter that wasn't a spell caster? For my campaign I am tempted to say that shapeshifters don't have to raise their stats separately but they do have to learn all physical skills for the two forms i.e. unarmed combat skills. What do you all think, how would you handle the power in your campaign?

[Nikoli]

[Smed]

Shapeshifters are pretty weak at character creation. The high cost of playing a shifter and the extra three extra Physical attributes that you have to purchases seperately for the animal form really hurt. I believe it makes up for the power of regeneration easily.

Add some karma into the mix and they do a bit better.

I'd let someone play one in my game.

[Smiley]

[Astelaron]

[BitBasher]

A shapeshifter NEEDS to be a magician anyway, they are dual natured, permanently astrally active. They need astral defenses to really be viable.

[DragginSPADE]

I've got a player who's favorite character is a magically active shapeshifter. Overall it's not game breaking, as long as you're okay with a high level of magic in your game.

The priorities and need to split attribute points gut them at chargen, so they're actually rather weak when first made. Afterwards, their regeneration is a big bonus, but their dual nature works against them most of the time. (Not being able to ignore background count, even when doing physical things, getting stopped by every ward, being vulnerable to astrally projecting mages, etc.)

And finally, if your player is role-playing them well, just remember that they're animals that can change into human form. This gives them all sorts of social problems when they try to move in human society.

[mmu1]

I haven't seen any high-karma shapeshifters, but early on, they really suck.

Their combat abilities in animal form are nowhere as good as those of a melee-oriented sam or adept, and their other main ability - regeneration - basically only comes into play if they really screw up, and can't be relied to keep them going because it does fail often enough to matter. Magic is the only thing that meshes well with their abilities, but the cost is a huge problem.

[Astelaron]

mmu1

How do you handle their combat skills? Do you make them learn serperate combat skills for human and animal form or let them use reaction for combat in animal form?

[nezumi]

I general, I stick to 2nd edition shifting rules, which are significantly better. No silly extra attributes, and the regeneration abilities are modified (including, no regeneratin in human form. Which means regeneration OR armor, but not both.)

[Capt. Dave]

Edit, already answered.

[Paul]

Come play a shape shifter in my game and see. Heh. We've never had anyone play one for long that's for sure...

[Sandoval Smith]

The regeneration thing is pretty powerful, but as I discovered in my thread where I tried to make a face style shifter, with the cost of A: being a shifter, and B: being awakened (otherwise they get hosed by magic) it's hard to make a well rounded character (espeically with almost no gear, and no contacts). In a combat heavy game, where those few skill points can just be channeled to combat skills, it could be a bit overwhelming.

[toturi]

While it is difficult to build a good shapeshifter mage strong in both forms, it is not that difficult to build one good in 1 form. If you allow Edges and Flaws, then it would be easier as well. Also I allow (in fact I insist) using Reaction in animal form for unarmed combat.

[Crimson Jack]

[kevyn668]

I think the rules for shifters make them pretty lame but I'm a skills adict so it's probably just me.

[Sandoval Smith]

It was an animal that found people simply facinating, and enjoyed being around them. So, very charismatic, and the adept version had Improved Social Ability: Etiquette and ISA: Negotiations, as well as three regular ranks of the skill to try and reflect that.

[MidnightGhost]

I play a shapeshifter, and it's a lot of fun to play. But there are a lot of things you have to consider when you playthem.
If you break the law in the UCAS and they find out your a shapeshifter they shoot you. No questions asked. You actually fall under the realm of animal control!! Yes if the star catches you you could be put to sleep!

You can't enter warded buildings without alerting someone or using masking usually.

You usually don't understand what is going on around you unless your have a skill in it. (I took a human culture knowledge skill)

Your stats suck starting out. So it's easier for you to get hurt.

It's not mentioned in the rules but all your food expenses should be doubled becouse you need to eat REAL meat.

And You get all the usual disadvantages of a shadowrunner.


You need regeneration just to survive.


But if shapeshifters were hard to play before they are "MUCH" more so now. "If" you use The optional rule they posted about shapeshifters can pretty much neuter the race.

[Tarantula]

Have the shapeshifter be an adept, learn performance (maybe one for while they're in their animal form?) and burn some karma to be able to make rating 10 background counts at will aspected towards them. No muss, no fuss, no astral worries.

[MidnightGhost]

Make a shapeshifter adept with performance and a high athletics... then take the day job flaw and you can make a circus performing shapeshifter !!. preformer by day runner by night. :rotfl:

[Capt. Dave]

[DragginSPADE]

[DragginSPADE]

[DrJest]

[Edward]

Eth problem with using reaction as the natural weapon combat stat is that ther is no possibility to get better at combat. Or to play a shape shifter that is not very skilled at combat (a valid choice for herbivorous types that rely on running away from a fight).

Not that high speed (quickens) and the ability to notice threats early (int) will result automatically in very high reaction (ability to strike with natural weapon). This may make sence for aggressive critter types but for passive or fleeing types it dose not work

MidnightGhost. Why would a shape shifter require real meat, shorly a canine shape shifter would be able to survive on whatever is in commercial dog food and why would a sparrow shape shifter eat meat at all (and don’t tell me a sparrow full magician wouldn’t be useful)

The most likely shape shifter I would play though would be dog shifter/shaman living a street lifestyle, I get my food the same way as every other stray.

A tom cat would be another option but the totem Cat doesn’t really work with a street lifestyle, I wonder if there is a totem Ally Cat.

Edward