Warshaper entry help

[lieronet]

Recently, I put together a build for an arena that used Lycanthrope to qualify for the Warshaper PrC, and it got the kibosh because of rules against alignment change. I'd still really like to run the build, but the only way I can swing it is with a template that qualifies me for Warshaper with LA 2 or less. And no, Divine Minion is banned. Does such a thing exist, or am I going to be forced to scrap the build?

[wotmaniac]

so wait ....
* is alignment the issue?  and need something for an alignment restriction?  that doesn't make much sense.
* or do you just need to adjust the build to remove lycanthrope and add some other form of shapeshifter subtype?

IOW, more specific please.

otherwise, I'm pretty sure that shifters and changelings have the shapeshifter subtype (don't know if that helps at all; but that's what's coming to mind)

[lieronet]

More specific, right.

I was taking the Afflicted Lycanthrope template. Under that template, if you ever voluntarily assume hybrid or animal form, your alignment immediately changes to that of the animal. Monks require lawful, and the only lawful lycanthrope is werebear, and the six racial HD do not fit into the build at all.

If there's a way to play a non-lawful monk that still gets Flurry that I can replace with Decisive Strike, that would work too. Otherwise, I'm looking for a cheap template that gives the shapechanger subtype, and preferably some boosts to Str or Wis. It needs to be a template because I'm shooting for Shiba Protector in the build - it's focused on Stunning Fist, and the synergy is real strong.

[wotmaniac]

Ah -- what about Chaos Monk?  While it was printed in DragMag 335 (p.88-9), you can find all you need HERE, p.58-9.

Flail is a direct 1:1 replacement for Flurry; so if Decisive Strike is simply a Flurry replacement, then it will also replace Flail (Flail is just a "chaotic" version of Flurry).

How does that work for you?

[Kajhera]

You don't need a template necessarily - be a Changeling, take the Racial Emulation feat, and persistently emulate a Human. (Though I'm not sure what the Phoenix part is about, and it may be more difficult to account for.)

[Kajhera]

Wait, what about wererat? They are Lawful Evil.

[lieronet]

Probably not going to fly with the DM, sadly, but I guess it doesn't hurt to ask.

Changeling is a thought, but the build is already crazy feat-intensive. The build only works with two flaw feats, Human bonus feat, and two extra feats I got from a component point. I don't think the build will work if I sacrifice two feats to go Changeling.

The Phoenix bit on Shiba Protector is fluff, DM is ignoring it.

Wererat's alignment is Chaotic Evil, sadly, the statblock on the SRD lies.

[Kajhera]

Oh, hm. Lycanthrope isn't actually restricted to 'common lycanthropes' - were-riding dog is one example I can think of that would be very likely to be LG (also werehorse if you can convince that opportunistic scavenging = omnivore, but that's rather unlikely to fly).

[lieronet]

Lycanthropes not listed in the entry are ruled as always true neutral, sadly.

[Kajhera]

Entomanthrope? You're a bug, but you don't change alignment, because vermin are mindless apparently.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:o6RF2WeUxZcJ:www.wizards.com/default.asp%3Fx%3Ddnd/re/20040621a+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

[Eviltedzies]

Lieronet - Could you post the build you are trying to get hashed out?

Why do you need monk as part of it?

If your referring to the Arena matches run on Myth-Weavers by Ithamar then perhaps posting a link to the build rules would help people construct the type of build you are going for.

[Keldar]

Psion Egoist had a Web ACF that gave it the Changeling's Change Shape ability.  You'd have to check the Wayback Machine for it though, since WotC purged their old material.

[skydragonknight]

If you can use ToB, I suggest unarmed variant swordsage. No alignment restrictions.

Also, bring up this paragraph:

Alignment

Any. Noble creatures such as bears, eagles, and lions tend to produce good-aligned lycanthropes. Sinister creatures such as rats, snakes, and wolves tend to produce evil-aligned lycanthropes. This is a reflection of how these animals are perceived, not any innate quality of the animal itself, so the alignment of the animal form can be arbitrarily assigned.

Work with the DM to find a suitable animal. Use the Wereeagle and weresnake mentioned as examples that just because there is no statblock doesn't mean automatic true neutral. It's a matter of perception from other races.

[Kajhera]

Not that it is helpful to this case, but werebat, wereshark, and werecrocodile are all Neutral Evil lycanthropes (or at least looking at their statblocks indicates so; I did not see the table).

[Ithamar]

Quasi-lycanthrope template for +1 LA gives you DR 10/Silver and [Shapechanger] subtype.  That should let you qualify for Warshaper just fine.