Curse

Hawkeye · Jun 18, 2007, 04:04 PM // 16:04

I thought it would be cool to do a shapeshifter class for GW2.

The three attributes would represent three different forms the shapeshifter could take along with the skills each shapeshifter can use in that form. Each attribute would have a skill which is a longlasting enchantment (has to be removed like life bond or something) that costs 10 energy and it *does* something else (depends on the form).

The fourth attribute would be called Anthromorphy, which focuses on empowering particulars in all three forms. For each point placed in Anthromorphy, the maximum life and energy in anthromorphic form go up 2%.

The first attribute and form would be Minotaur. It's 'Change Form' skill would cost 10 energy and increase damage by 30%, maximum life by 20%, lower attack speed by 50%, and lower maximum energy by 40% (for maximum points in minotaur.. lesser points would make these values worse in general).

The skills the minotaur would use would be adrenaline based. Its advantage comes in power of attack, not swiftness of the blow. It can also withstand a bit of damage. It should at least have some sort of 'dragon stomp' skill that would knock down all nearby enemies (perhaps with a very high adrenaline that would drain all adrenaline after).

The second attribute and form would be Naga. It's 'Change Form' skill would cost 10 energy and give two energy regeneration points (remember one is taken from 'change form', so it would only add 1), increase energy by 40%, and lower maximum life by 20% (again, only for maximum points in Naga attribute).

The Naga would use skills similar to that of hydromancer, but perhaps more emphasis on damage and less on manipulation, though it would certainly have a couple hexes up its sleeve. The strength would obviously be its ability to cast, not its ability to deal physical damage much opposite of the minotaur.

As for the third form, I'd have to think on it, but it wouldn't be all caster nor all warrior. What do you think?

Magicks Of The Wind · Jun 19, 2007, 01:36 AM // 01:36

umm...its ok, i say give a little more thought to this. the creatures shouldnt be attributes i think they should skills falling under an attribute

System_Crush · Jun 19, 2007, 09:10 AM // 09:10

Well you've given it more work than the shape shifters we get through here every 2 weeks.
You get points for that.

Quote:

Each attribute would have a skill which is a longlasting enchantment (has to be removed like life bond or something) that costs 10 energy and it *does* something else (depends on the form).

I think you mean each attribute has a maintained enchantment that transforms you.
Why enchantments? are they meant to be removable, wouldn't that be annoying?

And you use minotaur and Naga instead of bear and wolf and tiger/hawk.
The adjusting energy and health into the negative to match a creatures softness or sturdiness is also a first.
So you get points for originality.

A point of critique is, that the skills connected to the forms sound like they are stuck to the form, are they?
Or does the attribute offer skills that do <the description of Naga/minotaur skills>?
So that I can take them along and use "Scale Crying" even if I'm not in (any) Naga form?
If not, are there multiple Naga forms? That have different skill sets?

All in all, this is the best 1 line CC I've ever read, you have got talent

But it is still a 1 line CC, it does not have a lore, doesn't really clarify stats.
The impact(a good class is not just a new way to do something, it changes how all other classes play the game(like introduce ganking with the sin)) isn't obviously stated.
It's not something a DEV. can just pick up and put in the game, making it a 1 line post.

Darkhell153 · Jun 19, 2007, 11:53 AM // 11:53

System, I think this is the only one line cc in the game. But other then that I wish they would put in a shapeshifter (maybe add it into gw 1 too seeing as most of the people don't like the prospect of races in gw [don't ask me] ) but I dunno if they will, that really adds a tinge of diablo to it.

Hawkeye · Jun 19, 2007, 02:07 PM // 14:07

Thanks for the criticism, guys. I was expecting as much, but it seems I was fortunate enough to have constructive criticism rather than just criticism.

System_Crush, you made some very interesting points. I think for the most part I just didn't clarify myself well enough on many of the points, although what you said:

Quote:

Why enchantments? are they meant to be removable, wouldn't that be annoying?

I hadn't actually considered this point, honestly. Perhaps it would be more like a stance. I think even stances can be removed, but it is a bit more difficult. The problem is that there aren't stances which last on the player like life bond. I'll have to think on that.

Quote:

A point of critique is, that the skills connected to the forms sound like they are stuck to the form, are they?
Or does the attribute offer skills that do <the description of Naga/minotaur skills>?

Well you're exactly right. I didn't specify. The adrenaline skills on a minotaur would make it very difficult to use that AND naga skills, but it's true.. I didn't specify so I suppose you could assume it were possible.

I think what I intended on saying (which ended up coming out rather ambiguously) is that the shapeshifter would have to be of a form to use the skills of that form. Likewise, once in a form, you cannot use the skills of another form until you transform. For example, if you were a Shapeshifter/Elementalist, out of form, you could not use the spells of a naga or minotaur, but you could cast any spells of the elementalist class and any spells or abilities of the Anthromorphy attribute. If you transform into naga form, you cannot cast the skills/spells of the minotaur, but you could cast any naga spells, spells of the elementalist class and any spell or ability of the Anthromorphy attribute.

Sorry if I'm posting a reused idea, but I'd like to think this version of the shapeshifter has a little more to offer than previous versions.

Some examples of Anthromorphy spells might include an enchantment which varies in time depending on the number of attribute points that allows you to shift form without first switching to human form.

I like the idea of a shapeshifter being a dynamic player. Might start off being a tank blocker, and might later shift to a Naga to deal area of effect damage.

If nothing else, it would be a good support class for both casters and warriors who want to enhance their better qualities with shapeshifter as a secondary.

Darkhell153 · Jun 19, 2007, 07:02 PM // 19:02

Well I do have to admit this isn't a new idea, a lot of people have already thought of this and you really didn't give us a lot to go on. If you made it unique from the others somehow, more do-able then it would probably be more widely accepted.

TSWatson1974 · Jun 21, 2007, 09:42 AM // 09:42

Similar to the Graven Monoliths?

Roeshamboe · Jun 29, 2007, 08:43 PM // 20:43

I just created a shape shifter thread myself. Here were my thoughts:

Quote:

Why not have a class that can transform/shapeshift into other species that it comes across?

The class could have some sort of ability that lets it learn new shape shifting forms based on killing certain monsters. Also, the class could become stronger and more powerful in a certain form by killing that type of monster again and again.

For example, this class upon killing a harpy could now have "Harpy Form" availabe, or after killing a mandragor it could have "Mandragor Form" available. The form would then become more powerful based on the number of times the class kills harpies and mandragors. There could be a level cap for just how strong each form would become.

Therefore, you could have say a level 20 Shapeshifter who upon using Mandragor Form, would then become let's say a level 5 Mandragor, if the player using a Shapeshifter has only killed a handful of mandragors. In order for a level 20 Shapeshifter to attain level 20 Mandragor Form, the player using him/her would need to kill many more mandragors.

Also, the forms wouldn't have to look exactly like the actual monsters. They could take on some sort of human/animal form. So a player using "Mandragor Form" would not need to look exactly like the Mandragor monster. He/she could look Mandragor-ish but still appear human as well. Kind of like a werewolf, only using Harpys/Mandragors/Drakes/imps/minotars/trolls/etc etc.

Maybe we should petition the mods to combine all the shapershifter threads into one giant thread. It seems to be a very popular idea.

Shiishii Momo · Jul 03, 2007, 10:44 PM // 22:44

There are Shapeshifters allready planned for GW2, they are being introduced in GW:EN, the Norn. They are a playable race in GW2. I'll find the article of the GW site, and edit the link in later.

Edit:
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Norn

[M]agna_[C]arta · Jul 04, 2007, 09:14 AM // 09:14

Then make this a class for the norns duh^^.

pumpkin pie · Jul 06, 2007, 06:52 AM // 06:52

I've always like the idea of shapeshifters. and this came to me as i was reading the first post.

A skill where you can assume the shape of your enemy for 15-75 seconds or whatever time frame is suitable. Enemy cannot kill your character as you are now one of them and the person you shape-shift to become will not be able to do anything until after you have resume your identity. During that time you can infiltrate their lair and kill their ghostly heroes

and this skill can be use once only each battle logically, because once you infiltrate, enemy will know who you are hence can't be use twice.

and the casting would be easily interrupted if you are exposed, for instant line of sight is not hidden etc.

Hawkeye · Jul 06, 2007, 09:47 AM // 09:47

Well, I liked the idea right up until you said they couldn't hurt you. In my eyes, any spell which reads 'and cannot deal damage' raises a red flag to me. Odds are if you read something like that, it isn't in Guild Wars but on a site or forum in fact.