User:Rickyvantof/Build Contest Entry

General
The Shapeshifter (Sh) is a profession that uses nature's power and the art of morphing. It can turn into a fearsome monster, with huge claws and fangs, or protect himself and his allies by turning into a more defensive beast, with thick armor, or swift evades.

The Shapeshifter, not morphed, is a back line caster, with low AL and Health and a high energy pool. However, morphed it can vary between close range fighters, with a high DPS and attack rate, Long range fighters with the ability to spread various conditions, a close range "support tank" with high AL.

The Shaeshifter has skills that have advantages when in a form. The form skills can be compared to the Ritualist's item spells. The caster loses the advantages, coming from weapons and off-hand items, but has a set amount of energy(regen), health(regen) and AL. Some of the more powerful form skills are elite and some of the less powerful from skills aren't and can be combined with other elites, such as attack skills etc.

There are skills that can only be used when the caster's in a form (this is comparable to weapon skills, that can only be used when the right weapon is equipped) this is used basicly to make some skills not-overpowered.

Basic Information

 * The Shapeshifter has, when not in form:
 * A base 60 AL.
 * A base 30 energy.
 * A base 4 energy regeneration.
 * All other stats rely on the type of form skill the Shapeshifter (primary or secondary) is in.
 * Shapeshifter skill Icons are Greenish-Brown.
 * They're most likely to wield Staves, Wands and Foci.

Attributes

 * The Shapeshifter's primary attribute is Morphing Power. Morphing Power increases the duration of Form skills, by 5% for every attribute point. For every attribute Point, the Shapeshifter also gains 2 maximum energy when in Form. Morphing Power improves skills that are related to having advantages, when in form. For example: Gain ... Energy. Gain an additional .. energy, when used in Form.


 * Defensive Power, the power of survivability. This attributes includes skills that turn the Shapeshifter into a tank. Examples of such tanks are: Armadillo-like creatures with high AL and Health, that has the condition of being very slow, rather low DPS. Also some sort of creature (yet to find out what it'll be like) that'll have the ability to 50% block all melee attacks and reasonable high AL. Party wide enchantments, increasing survivabilty and other support spells will also be used. This attribute works well in PvE.


 * The attribute, relying on pure strength is Brutal Power. This attribute includes the ability to turn into large and powerful Demon-like monsters with high damage output and a not too high AL. This attribute also includes melee attacks. Spiking is most likely comming from this attribute, there will be several skills like "Inflict ... damage, but lose ... health" (which kinda relates to blood magic) to make sure the heavy damage skills won't be overpowered.


 * The last attribute (so far) will be Nature's Power. This attribute uses skills that relate to conditions and long range spells and attacks. One of the skills in this attribute is the power to turn into a ranged beast (think bone fiend, but more animal-ish) that's comparable to a ranger. Another form-skill is one that turns the shapeshifter into a melee beast, that spreads conditions on hit (not sure, though, it might be overpowered combined with, say, Apply Poison). Skills, that work like, for example, Scavenger's Focus and "Victory is Mine!", come from this attribute. One of the purposes of this attribute is Pressure.

Form
The Shapeshifter is based around Form skills. Form skills provide a great boost, to attack power, armor etc. On the down-side, when in form, the Shapeshifter can't wield any weapons or hold items. Most Forms, therefor provide additional armor, energy, health, health regeneration, energy regeneration, decreased casting time or decreased skill recharge, depending on what kind of form skill. Armor, however still counts. Form skills that provide additional AL don't have a base AL, but have a +... Armor modification, this is basicly to make it not too overpowered. The Shapeshifter's Form skills are slightly different than the Dervish's, as the Avatars are still able to hold weapons and items. The Form skills can not only be used by Shapeshifters, but can be combined with other casters (preferable, as other types of characters are based around weapons, which forms can't use), like Item Spells. However, Shapeshifters have great advantages using Form skills, due to their Primary Attribute.

Gods

 * The Shapeshifter is related to the gods:
 * Melandru, which is quite obvious, seeing that one of the Shapeshifter's attribute is called "Nature's Power". Also the power to become closer to nature itself, by morphing into an animal, relates to the goddess.
 * Grenth. Brutal power in specific. Skills that morph the Shapeshifter into fearsome demon-like creatures are summoned by the power of Grenth. Some attack skills also relate to the god, as they are rather Brutal. ;)
 * Lyssa, obviously, the goddess of Shapeshifting and Illusion.

Insignia's

 * One insignia that seems quite obvious is one that increases AL when in form.