[Scott Crisp]

My Druid is level 5, and he can now currently change into animal forms. I'm not really familiar with Forgotten realms that much, all my knowledge from it came from playing Thay the past few weeks, and I know a little about Drizzt cause my bro was obsessed with it at one point.

But how are Druids/Shifters supposed to come to the realization that he's a shifter? Does it just happen? They talk to animals when they're in animal form?Does it start out as a dream then become reality? You know, the whole "vivid dream of being a bear and I wake up with bees in my nostrils" That sort of thing?It's so confusing, me and Hariando (Col's alt) played it out a little bit, and it was fun. Now he's scared to Polymorph in front of anyone.

Anyway, the little bit of help will be appreciated.

[D3VII_]

well, i dont think of myself as any expert, but i can tell you my opinion (how i think a shifter should be RPed), do not take any of this as fact but a suggestion because im shour i do not know all the facts. any way here it is.


all druids whish to be at one with nature, there for being in natur and a part of it, animals are nature and are a part of it, yes. so... druids already can shift into animals, i believe a shifter is just a druid that perfected the ability to change into different animals to the point where they can change into almost anything.

so to RP a shifter just spend a lot of time shifted. focus your efforts on your shape shift ability rather than your spells (this dos not mean NOT using spells but just focus it on shifting). for spells i wold recommend long lasting buff spells so you cast them and than just walk around shifting (well if you know your going to be in combat cast them, no point looking like a panther-tree while walking around for no reason...)

any way, this is just a suggestion, if any one knows better do not hesitate to correct me or build upon what i mentioned.

[Jafin]

Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong on this, but in standard DnD rules the requirement to be a shifter is NOT to first be a druid, but to have the wildshape feat. This is typically acquired either from being a druid or in some rare cases it can be a racial feat or it could be acquired by extraordinary other means. In NWN, however, the only means of acquiring the feat is to be a druid.

That said, you could RP a Shifter in many ways. The way D3VII_ suggested is viable. The way you've already presented is also viable. It really depends on the kind of character you want to play. The way I've always viewed Shifters however is that they know they can shapeshift (whatever the initial means) and have focused their continued training, experience, etc. on learning to perfect this ability. So, as a Shifter, they are aware and have taken special efforts to perfect this ability.

As a druid using his/her shapeshift ability, druids I believe typically know that they will eventually become able to shapeshift as their attunement and oneness with nature increases over time. There could be a situation in which a druid has begun their training as a druid but for whatever reason has lost his/her mentor or contact and is uneducated in this possibility and so the initial experience could become something of a shock.

I've always viewed the shifting, particularly in the case of the shifter, to be a calculated endeavour. As I said however, there are many possibilities to play a shifting characters and nearly all are viable or "good" ways to play. As far as your actual actions playing, I more or less agree with D3VII_. Spend a lot of time shifted and focus on that as your primary ability. This doesn't mean ALWAYS be shifted. In fact, in a civilized, populated area (like a city) shifting would probably be a bad idea. So be in your humanoid form then. But I would spend a lot of time in another form, probably several other forms, and even change between forms fairly frequently. It's the act of shifting that is your focus, not simply on being shifted. I view a Shifter as someone who doesn't necessarily have a "default" form. They're always shifting, changing. Or if there is a preferred form, it may not even be their born humanoid form.

But as I've said a couple times, this is all just me. Lots of ways to do it.

Hmmm... I kinda wanna play a shifter now... ;)

[Scott Crisp]

Thanks guys! Y'all have been seriously helpful...but for now Im sticking with just Druid, if he doesn't Perma-Die LOL

[D3VII_]

i now you're sticking to druid just now, but i got a question to expand my knowledge about druids in Thay specifically.

you say stay in a human form in the city, but there are many races, is there any creature the shifter can change into that wold be common/semi-common in Thay such as Minotaur, drow, cobalt? maybe not but if i dont ask i wont know for sure.

[TheSupremeForce]

If you're asking whether any of the forms would be "accepted" within civilized areas, I'd say it depends on who you encounter. Obviously, Thay has plenty of kobolds and lizardmen, for example, but they're generally slaughtered outside the cities. While they probably wouldn't be kill-on-sight within Bezantur, they'd make easier targets. Thayans (including Legionnaires) are likely to harass most of the exotic (or monster) races, since they're already anti-elf. Pretending to be a Drow may or may not get you into trouble. It really depends on who you encounter. Shifting into a bear doesn't even win any friends, so turning into a minotaur might very well cause a riot. Thay's "laws" tend to be quite fluid. It generally comes down to: who you are, where you are, and who you happen to bother.

Locally, I don't believe that Thay has many druids. It's simply not a culturally common class, which means that most druids are going to be foreigners. That further handicaps them.

[Mineya]

SEWER BEAR!!!