Why a Shifter?

[janave]

Add me to the pile who struggles to find a fitting build for Shifters. I like Barbarians a lot, simple people doing the job well, except they arent exactly great at solo-duo zerging reaper content for bestest leveling ( last i checked), they are missing a few bullet points off the checklist.

Barbarian trees are also really strong on their own, would have a hard time trading points over to a race tree when everything i can spend for in another Barbarian tree is already really strong/better. If you have all the other race pls, it is a freebie of a little PRR and Healing amp i guess.

Druid, this would be ideal if the caster part wasnt so under developed, mixes with animal forms are probably good but complicated for zipping to 20. 3 times..


Maybe there is some super secret feature im missing that makes them the best Wizards or Bards, dunno

[HungarianRhapsody]

Not seeing a lot of benefit from this race. What is anyone else planning to do with a Shifter?

Thanks for sharing.

Coppercat

I did 3 past lives in another race with Memories of Shifter that was on sale. Not excited about this new race, obviously.

[Alrik_Fassbauer]

Thank you for this post. It really is obnoxious. I hate how players who want to role play, try all sorts of new builds and races and enhancement trees and just enjoy the DDO atmosphere have to share the same space with these min/maxers. What's worse is that they're probably the ones keeping DDO alive with money. I mean I spend a lot on DDO, but so do these min/maxers and there's more of them than there are people like me. I wish Turbine/SSG never focused these people down as their primary cash cows.

I think that I'm in a similar boat.

It's almost like "peer pressure" to do min-maxing myself.


Why I didn't play Shifters so far ?
It's relatively simple in my case : They have a look that I need to grow accustomed with. I guess I suffer a case of Lookism.
Aasimar look so much more aesthetically pleasing ... Elves, too ... And besides, that's also why I prefer querterstaff builds : Their fighting animation simply looks much more gracefully to me.
Plus, Shifers have these awfully long claws. I just can't stand that. I really hope that there is armor out there making them look like as if they had much shorter or even no claws at all ...

Regarding the Shifters' positive sides : I have to read through the Wiki first, since I'm not a mechanics type ...

[DerpDerply]

I did my 3 shifter lives as a STR-based tempest. If you ignore the shift entirely it’s pretty OP.

[HungarianRhapsody]

Thank you for this post. It really is obnoxious. I hate how players who want to role play, try all sorts of new builds and races and enhancement trees and just enjoy the DDO atmosphere have to share the same space with these min/maxers. What's worse is that they're probably the ones keeping DDO alive with money. I mean I spend a lot on DDO, but so do these min/maxers and there's more of them than there are people like me. I wish Turbine/SSG never focused these people down as their primary cash cows.

You can still play the game exactly the way you chose while the min/maxers play the game the way they choose. That's the best thing about DDO in my opinion. Difficulty levels go from Casual up to R10. You can pick the flavor you like best.

[Alrik_Fassbauer]

You can still play the game exactly the way you chose while the min/maxers play the game the way they choose. That's the best thing about DDO in my opinion. Difficulty levels go from Casual up to R10. You can pick the flavor you like best.

That's right.

The only problem there are discussions within everyone assumes the original poster meant Reaper or end game, even when he or she didn't.

[Zorrbeania]

Why I didn't play Shifters so far ?
It's relatively simple in my case : They have a look that I need to grow accustomed with. I guess I suffer a case of Lookism.
Aasimar look so much more aesthetically pleasing ... Elves, too ... And besides, that's also why I prefer querterstaff builds : Their fighting animation simply looks much more gracefully to me.
Plus, Shifers have these awfully long claws. I just can't stand that. I really hope that there is armor out there making them look like as if they had much shorter or even no claws at all ...

Laughed out loud when I read this! XD Yeah, I've got to agree with you that Shifters aren't lookers...though I (kinda) understand if other people think they look cool.

[Havocthedemon]

Laughed out loud when I read this! XD Yeah, I've got to agree with you that Shifters aren't lookers...though I (kinda) understand if other people think they look cool.

Let’s just say it, they are really ugly lol. I mean we thought the Thunder Cats were cool but those things...abominations. Never did racial lives faster, and I definitely used a wish for one of them. I mean mechanically they suck as well as being bad on the eyes, the only shifters I see are druid/barb splits. One reason being they don’t have to look at that ugly mug, and second because it’s the only build that’s not atrocious with that race. Though I still prefer having healing hands and being a bit tankier than having a marginal synergy with rages on that build but I solo a lot.

[painkiller3]

Here's something that would be playable as a shifter. 15 druid/5 barbarian bear build. needs 6 racial AP to get enough points into shifter tree to enable casting. i took 15 levels of druid so you could cast heal and get +1 competence critical multiplier, 5 levels of barb for blood strength (not as needed with all the healing spells but don't want to double on competence critical multiplier) and 2 critical range. very survivable and playable. not minimaxed, i know the strength bonuses from rage don't apply with wildhunt shifter. if you don't have 6 racial AP you could probably get rid of some of the tier 4 stuff in nature warrior, but the helpless damage and fatal harrier and knockdown resist (and extra STR) all add to the build.


Character name: Shifty McShifterson
Classes: 15 Druid, 10 Epic, 5 Barbarian
Race: Shifter · · · · · · ·Alignment: Neutral

· · ·Start Tome Final
Str:· · 18
Dex:· · 10
Con:· · 18
Int:· · ·6
Wis:· · 12
Cha:· · ·8
DR: 4%
Immunities: Poison, Spawn effects of Undead, Knockdown

Racial Past Lives (6 racial AP including +2 racial)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Past Life: Aasimar(3)
Past Life: Dwarf(3)
Past Life: Half-Orc(3)
Past Life: Warforged(3)

Class and Feat Selection
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level Class · · · · · ·Feats
1 · · Druid(1)· · · · ·Standard: Two Handed Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Animalistic Aspect: Wildhunt Shifter
2 · · Druid(2)· · · · ·Druid Wild Shape: Wild Shape: Bear
3 · · Druid(3)· · · · ·Standard: Natural Fighting
4 · · Barbarian(1)· · ·Strength: +1 Level up
5 · · Barbarian(2)· · ·
6 · · Barbarian(3)· · ·Standard: Natural Fighting
7 · · Barbarian(4)· · ·
8 · · Barbarian(5)· · ·Strength: +1 Level up
9 · · Druid(4)· · · · ·Standard: Natural Fighting
10· · Druid(5)· · · · ·Druid Wild Shape: Wild Shape: Wolf
11· · Druid(6)· · · · ·
12· · Druid(7)· · · · ·Standard: Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Strength: +1 Level up
13· · Druid(8)· · · · ·Druid Wild Shape: Wild Shape: Dire Bear
14· · Druid(9)· · · · ·
15· · Druid(10) · · · ·Standard: Improved Two Handed Fighting
16· · Druid(11) · · · ·Druid Wild Shape: Wild Shape: Winter Wolf
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Strength: +1 Level up
17· · Druid(12) · · · ·
18· · Druid(13) · · · ·Standard: Greater Two Handed Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Druid Wild Shape: Wild Shape: Fire Elemental
19· · Druid(14) · · · ·
20· · Druid(15) · · · ·Strength: +1 Level up

Enhancements: 80 APs, Racial 6
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shifter - Points spent: 11
1 Core ·(1) Extra Shifting I
2 Core ·(2) Ability I: Strength
3 Core ·(1) Extra Shifting II
4 Core ·(2) Ability II: Strength
5 Tier1 (1) Hardy Shifting
6 Tier1 (1) Hardy Shifting
7 Tier1 (1) Hardy Shifting
8 Tier1 (1) Hunt & Track
9 Tier3 (1) Empowered by Nature: Empowered by Nature: Wildhide
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nature's Protector - Points spent: 8
1 Core ·(1) Nature's Protector
2 Tier1 (1) Rage of the Beast
3 Tier1 (1) Rage of the Beast
4 Tier1 (1) Improved Nature's Defense I: Enchanted Defense
5 Tier1 (1) Improved Nature's Defense I: Enchanted Defense
6 Tier2 (1) Primal Beast
7 Tier2 (1) Primal Beast
8 Core ·(1) Nature's Defense
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nature's Warrior - Points spent: 30
1 Core ·(1) Natural Adept
2 Tier1 (1) Extra Wild Empathy
3 Tier1 (1) Extra Wild Empathy
4 Tier1 (1) Extra Wild Empathy
5 Tier1 (1) Snapping Jaws
6 Core ·(1) Nature's Senses
7 Tier2 (1) Flight
8 Tier2 (1) Flight
9 Tier2 (1) Flight
10 Tier2 (1) Improved Dodge
11 Tier2 (1) Improved Dodge
12 Tier2 (1) Improved Dodge
13 Core ·(1) Nature's Bounty
14 Tier3 (2) Ability I: +1 Strength
15 Tier3 (1) Fight
16 Tier3 (1) Fight
17 Tier3 (1) Fight
18 Tier3 (1) Prey on the Weak
19 Tier3 (1) Prey on the Weak
20 Core ·(1) A True Hunter
21 Tier4 (1) Fatal Harrier
22 Tier4 (1) Fatal Harrier
23 Tier4 (1) Fatal Harrier
24 Tier4 (2) Ability II: +1 Strength
25 Tier4 (1) Ferocity
26 Tier4 (1) Ferocity
27 Tier4 (1) Ferocity
28 Tier4 (1) Four Legs Good
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ravager - Points spent: 37
1 Core ·(1) Furious Rage
2 Tier1 (1) Hardy Rage
3 Tier1 (1) Hardy Rage
4 Tier1 (1) Hardy Rage
5 Tier1 (1) Do You Like Pain?
6 Tier1 (1) Do You Like Pain?
7 Tier1 (1) Do You Like Pain?
8 Core ·(1) Pain Touch I
9 Tier2 (1) I Like Pain
10 Tier2 (1) I Like Pain
11 Tier2 (1) I Like Pain
12 Tier2 (1) Action Boost: Melee Power
13 Tier2 (1) Action Boost: Melee Power
14 Tier2 (1) Action Boost: Melee Power
15 Tier3 (1) Slaughter
16 Tier3 (1) Slaughter
17 Tier3 (1) Slaughter
18 Tier3 (2) Ability I: +1 Strength
19 Tier1 (1) Ritual Scarring
20 Tier4 (1) I Hit Back!
21 Tier4 (1) I Hit Back!
22 Tier4 (1) I Hit Back!
23 Tier4 (2) Laughter
24 Tier4 (2) Ability II: +1 Strength
25 Tier1 (1) Ritual Scarring
26 Tier1 (1) Ritual Scarring
27 Tier3 (1) Aura of Fear
28 Tier5 (2) Blood Strength
29 Tier5 (1) Bully
30 Tier5 (1) Bully
31 Tier5 (1) Bully
32 Tier5 (1) Critical Rage
33 Tier5 (1) Critical Rage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Stravix]

It is a +7 Wisdom Race with save reduction capabilities. Go para arrow 5RGR/15CLR for Law/Trickery domain and go falconry for Wis to-hit/damage and instas for better clear.

Sadly, no implosion, but the build will cakewalk through content, and will be able to drop some legit heals while it's at it for good group play.

[SilkCloak]

So, I just finished an Aasimar Scourge life, which was a LOT of fun. Now I need 3 Shifter lives to get back my racial completionist.

Looking at the racial tree, the first thing that comes to mind is barb, with extra rages. The shifter rage only bumps Con, the barb rage bumps Str and Con. Fine, but what to do with the +2 dex? Two weapon barb? Ick.





The next things are Druid and Monk. I don't do those well, too many buttons.

Raging Ranger with scimitars?

I saw a lvl 30 Shifter/Fighter at the bank, just 4 days after release, so that must be a good choice. I didn't note the weapon(s).

I've started a barb, the 13 points in the racial tree gives some will saves, natural armor, other goodies. THF, with cleaves galore, just needs the perfect weapon. Same as always.

Not seeing a lot of benefit from this race. What is anyone else planning to do with a Shifter?

Thanks for sharing.

Coppercat

Tried shifter fighter tank but don't use rages with stalwart defence. Shifter bear tank next.

[FuzzyDuck81]

Tried shifter fighter tank but don't use rages with stalwart defence. Shifter bear tank next.

This works well - extended rage is really nice, extra CON is always good & their racial maul is on a separate timer from the class spell one, so you can get the 3rd stack of killer instinct without cooldowns being an issue for maximum power savage roar I prefer wildhunt shifter for the increased DCs & the cast while raging thing extends to spells from other classes, destinies & epic spells whereas beast awakened from the bear tree is more restrictive (mass frog in theory should work as a primal spell, but doesn't), though beasthide shifter has greater pure tanky potential.