Tweaking the Access to Polymorph/ Wildshape Forms

[granny]

While I think it is currently amazing the access to a wide range of possibilities of wildshape and polymorph forms at low levels, be it for the druids, be it for Witchcraft sorcerers, I think it ends up lacking some rounding. I speak of it with the mindset that we only have access to a single summoning theme out of the bat, or that monks need to pursue ICly for new stances, bards need to learn ICly their bard songs and so on.

Maybe, through the tweaking of the wildshape and polymorph forms, a character could choose from an initial theme that answered the main roles (stealthing, damage, attack, armoring, toughness, displacement, scavenging etc.), each theme being actually better at something specific (possible animal themes: thundra, desert, domestic, magical beasts, bogs, vermin, sewers etc.). If a character wanted to have access to more powerful/ specific shape or theme, they would have to hunt for it ICly, be it with masters of the art, be it through some sort of quest.

[Dillusionist]

Not really a fan of locking people to desert or arctic animals or whatever, you can do that on your own, or it will just spark requests to change themes or somesuch. Ultimately the idea of shapeshifting is kind of adaptability and change after all. For the most part forms are based off very general cat/wolf/bear/giant archetypes. You're not really losing anything if you go leopard other than cougar to reflect your PC background.

I am working toward redoing level 8 and application shapes, the "strong" ones, in a way that many of them will be collectible.

Polymorph is unlikely to change. As its not a class ability but a level 4 spell competing with Improved Invisibility and Summon IV a low attack bonus class.