Shaper (3.5e Class)

Shaper

Shapers are people who have not lost their connection to the world around them as most have. They can wield the Earth around them as though it were an arm.

Making a Shaper

Shapers are not skilled in combat, but posses unique skills that more than compensate.

Abilities: Wisdom is all-important to a shaper, as it measures their connection to the world around them. Wisdom increases the combat efectiveness of shaping, and determines the strength with which shaping can be done. And constitution increases health and concentration.

Races: Any

Alignment: Any

Starting Gold:3d4X10 gp

Starting Age: simple

Table: The Shaper

Hit Die: d4

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Maximum Size of Target	Shaper Points Per Hour
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+0	+0	+0	+2	Small (4 feet)	2
2nd	+1	+0	+0	+3	Small (4 feet)	4
3rd	+1	+1	+1	+3	Medium (8 feet)	4
4th	+2	+1	+1	+4	Medium (8 feet)	8
5th	+2	+1	+1	+4	Large (16 feet)	8
6th	+3	+2	+2	+5	Large (16 feet)	12
7th	+3	+2	+2	+5	Huge (32 feet)	12
8th	+4	+2	+2	+6	Huge (32 feet)	16
9th	+4	+3	+3	+6	Gargantuan (64 feet)	16
10th	+5	+3	+3	+7	Gargantuan (64 feet)	20
11th	+5	+3	+3	+7	Colossal (128 feet)	20
12th	+6/+1	+4	+4	+8	Colossal(128 feet)	24
13th	+6/+1	+4	+4	+8	Colossal (250 feet)	24
14th	+7/+2	+4	+4	+9	Colossal (250 feet)	28
15th	+7/+2	+5	+5	+9	Colossal (500 feet)	28
16th	+8/+3	+5	+5	+10	Colossal (500 feet)	32
17th	+8/+3	+5	+5	+10	Colossal (1,000 feet)	32
18th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+11	Colossal (1,000 feet)	36
19th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+11	Colossal (2,000 feet)	36
20th	+10/+5	+6	+6	+12	Colossal (2,000 feet)	40
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Disguise (Cha), Bluff (Cha).

Class Features

There is life. There is power. There is energy. Throughout all that exist, there is a binding force, created to give life to the world. Most have forgotten its song, or even how to listen. They are like people in water who have forgotten how to swim. But there are still those who remember, those who can reach into the world around them, and shape it. Wield the world around them as though it were an arm. All of the following are class features of the shaper.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: all simple weapons and light armor.

At first level, a shaper must choose one element from the following list: Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. With his element of choice, the shaper can select a mass of the chosen element within line of sight, in any shape, of up to the size indicated by his class level, and shape it as he desires. He may move it in any way he chooses as long as it stays within the restricted size area.

The shaper may take the target, and move it at a speed of the thirty feet per round in any direction he chooses, within reason. For instance, a mass of air can be moved up, but a mass of earth can not be supported by thin air. It must travel along the ground.

The shaper may also harden, or soften, the target. A hardened target gains DR of 5 times the class level of the shaper. If the shaper breaks his concentration, the target reverts back to its natural state.

Shaping a target is a Standard Action.

Shaper Wis	Maximum Target Size
10	Small (4 feet)
11	Medium (8 feet)
12	Large (16 feet)
13	Huge (32 feet)
14	Gargantuan (64 feet)
15	Colossal (128 feet)
16	Colossal (250 feet)
17	Colossal (500 feet)
18	Colossal (1,000 feet)
19	Colossal (2,000 feet)

Application:

Combat: Any character or object within the area of the target, or occupying a square through which the target moves, may be subject to damage. Damage is 1d6 per level of the shaper. Evading damage requires a reflex saving throw, DC 10 + shaper's level + shaper's wisdom modifier.

Other: The non-combat applications of shaping is limited only by the imagination of the player. And, of course, the discretion of the DM.

Even though a shaper uses the energy of the world around him to achieve his ends (no human could possibly process enough calories to lift a 32-foot rock), wielding the energies requires effort, as does driving a wild horse. A shaper may spend a certain number of shaper points per hour, as shown in class description. He may exceed this limit, but only by depleting hit points instead. If a shaper exceeds his shaper point allowance, he is automatically fatigued. For duration of shaping, use the rules for running.

Size of Target	Shaper point cost
Small	1
Medium	2
Large	4
Huge	8
Gargantuan	12
Colossal	16
+1	+4

If a shaper has a high Wisdom score, he may subtract his Wis modifier from the shaper point cost for the action.

Unlike a wizard or a cleric, a shaper need not prepare his "spells" in advance. He can act spontaneously.

Campaign Information

Playing a Shaper

Religion: No special rules.

Other Classes: Shapers might be slightly contemptuous of those who rely on weapons for defence (until they are rescued by those more mundane types). They will view wizards as amateurs, "poking around in the water instead of swimming".

Combat: Weak combatants, shapers will depend on tougher friends to defend them while they unleash their fury.

Advancement: You don't need to be capable of moving mountains. Some of the most capable shapers have been ones who learn the way of the sword while advancing little in shaping power.

Shapers in the World

“	Why? You ask why? Why can I do things that you can't? You and I are both rooted in the earth. Your roots are withered, and useless. My roots go deep. You and I both are in the water. Your limbs are held close, useless. You have forgotten how to swim. You have almost forgotten you are in the water. I have not forgotten.	”
—Igrain, human shaper

Daily Life: Shapers find the mundane life filled with application for their powers. Some hide their ability, others offer it for hire.

NPC Reactions: Entirely dependent on the world the DM puts them in.

Shaper Lore

Characters with ranks in Arcana can research shapers to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Arcana

DC	Result
5	No result.
10	Some people can treat the air or earth as though it were a limb.
15	Shapers are descended from other shapers. Their abilities used to be more widespread.
20	Nothing new.

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