On problem I see with wild shape is the large number of choices one has to sort through, and the heavy encouragement to change forms every level to a better one. Now, the Totem druid from dragon magazine did attempt to make a specialist wildshape variant, but I feel it was badly written plus as in fact weaker than even the shapeshift variant. This following variant is similar in some ways, trading versatility for early access to wild shape while not losing long term effectiveness by having one's chosen form get stronger as one levels.
I just want people's opinion and suggestions for this, and will design/post more example progressions on request if more examples are needed or people want me to produce the options.
The wildshape Specialist
Some shapeshifters only every perfect one alternate form. Others accuse them of simply not having the devotion needed to master everything a normal druid could, though they firmly believe their focus allows them to achieve a level of perfection with their chosen form than no generalist shapeshifter can match.
Replaces: Wildshape, all versions.
Benefit: Gains the ability to wildshape to one specific creature. Once the creature is chosen, no class feature or feat can give access to other forms via wild shape, though augmenting the form is possible, ie: the exhalted wild shape feat would not give access to blink dog form, though still would apply the celestial template to one's wildshape form. This does mean the master of many forms is of little (But not no) use to this variant, but that's the point, this is not meant to be a generalist like that.
The chosen creature's stats increase over time vis a progression (Specific to chosen form, examples of progressions will be provided), starting with a weaker version at 1st level if creature has more than one hitdice. Special attacks and special qualities of the form are all granted to the character while in the form, but only after reaching a level equal to the creature's normal hitdice and having feats/level in classes that'd normally grant the ability required for a regular wildshape shifter to change into that creature. Natural attacks are still granted below that level.
Whenever a new (Larger only?) size category of wild shape is unlocked, the wildshaper gains access to a version of their chosen creature of that size in addition to forms they already have. This forms stats will not be a straight application of the increasing a monster's size rules, being 'slightly' less powerful.
At first level, if their chosen form is an animal of small or medium size, character gains the extra wild shape and fast wild shape feats without needing to meet the prerequisites, hence also gaining the ability to wild shape first level. If not, one of the following cases should apply:
>If chosen animal is one size category beyond allowed range, then only gain extra wild shape, later gaining fast wild shape for free when they'd of normally gained access to that size. If two size categories beyond range, wildshaper gain neither free feats, not gaining the ability to wildshape at all till fifth level, later gaining those two feats when unlocking the size category and the one in-between.
>If chosen creature is not of the animal type, do not gain the fast wildshape feat till one gets the feat normally needed to access that form or the class feature. Same goes for gaining the extraordinary special qualities of the form, though special attacks are gained once size and effective level requirements are met. If the feat/class feature grants access to supernatural abilities of the form, then it still does. If chosen form is not small or medium size, then do not gain extra wildshape till size category would normally of been unlocked nor an extraordinary (Or supernatural) attacks/qualities.
At fifth level, the wild shaper starts gaining additional uses of wild shape according to normal druid progression+bonus from extra wild shape feat. In addition, mastery of form allows a wild shaper the shifter speech ability, as master of many forms does.
Example progression:
Wolf form: Based upon wolf, dire wolf, and legendary wolf (MMII)
Note: This gets the same stats as wolf at level 2, same as dire wolf at 6th assuming you gain access to large size by then, and 1 stat point lower than legendary wolf at 14th. Overall, it just makes it a smooth progression. Sizes larger than large were extrapolated crudely and hence might be problematic.
Base:
Size: Medium
Speed: 50 ft
Natural Armor: +2
Bite: 1d6
Strength: 11
Dexterity: 15
Constitution: 15
Improvements based on effective druid level to the animal form:
(Based on effective druid level does mean it is boosted by bloodlines)
*Every even level, strength increases by 2
*At second level, special attacks and qualities become accessible. This means the wolf specialist gains trip, low-light vision, scent, and the racial +4 to survival while tracking by scent.
*At second level and every 4 levels afterwards, add +2 to constitution.
*Every odd level except first, dexterity increases by 2
*Every 4th level add +1 to natural armor
*Every fifth level increase bite damage by one size category
*At level 10 and 20, increase land speed by 10 ft
Size: Whenever (Or if ever, in the case of wild shape ranger) the wildshaper would normally gain access to a larger size of forms, they instead gain the option to shift into a larger version of wolf (ie: large size=dire wolf) as well as the other sizes of wolf they already have. The bonuses for increase size are as follows:
Large: +8 strength, -4 dexterity
Huge: +16 strength, -8 dexterity, +1 natural armor
Gargantuan: +24 strength, -10 dexterity, +3 natural armor
Colossal: +32 strength, -12 dexterity, +6 natural armor
>These do not increase damage dice size like normal size increases, making these size increases not as godly as they could have been. This is for balance reasons and to stay true to the dire wolf.
