From:	Roger J. An ricker@********.com
Subject:	Shapeshifer Magic-users? [was:A British Giant]
Date:	Thu, 5 Aug 1999 18:31:31 -0400 (EDT)

On Thu, 5 Aug 1999, Mike & Linda Frankl wrote:

> Ok, no argument there, but for crying out loud a shapeshifting magic user is
> as power gaming munchkin as it gets. I call bullshit on this one.
>
> No one can justify a role-playing angle that justifies that level of power.

Hey it all depends on how your game goes. I personally think I have VERY
good PCs and the group of people I play with have had low level characters
and high level characters yet we've ALWAYS have been balanced. I GMed a
shapeshifter before the SR Companion Shapeshifter rules came out and it
was not unbalancing.

Remember there is ALWAYS a role-playing angle. Shapeshifters aren't all
that powerful. Remember if they choose to be magicians they will not be
very skilled and their attributes will be lower than that of a regular
magicians. A shapeshifter has to role-play more from animalistic point of
view. They are animals first who later on gained the ability to have a
human form.

If they choose to have a role in society, it is very hard for them to
match in (unless they're a fox shapeshifter) I mean they don't regenerate
in their human form, don't have inc reflexes (unless they're a physical
adept) and always tear up their clothes if they have to go into animal
form. They're hunted by the government. They're no where near as
malevolent as vampires or wendigos yet they aren't granted metahuman
rights!

It's hard to play a shapeshifter if your GM does the campaign correctly.
If the government find out there's a shapeshifter around, he or she is in
deep trouble. They are not at all TOO powerful. They are balanced
characters, who when played correctly, are very fun.

I am GMing a group with a shapeshifter wolf shaman. He is by no means
bullshit. It's a deep, meaningful character with a storyline and is very
balanced in the games.

There are definitely perks to being a shapeshifter magician but your
attributes and skills definitely suffer and most of my players are
experienced enough not to rely on edges or flaws so they really don't use
them. The edges and flaws come out naturally in their roleplaying.

Remember shapeshifter physical adepts can't use the abilities in animal
form and shapeshifter mages CAN cast spells in animal form that don't
require geasa or fetishes. It definitely adds a twist. : )

Lates,

Roger J. An