You won't find a server where more development time has been spent on shifters than Higher Ground. We're also the busiest server out there, and the #1 ranked on the Vault for 6 years running. Here are the details of our shifter edits, which are extensive:
This document contains details of custom changes to Shifters on Higher Ground.
Animal Empathy
- For spells cast while shifted, Shifters use Animal Empathy instead of Lore for damage bonuses. In addition, most Shifter abilities can receive up to a 100% damage bonus from the Animal Empathy skill.
Shape Shifting
- Unarmed weapon focus feats now benefit armed forms while shifted.
- Characters with the Wild Shape feat may take Weapon Specialization and Epic Weapon Specialization in creature weapons in legendary levels.
Shifter Basics
- All shifter forms have been redone on Higher Ground. In addition, additional forms are available to players with HG Enhanced.
- Wisdom AC no longer applies when shifted from any source. While shifted, Druids and Shifters receive 2 + ((Shifter level including LLs / 10) * 2) Natural AC. This AC does not stack with Barkskin, but is undispellable.
- For all shifter documentation, Polymorph Level (PL) is defined as Druid level + Shifter level + Ranger level (including legendary levels if the character's control class is Druid, Shifter, or Ranger).
- For spells cast in shifted form, caster level (CL) is Druid level + Shifter level (including legendary levels if the character's control class is Druid or Shifter).
- Base DC for non-spell abilities is equal to 10 + Form Rank (listed with each form) + Wis modifier + (foci * 3). Foci are described further below.
- Many forms use Shadow Attack as a touch attack power. The actual effect of Shadow Attack depends on the form you assume.
- In order to unshift, a Shifter must use the !cancel poly Simtools command.
Essence Points
- Whenever you shift, your Essence Point (EP) pool is refilled. You receive a total number of EP equal to your PL.
Legendary Progression
- Most shifter forms improve in AB and AC between PL41 and PL60. The AB increase comes from increasing Strength or Dexterity, and the AC increase comes from the addition of Shield AC.
Legendary Form Foci
- Legendary Form Focus feats are available for Wildshape, Construct Shape, Dragon Shape, Humanoid Shape, Outsider Shape, and Undead Shape. Each shape has three ranks of focus feat. These feats can only be taken during legendary levels.
- Taking the first rank of any focus feat grants a more powerful base form, usually with additional abilities. Every focus rank grants +2 to AB and AC, and +3 to the DC of all DC-based abilities while in a form covered by that focus. In addition, other factors may be improved by focus ranks, depending on the particular form assumed.
- For limited-use forms, such as Construct Shape, each focus rank grants an additional use of that form per rest.
- For armed forms, legendary focus feats allow unarmed weapon focus feats to be translated to weapon focus feats. With LFF1, Weapon Focus is translated. With LFF2, Epic Weapon Focus and Improved Critical are translated. With LFF3, Legendary Weapon Focus is translated.
Equipment Merging
- All equipment merges when you shift, with the exception of Shield AC. The attributes of your primary weapon will be applied to all weaponswhen you shift. The only weapon buffs that will transfer are keen and enchantment bonuses. Spells like Darkfire or Flame Weapon will not transfer between forms, but if cast on an armed form will remain until the shifter changes shape.
Construct Shape
- Shifters in Construct Shape are immune to amnesia effects.
- Construct Shape now offers Crystal Golem and Marut with HG Enhanced.
Demonflesh Golem (Rank 5)
- Demonflesh golems can survive in fire-permeated areas.
- [5 EP] Rage - Grants +(CL / 5) Str/Dex/Con and -2 Dodge AC. Grants 1d4/1d8/1d12/2d8 unresistable fire damage on-hit, increasing with foci.
- [1 EP] Infesting Touch (Shadow Attack) - Decreases target Conc/Disc by (Foci) for (Foci + 1d3) rounds. Requires LFFC1.
- [1 EP] Focused Immunity (Protection Aura) - This ability requires LFFC1, and grants the shifter 100% damage immunity and 100/- resistance to the selected element. The element protected against is selected via chat command:
!damac - acid
!damco - cold
!damel - electric
!damfi - fire
!damso - sonic
- Weapon buffs on the shifters base weapon shift over to enhance Demonflesh Golems
- With LFFC1 Demonflesh golemns get an additional attack per round.
Iron Golem (Rank 5)
- Iron Golems can breathe in any environment.
- [5 EP] Poison Breath - All targets in a Small cone who fail a Fort save lose (CL / 5) Con. Any target reduced to 0 Con is slain.
- [1 EP] Crumple Armor (Shadow Attack) - Decreases target AC by (Foci) for (Foci + 1d3) rounds. Requires LFFC1.
Stone Golem (Rank 6)
- Stone Golems can breathe in any environment and are immune to petrification.
- [1 EP] Hurl Rock - All targets in a Medium radius receive CLd6 bludgeoning damage, with a Reflex save for half.
- [1 EP] Siege Mode (Protection Aura) - Increases the user's physical/elemental immunities by (10 + (5 * Foci))% and makes the user immune to knockdown. The user is immobilized. Damage on Hurl Rock is increased to CLd8. Requires LFFC1.
Crystal Golem (Rank 7)
- Crystal Golems can breathe in any environment.
- Crystal Golems are immune to all mind effects except Fear.
- [2 EP] Prismatic Spray - as the spell.
- [1 EP] Daze Aura - All targets in a Large aura must make a Will save each round or be dazed. Requires LFFC1.
Marut (Rank 5)
- Maruts can breathe in any environment.
- [3 EP] Grappling Chain - The target must make a Reflex save or be paralyzed for (CL / 3) rounds. Requires LFFC1.
- [2 EP] Lightning Pulse - All targets in a Large radius receive CLd6 electrical damage, with a Reflex save for half.
Dragon Shape
- Dragon Shape now offers White Dragon and Silver Dragon with HG Enhanced.
Blue Dragon (Rank 
- Enhanced Melee Damage - adds 1d6/2d6/4d6/7d6 electrical damage on hit, based on foci.
- [Variable EP] Dragon Breath - All targets in a Medium cone receive CLd10 electrical damage, with a Reflex save for half.
- [3 EP] Wing Buffet - All targets in a Huge radius must make a Reflex save or be knocked down for 1d3 + 1 rounds. Requires LFFD1.
Green Dragon (Rank
- Enhanced Melee Damage - adds 1d6/2d6/4d6/7d6 acid damage on hit, based on foci.
- [Variable EP] Dragon Breath - All targets in a Medium cone receive CLd10 acid damage, with a Reflex save for half.
- [3 EP] Wing Buffet - All targets in a Huge radius must make a Reflex save or be knocked down for 1d3 + 1 rounds. Requires LFFD1.
Red Dragon (Rank
- Enhanced Melee Damage - adds 1d6/2d6/4d6/7d6 fire damage on hit, based on foci.
- [Variable EP] Dragon Breath - All targets in a Medium cone receive CLd10 fire damage, with a Reflex save for half.
- [3 EP] Wing Buffet - All targets in a Huge radius must make a Reflex save or be knocked down for 1d3 + 1 rounds. Requires LFFD1.
White Dragon (Rank
- Enhanced Melee Damage - adds 1d6/2d6/4d6/7d6 cold damage on hit, based on foci.
- [Variable EP] Dragon Breath - All targets in a Medium cone receive CLd10 cold damage, with a Reflex save for half.
- [3 EP] Wing Buffet - All targets in a Huge radius must make a Reflex save or be knocked down for 1d3 + 1 rounds. Requires LFFD1.
Silver Dragon (Rank
- Enhanced Melee Damage - adds 1d6/2d6/4d6/7d6 sonic damage on hit, based on foci.
- [Variable EP] Dragon Breath - All targets in a Medium cone receive CLd10 sonic damage, with a Reflex save for half.
- [3 EP] Wing Buffet - All targets in a Huge radius must make a Reflex save or be knocked down for 1d3 + 1 rounds. Requires LFFD1.
Greater Wildshape 1
- All Wyrmlings can use Inflicting Breath, except Green which receives Weakening Breath.
- All Wyrmlings can fly.
Black Wyrmling (Rank 6)
- [1 EP] Inflicting Breath - All targets in a Small cone receive (CL / 2)d6 acid damage, with a Reflex save for half. In addition, 5% acid vulnerability is inflicted for (1 + Foci) rounds.
Blue Wyrmling (Rank 6)
- [1 EP] Inflicting Breath - All targets in a Small cone receive (CL / 2)d6 electrical damage, with a Reflex save for half. In addition, 5% electrical vulnerability is inflicted for (1 + Foci) rounds.
Green Wyrmling (Rank 6)
- [1 EP] Weakening Breath - All targets in a Small cone have their physical damage lowered by ((CL / 10) + (Foci * 4)) points for 1 minute. Targets with Evasion receive a Reflex save to avoid this effect.
Red Wyrmling (Rank 6)
- [1 EP] Inflicting Breath - All targets in a Small cone receive (CL / 2)d6 fire damage, with a Reflex save for half. In addition, 5% fire vulnerability is inflicted for (1 + Foci) rounds.
White Wyrmling (Rank 6)
- [1 EP] Inflicting Breath - All targets in a Small cone receive (CL / 2)d6 cold damage, with a Reflex save for half. In addition, 5% cold vulnerability is inflicted for (1 + Foci) rounds.
Greater Wildshape 2
- Greater Wildshape 2 now offers Fairy and Troll with HG Enhanced.
Gargoyle (Rank 4)
- Gargoyles are immune to petrification.
- Damage Reduction - Gargoyles receive (Shifter level)/+16 DR with LFFW1 maxing at 30/+16.
- Parry - Gargoyles receive +(Shifter level including LLs) Parry with LFFW1.
- SF Parry - Gargoyles receive Skill Focus (parry) with LFFW2.
- ESF Parry - Gargoyles receive Epic Skill Focus (parry) with LFFW3.
Harpy (Rank 7)
- Harpies can fly.
- Harpy Song - Harpy Song is the equivalent of Bard Curse Song. Bard song level is equivalent to Shifter level (including LLs).
- Animal Empathy is used in place of Perform, with 6 points of Animal Empathy being equivalent to 5 Perform; hence, AE 120 is sufficient to reach song level 50 at Shifter 50.
- Each focus rank extends the duration of the Curse by 5 rounds.
- See the Bard documentation (!doc bard) for more information on Curse Song.
Minotaur (Rank 4)
- [5 EP] Rage - Grants +(CL / 5) Str/Dex/Con and -2 Dodge AC.
- [40 EP] Maze (Dominate Monster) - as the spell. Requires LFFW1.
Fairy (Rank 6)
- Fairies can fly.
- A Fairy gains 20 + (5 / 5 Shifter levels inc LL) points of conceal.
- [3 EP] Spill Potion - The shifter rolls (Shifter level including LL) + (Pick Pocket skill bonuses) + (Foci * 5) vs (30 + enemy Spot). This skill requires 1 point of Pick Pocket skill to use to best advantage. If successful and the enemy has a pickpocketable potion, it will be spilled.
- [1 EP] Mock - When a Fairy uses Taunt, if his base Taunt skill is less than (Shifter level including LL), it will be raised to that amount.
Troll (Rank 5)
- Regeneration - Trolls receive (Shifter level + (Foci * 5)) regeneration (to a maximum of 45 with 30 shifter levels) three times each round.
Greater Wildshape 3
- Greater Wildshape 3 now offers Wyvern and Xorn with HG Enhanced.
Basilisk (Rank 6)
- [8 EP] Death Gaze - All enemies in a Small cone must make a Fortitude save or be slain.
Drider (Rank 6)
- Driders are completely immune to Knockdown and can walk on sand without danger.
- A Drider gains 10 + (5 / 5 Shifter levels inc LL) points of conceal.
- [1 EP] Darkness - as the spell.
- [2 EP] Web - as the spell.
- [3 EP] Magic Missile - as the spell; increases to ILMS in the Epic upgrade and IGMS with LFFW1.
Manticore (Rank 7)
- [1 EP] Manticore Spikes - A total of (Shifter level including LL / 2) spikes are launched in a Large cone, each doing (Shifter level including LL / 2)d4 piercing damage.
Wyvern (Rank 5)
- [2 EP] Poison Sting - The target's Strength and Dexterity are reduced by (CL / 4) + (Foci * 2) for CL rounds on a successful touch attack.
- [5 EP] Wyvern Snatch - The shifter grabs the target with a touch attack and failed reflex save, lifting them into the air and dropping them for damage and knockdown.
Xorn (Rank 5)
- Xorns can pass through rock without danger.
- [1 EP] Petrification Touch - Enemies struck by the Xorn in combat must make a Reflex save or be petrified.
Greater Wildshape 4
- Greater Wildshape 4 now offers Beholder and Gelatinous Cube with HG Enhanced.
Dire Tiger (Rank 4)
- [5 EP] Knockdown Pounce (Shadow Attack) - The target is knocked down for 1d3 +1 rounds on a successful touch attack. If the touch attack is a critical hit the target is knocked down for 1d3 + 3 rounds. Requires LFFW1.
Medusa (Rank 7)
- [5 EP] Petrification Gaze - All enemies in a Small cone must make a Fortitude save or be petrified.
Mind Flayer (Rank
- Mind flayers are immune to all mind effects except fear.
- [5 EP] Mind Blast - All enemies in a Small cone must make a Will save or be stunned. Any already-stunned enemy receives CLd3 psionic damage.
Beholder (Rank
- Beholders can levitate as if they were wearing a Ring of Levitation.
- [8 EP] Antimagic Cone - All creatures in a Small cone are the target of a dispel effect at a level equal to CL. If they fail a Will save, they will suffer 100% spell failure for a short time.
- [1 EP] Inflict Ray - Inflicts CLd4 negative damage on a successful pseudotouch attack.
- [1 EP] Freeze Ray - Inflicts CLd8 cold damage on a successful pseudotouch attack.
Gelatinous Cube (Rank 5)
- [2 EP] Gelatinous Disarm - On a successful touch attack, the target must make a Reflex save or be disarmed. Even if it saves the target will be slowed by residue from the cube.
Humanoid Shape
- Humanoid Shape now offers Kenku and Sahuagin with HG Enhanced.
- All Humanoid forms benefit from weapon buffs cast on the shifter.
- All Humanoid forms get an extra attack per round with LFFH1.
Drow (Rank 5)
- Body Adjustment - Will automatically use a Saintsblood Pearl, Amorian Berries, or Grapes of Plenty in the user's inventory for Restoration. Requires LFFH1.
- A Drow gains 0 + (5 / 5 Shifter levels inc LL) points of conceal.
- [1 EP] Mortal Strike - as the Assassin ability, with the standard Shifter DC. Requires LFFH1.
- [1 EP] Darkness - as the spell.
Kobold (Rank 4)
- Body Adjustment - Will automatically use a Saintsblood Pearl, Amorian Berries, or Grapes of Plenty in the user's inventory for Restoration. Requires LFFH1.
- A Kobold gains 15 + (5 / 5 Shifter levels inc LL) points of conceal.
- Sneak Attack - Kobolds receive ((Shifter level / 3) + Foci)d6 Blackguard Sneak Attack.
- [10 EP] Set Trap - When this spell is used it sets a trap full of stinging insects which do 1d10 per shifter level of pierce and acid damage (Fort save for half). Those affected also suffer -1 to fort and reflex saves, with another -1 per LFF to a max of -4.
Lizardfolk (Rank 4)
- Body Adjustment - Will automatically use a Saintsblood Pearl, Amorian Berries, or Grapes of Plenty in the user's inventory for Restoration. Requires LFFH1.
- [1 EP] Lash Infliction - Inflicts vulnerabilities on the target as a Lash of Hatred, to a maximum of (5 + (Foci * 5))%.
Kenku (Rank 4)
- Kenku can levitate as if they were wearing a Ring of Levitation.
- Body Adjustment - Will automatically use a Saintsblood Pearl, Amorian Berries, or Grapes of Plenty in the user's inventory for Restoration. Requires LFFH1.
- Bow - Kenku use a bow, with the damage types from the user's weapon automatically transferred.
Sahuagin (Rank 5)
- Sahuagin can breathe water as if they were wearing a Ring of Water Breathing.
- Body Adjustment - Will automatically use a Saintsblood Pearl, Amorian Berries, or Grapes of Plenty in the user's inventory for Restoration. Requires LFFH1.
- [2 EP] Web - as the spell but ignores SR
Outsider Shape
- Outsider Shape now offers Modron and Leonal with HG Enhanced.
Azer (Rank 7)
- Azer can survive in fire-permeated areas.
- [1 EP] Burning Hands - as the spell.
- [1 EP] Fire Blast - All enemies in a Colossal cylinder receive CLd8 fire damage, with a Reflex save for half.
- [1 EP] Fire Protection Aura - All allies in the aura receive 30/50/70% immunity to fire depending on foci. Requires LFFO1.
Death Slaad (Rank
- Death Slaad are immune to confusion.
- [1 EP] Chaos Spittle - Inflicts CLd4 magical damage on a successful pseudotouch attack.
- [1 EP] Acid Spittle - Inflicts CLd6 acid damage on a successful pseudotouch attack.
- [1 EP] Anti-Confusion Aura - All allies within the aura receive immunity to confusion. Requires LFF1
Rakshasa (Rank 9)
- A Rakshasa gains 30 + (5 / 5 Shifter levels inc LL) points of conceal.
- [1 EP] Ice Storm - as the spell.
- [1 EP] Acid Breath - as the spell.
- [3 EP] Great Thunderclap - as the spell. Replaces Acid Breath with LFFO1.
- [1 EP] Dispel Magic - as the spell.
- [2 EP] Area Spell Breach - as Spell Breach in a Small area of effect, but dispels 2/3/4 effects depending on foci, and reduces SR by 1 more than that amount. Replaces Dispel Magic with LFFO1.
Modron (Rank 6)
- Modrons are immune to Time Stop.
- Crossbow - Modrons use a crossbow, with the damage types from the user's weapon automatically transferred. They receive Rapid Reload with LFFO1. Modrons add 6 + (2 per LFFO) irresistable positive damage per hit.
- [4 EP] Construct Wall - As Wall of Fire (Stone).
- [5 EP] Immobilization Trap - This ability ability allows the shifter to plant a trap which immobilizes all nearby for d6+1 rounds if they fail a Will save.
- [8 EP] Coruscating Beam Trap - The shifter plants two beacons which inflict fire and positive damage on any hostile which passes between them.
Leonal (Rank 5)
- Leonals are immune to fear.
- [5 EP] Fear Howl - All enemies in a Colossal radius must make a Will save or be stricken with fear.
- [1 EP] Anti-Fear Aura - All allies within the aura receive immunity to fear. Requires LFF1.
- [5 EP] Leonal Rage is the equivalent of Bard Song. Bard song level is equal to Shifter level (including LLs). Animal Empathy is used in place of Perform, with 6 points of Animal Empathy being equivalent to 5 Perform; hence, AE 120 is sufficient to reach song level 50 at Shifter 50. Each focus rank extends the duration of the Song by 5 rounds. See the Bard documentation (!doc bard) for more information on Bard Song. Requires LFF1
- Weapon buffs on the shifters base weapon shift over to enhance Leonals.
Undead Shape
Risen Lord (Rank 5)
- Risen Lords can breathe in any environment and are immune to Breach spells.
- [1 EP] Slay Living - Any enemy struck in combat by the Risen Lord must make a Fortitude save or die. Requires LFFU1.
- Weapon buffs on the shifters base weapon shift over to enhance Risen Lords.
Spectre (Rank 7)
- Spectres can levitate as if they were wearing a Ring of Levitation.
- A Spectre gains 20 + (5 / 5 Shifter levels inc LL) points of conceal.
- [1 EP] Shadow Touch - On a successful pseudotouch attack, the target must make a Fortitude save or lose (Foci + 1)d4 levels.
- [4 EP] Bestow Curse - as the spell.
Vampire (Rank 6)
- Vampires can fly with LFFU1.
- Drain Life - Vampires drain life from their targets on hit.
- A Vampire gains 5 + (5 / 5 Shifter levels inc LL) points of conceal.
- [5 EP] Domination Gaze - Targets in a Small cone must make a Will save or be dominated. If the user already has a dominated creature, targets who fail the save will be dazed.
- [1 EP] Vampiric Touch - as the spell.
- [1 EP] Gaseous Form (Protection Aura) - As Greater Sanctuary. Requires LFFU1.
Baelnorn (Rank 9)
- Baelnorns can breathe in any environment, and can levitate with LFFU1.
- A Baelnorn gains 30 + (5 / 5 Shifter levels inc LL) points of conceal.
- [2 EP] Positive Energy Strike (FoD) - As Finger of Death, but does positive damage.
- [3 EP] Sunburst - as the spell.
- [15 EP] Empower Ally - The target receives one temporary caster level for (5 + (Foci * 5)) rounds. Requires LFFU1.
Banshee (Rank
- Banshees can breathe in any environment.
- A Banshee gains 20 + (5 / 5 Shifter levels inc LL) points of conceal.
- [5 EP] Death Howl - All enemies in a Colossal radius must make a Fortitude save or be slain.
- [1 EP] Sonic Howl - All enemies in a Huge radius receive CLd6 sonic damage, with a Will save for half.
- [1 EP] Fear Aura - Enemies within the aura suffer a penalty of (1 + Foci) to all saves. Requires LFFU1.
Funky
