Here is my take on the shifter. This class tends to be too much a jack of all trades, but you can specialize a bit.
One way is to start as an Elf Druid, and complete Kingmaker and then Darkness over Daggerford.
The first module contains a ring which gives you the feat Alertness, so you don't need to spend one of your feats to gain entry into the Shifter class.
At the end of Kingmaker you would be about 8th level, just right for the Darkness module. In Daggerford you will find some leather armour that gives you the whirlwind attack feat. This allows you to become a weapon master earlier than normal. That is important, because at level 13, providing you have kept the armour, you know become a weapon master with a longsword weapon focus. Those 7 levels of weapon master will mean you will have 4 attacks by level 20. Your Shifters main form will be Drow. As a humanoid, any weapon you carry will turn into a longsword, which of course, you are lethal with.
Suggested route: Druid to level 5, then 7 Shifter levels to 12, then 7 Weaponmaster levels to level 19, then 9 Shifter levels to level 28.
Suggested feats: dodge at level 1, longsword weapon focus at level 3, expertise level 6, mobility level 9, spring attack level 12, either alertness or whirwind attack at level 15, and either alertness or whirwind attack at level 18. The last two are prestige class requirement, and once you have these, those two items are no longer necessary. You tend to be about level 18 at the end of DOD, and will not then have to worry about playing modules that start with all your kit taken, eg Hordes of Underdark.
Exotic weapon proficiency at level 21 is also a good idea, as plenty of exotic weapons have groovy properties.
If you are a human, this method works just as well, but using a spear as your weapon of choice. You could then be a weapon master as early as level 10, and your main form would be Drider.
Just a few thoughts 
'>.
