SHIFTER

Player Character Race

Introduction: Optional player race descended from lycanthrope parentage.

Shifters are humans with animal-like characteristics that are able to manifest
abilities based on their ancestors cursed condition.

A Player Race for Characters of All Levels

by Matt Dillingham

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Shifter 1
Generally, shifters resemble humans with animal-
like features. Their forms are acrobatic and athletic,
and they often move in a crouched posture,
springing and leaping along the ground. Their
faces have a beast-like shape, with wide, flat
noses, pronounced snouts, large eyes and heavy
eyebrows, pointed ears, and pronounced fangs.
The hair of their heads is thick and worn long.
Shifter skin and hair are usually some shade of tan
or brown, and shifter skin sometimes can have a
very fine layer of short fur.
Longtooth shifters claim werewolves as
ancestors and have vaguely canine cast to their
features that becomes more pronounced when
they use their Shifting power. Razorclaw shifters
are descended from weretigers and are more
catlike, particularly when using Shifting. Ironfur
shifters claim werebear in their history and are
more ursine in appearance, particularly when
using the Shifting ability. Shifters are fierce hunters
strongly influenced by their animal nature. Most
Shifters cant fully change shape as their
lycanthrope ancestors can, though shifters do
become more beast-like during combat, calling on
the primal power of the beast within.
Shifters that are fortunate enough to find others
of their kind sometimes form nomadic tribes in
plains or forests far removed from human
settlements. Lone Shifters either lead a hermit like
existence, surviving on their own in the wilds or
have learned how to blend with human society and
have built a life for themselves within a city. Many
Shifters find a place acting as hunters, trackers,
guides, or military scouts. It is also common for
Shifters to become adventurers or turn to a life of
crime if they find difficulty fitting in anywhere due to
their dual nature.

Shifter Names
Shifters typically have human names based on
their region of birth and if they grew up trying to
blend with human society. Those shifters that
embrace their animalistic tendency usually have
more nature or animal sounding names. Like:
Winter, Claw, Rain, Snow, Thunder, or Oak.

Shifter Types
When creating a Shifter character you must
choose one of the three types that are Longtooth,
Razorclaw, & Ironfur. Once chosen, you remain
that type always, and never change.

Shifter 2
 Longtooth. Longtooth Shifters are drawn to a
pack of companions, whether thats a family group
or an adventuring party. They work well as part of
a team in combat, coordinating their attacks with
their allies and coming to the aid of beleaguered
friends. They are wild by nature but also value
social structure and recognize and adhere to
hierarchies and status. They are not afraid to
challenge this structure but if their challenge is
successfully contested they are obedient.
Razorclaw. Razorclaw Shifters are more
independent, self-reliant, and adaptable. Theyre
no less devoted to their adventuring companions,
but they trust their allies to take care of themselves,
and they strive to carry their own weight in a group.
They prefer to engage enemies with stealth and
take them by surprise. They tend to not recognize
social order or authority but are loyal as long as it
does not endanger their personal survival.
Ironfur. Ironfur Shifters value social order but
authority is awarded only to the strongest for only
as long as they can hold it. They value
companionship but are also comfortable operating
alone. They speak bluntly and honestly and have
little patience for lies or sneakiness. They tend to
prefer to meet their foes head-on. They are quick
to anger but also quick to forgive. They are also
fiercely protective of those they call family and
friends or adventuring companions.
Shifter Traits
As a Shifter you have the following racial traits.
Ability Score Increase. To represent your
animal nature, Shifters can increase the following
ability scores based on their choice of ancestry. All
Shifters increase their Wisdom ability by 1.
Longtooth. Increase your Constitution by 2.
Razorclaw. Increase your Dexterity by 2.
Ironfur. Increase your Strength by 2.
Age. Shifters age and live as long as normal
humans typically do.
Alignment. Shifters can be any alignment.
Many tend towards Chaotic, but only because of
their wild nature.
Size. Shifters are generally comparable in size
to Humans, though there are some that are slightly
larger than humans depending on the traits
inherited from their ancestor.
Speed. They have a basic walking speed of 40
feet.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write
Common and one extra language of your choice.
Darkvision. Thanks to your animal heritage,
you have superior vision in dark & dim conditions.
You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if
it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were
dim light. You cant discern color in darkness, only
shades of gray.
Keen Hearing & Smell. Shifters have
advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that
rely on hearing or smell.
Longtooth Running. Longtooth Shifters have
advantage on any Constitution (Athletics) checks
that involve endurance and running long distances.
Razorclaw Leaping. Razorclaw Shifters can
double their normal jumping distance.
Ironfur Scaling. Ironfur Shifters have a
Climbing movement speed of 30 feet.
Shifter 3
Shifting
Shifters are able to unleash the beast within and
take on a more savage appearance. This also
provides them with additional abilities as detailed
below. Shifters are able to make this
transformation by expending an action and making
a successful Con check of DC 15. If they are not at
full HP then this check is done with advantage.
They can make this transformation two (2) times
until they finish a long rest. The transformation
lasts for one minute, even if knocked unconscious.
Regeneration. All shifted Shifters regenerate
HP at the rate of 1 per round for every 2 levels,
th
rounded up. A 5 level Shifter who has shifted
would regenerate 3 HPs each round.
Animal Instincts. All shifted Shifters have a +2
bonus to Wisdom (Perception) checks.
Claws. All shifted Shifters grow deadly claws.
As an attack action they are able to use their
attack to claw for 1d3+Str in damage. You can
also make attacks as normal with your weapons
instead of claws if you choose to do so.
Longtooth. Longtooth Shifters that have
shifted get a +2 bonus to Dexterity (Stealth)
actions. They have advantage on any attack
against opponents who have an ally of the Shifter
within five feet. They also have a base movement
speed of 50 feet.
Razorclaw. Razorclaw Shifters that have
shifted get a +4 bonus to Dexterity (Stealth)
actions. They are immune to the effects of the
Prone condition. As a reaction they can change
their initiative order to be simultaneous with an
opponent attacking them as long as they use their
action to attack that opponent or dodge their
attacks.
Ironfur. Ironfur Shifters that have shifted get a
+2 bonus to Strength (Athletics) checks that
involve lifting, pushing, throwing, or breaking
objects. They gain a +1 bonus to AC. They do not
fall unconscious at 0 HP, but will once they fail one
Death Saving Throw, or if their shifted condition
ends.
Moontouched (Optional)
This is an optional ability that can be selected at
th
8 level if allowed by the DM. This ability replaces
the Ability Score Improvement bonus awarded at
th
8 level; it also removes the option to select Ability
th th th
Score Improvement at 12 , 16 , & 19 level.
Shifters harbor a bestial nature inside
themselves. This innate savagery is the gift of
Shifters lycanthrope ancestors, the quality passed
down through the generations that gives the
Shifter race its identity. Most Shifters can call on
their legacy when needed, but you enjoy a closer
kinship to your lycanthrope forebears. You are
given the name Moontouched by other Shifters for
the strong lycanthrope heritage you have
awakened within your spirit.
You have always had an animalistic side,
manifested in your physical features and
sometimes through your behavior, but at some
point you learned that you were different, and that
the gift from your ancestors was greater than you
could have believed. You are still able to Shift your
form, physically expressing Shifter traits, but you
can take that power a step farther and use your
bestial nature to fully transform into a hybrid form
of Dire Wolf, Tiger-sized cat, or Grizzly bear
depending on the type of Shifter you have chosen.
Appearance details, such as fur color, vary on an
individual basis.
You can expend one use of your Shifting ability
to transform into your hybrid form. You must still
make a successful Con check of DC 15 which is
done at advantage if you are not at full HP, or if
there is a full moon (at DMs discretion). This
transformation lasts for one minutes, does not
sustain if knocked unconscious, cannot be done
more than once till finishing a long rest, and you
gain one level of exhaustion at the end of the
transformation. During the transformation you can
understand but cannot speak all of your languages,
and you gain all of the benefits of your Shifting
ability in addition to the ones listed below.
Damage Resistance. Bludgeoning, piercing,
and slashing damage from non-magical weapons
that arent silvered.
Bestial Might. Longtooth Shifters have a
minimum Strength score of 15 in their
Moontouched hybrid form. Razorclaw Shifters
have a minimum Strength score of 17 in their
Moontouched hybrid form. Ironfur Shifters have a
Shifter 4
minimum Strength score of 19 in their
Moontouched hybrid form.

Natural Weaponry. Longtooth Shifters can

make two claw attacks for 2d4+Str bonus slashing
damage each, or one bite attack for 2d6+Str bonus
piercing damage. If the Longtooth Shifter hits with
its bite attack the target must make a Strength
check of DC 13 or be knocked prone until the end
of its next turn. Razorclaw Shifters can make one
bite attack for 1d10+Str bonus piercing damage, or
two claw attacks for 1d8+Str bonus slashing
damage each. Ironfur Shifters can make one bite
attack for 2d10+Str bonus piercing damage, or two
claw attacks for 2d8+Str bonus piercing damage
each. If the Ironfur Shifter hits the same target with
both claw attacks in one round then it can spend
its bonus action to make an attack with its bite on
the same target.

Run Down the Prey. Longtooth Shifters are

adept at Persistence Hunting. This is the practice
of harrying your prey over long distance, using
endurance and quick superficial attacks to wear
down your prey. If a Longtooth Shifter in
Moontouched hybrid form is chasing a target and
uses their dash action to keep pace with their prey,
they can use their bonus action to make a bite
attack for the same damage and chance to knock
prone as stated in Natural Weaponry above. If the
prey is knocked prone and then resumes running
away, they must make a Constitution save of DC
13 or treat all terrain as difficult terrain if they fail.

Death From Above. Razorclaw Shifters are

adept at pouncing onto their prey in a surprising
burst of speed. If a Razorclaw Shifter in
Moontouched hybrid form jumps towards their
opponent and can cover the distance then they
can attempt two claw attacks as a charging action.
If at least one claw attack hits the target must
make a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be
knocked prone. If they are knocked prone, you can
make a bonus attack with your bite. If the bite hits
then the target is automatically grappled but can
attempt to break the grapple on their turn as
normal.

Shifter 5