Shapeshifter - Revision history

Hordes at 20:27, 21 January 2026

2026-01-21T20:27:17Z

Ge0ff: /* Racial restrictions */ ghouls are no more

2025-10-22T23:39:22Z

‎Racial restrictions: ghouls are no more

Hordes: /* Skill investment */

2025-10-20T17:37:06Z

‎Skill investment

Hordes: /* Skill investment */

2025-10-20T17:36:29Z

‎Skill investment

Hordes at 20:41, 18 October 2025

2025-10-18T20:41:30Z

Hordes: /* Strategy */

2025-10-18T20:40:14Z

‎Strategy

Serenity: would like the Strategy and Skilling sections checked by someone good at the game, otherwise just an update

2025-07-24T05:52:02Z

would like the Strategy and Skilling sections checked by someone good at the game, otherwise just an update

Ge0ff: /* History */ cba the starting kit change

2025-04-17T19:22:25Z

‎History: cba the starting kit change

Patrick2011b: bump

2024-10-08T21:17:44Z

bump

NormalPerson7: Add templates

2024-02-21T13:30:47Z

Add templates

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{version033}}
-''For the monster, see [[shapeshifter (monster)]].''
+''For the stat known as SH, see [[Shield (stat)]]. For the monster, see [[shapeshifter (monster)]].''
 {{flavour|Shapeshifters use talismans to shift their body into different forms, granting them uncanny power but making them unable to use some items. They enter the dungeon with a beast talisman and a potion of lignification.}}

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 ==Racial restrictions==
-[[Ghoul]]s, [[Poltergeist]]s, and [[Revenant]]s are forbidden from becoming Shapeshifters, as they cannot use talismans to transform themselves.
+[[Poltergeist]]s and [[Revenant]]s are forbidden from becoming Shapeshifters, as they cannot use talismans to transform themselves.
 ==Starting Equipment==

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 In the early game, players have to decide whether to invest skill points into Unarmed, a weapon skill, or Shapeshifting itself.
 *Unarmed: Shapeshifters start with 3 Unarmed Skill, making UC better than plain [[dagger]]s, [[spear]]s, and other simple weapons. While you are limited to Quill Form, UC has a stronger immediate benefit than Shapeshifting.
-*Weapons: Weapons of a strong [[brand]], such as [[short sword]]s and [[whip]]s of either [[venom]] or [[electrocution]], are very strong early, generally better than unarmed. The lower investment weapons can be switched to (at least for the early game), and if a good enough weapon for the medium term is found, it may be worth switching.
+*Weapons: Weapons of a strong [[brand]], such as [[short sword]]s and [[whip]]s of either [[venom]] or [[electrocution]], are very strong early, generally better than unarmed. The lower investment weapons can be switched to (at least for the early game), and if a good enough weapon for the medium term is found, it may be worth investing in.
-*Shapeshifting: Quill Form has relatively poor skill scaling, so it's not the best in the early game. After you can comfortably fight, it can be good to train the skill 'all at once' to level 5-6, in order to access flux baubbles and reveal the protean talisman.
+*Shapeshifting: Quill Form has relatively poor skill scaling, so the skill is not the best in the early game. After you can comfortably fight, it can be good to train the skill 'all at once' to level 5-6, in order to access flux baubbles and reveal the protean talisman.
 ==History==

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 In the early game, players have to decide whether to invest skill points into Unarmed, a weapon skill, or Shapeshifting itself.
 *Unarmed: Shapeshifters start with 3 Unarmed Skill, making UC better than plain [[dagger]]s, [[spear]]s, and other simple weapons. While you are limited to Quill Form, UC has a stronger immediate benefit than Shapeshifting.
-*Weapons: Weapons of a strong [[brand]], such as [[short sword]]s and [[whip]]s of either [[venom]] or [[electrocution]], are very strong early. The lower investment weapons can be switched to (at least for the early game), and if a good enough weapon for the medium term is found, it may be worth switching.
+*Weapons: Weapons of a strong [[brand]], such as [[short sword]]s and [[whip]]s of either [[venom]] or [[electrocution]], are very strong early, generally better than unarmed. The lower investment weapons can be switched to (at least for the early game), and if a good enough weapon for the medium term is found, it may be worth switching.
 *Shapeshifting: Quill Form has relatively poor skill scaling, so it's not the best in the early game. After you can comfortably fight, it can be good to train the skill 'all at once' to level 5-6, in order to access flux baubbles and reveal the protean talisman.

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 ==Racial restrictions==
-[[Ghoul]]s and [[Mummies]] are forbidden from becoming Shapeshifters, as they cannot use talismans to transform themselves.
+[[Ghoul]]s, [[Poltergeist]]s, and [[Revenant]]s are forbidden from becoming Shapeshifters, as they cannot use talismans to transform themselves.
 ==Starting Equipment==

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 Strategy may diverge significantly after you're able to stabilize your [[protean talisman]] by reaching [[Shapeshifting]] 6: [[Yak Form]] and [[Scarab Form]] give incentives to learn [[Ice Magic|Ice]] or [[Fire Magic]], respectively, meld all [[weapons]] and [[armour]], and enable new tactical options; while [[Medusa Form]] and [[Maw Form]] are less polarizing and easier to pilot as conventional melee characters, though not without their upsides. [[Skill]] investment is heavily influenced by what the [[protean talisman]] has the potential to give you, what it actually becomes once you level your [[Shapeshifting]], and what other talismans (if any) you've found in the [[Dungeon]].
-===Skilling===
+===Skill investment===
-In the very early game, Shapeshifters have more complex skill decisions than most weapon starts. What you find on D:1 - D:2 can influence the best thing to train to increase early game survival.
+In the early game, players have to decide whether to invest skill points into Unarmed, a weapon skill, or Shapeshifting itself.
+*Unarmed: Shapeshifters start with 3 Unarmed Skill, making UC better than plain [[dagger]]s, [[spear]]s, and other simple weapons. While you are limited to Quill Form, UC has a stronger immediate benefit than Shapeshifting.
-*At 3 Unarmed skill, your fists will be stronger than any plain [[short sword]]s or [[spear]]s on the ground. However, weapons with a strong [[brand]] - such as short swords and [[whip]]s of [[venom]] or [[electrocution]], are better than your unbranded fists.
+*Weapons: Weapons of a strong [[brand]], such as [[short sword]]s and [[whip]]s of either [[venom]] or [[electrocution]], are very strong early. The lower investment weapons can be switched to (at least for the early game), and if a good enough weapon for the medium term is found, it may be worth switching.
-*Generally, investing [[XP]] into weapon skills is a decision with multiple possible ramifications — you're likely to outscale [[unarmed combat]] for a good while, but many forms across several tiers (including [[Yak Form]] and [[Scarab Form]] from the [[protean talisman]]) will disable weapon use, making you less effective while in these forms, while characters that invest in [[unarmed combat]] keep their options more open.
+*Shapeshifting: Quill Form has relatively poor skill scaling, so it's not the best in the early game. After you can comfortably fight, it can be good to train the skill 'all at once' to level 5-6, in order to access flux baubbles and reveal the protean talisman.
 ==History==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{version032}}
+{{version033}}
 ''For the monster, see [[shapeshifter (monster)]].''
 {{flavour|Shapeshifters use talismans to shift their body into different forms, granting them uncanny power but making them unable to use some items. They enter the dungeon with a beast talisman and a potion of lignification.}}
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 *+0 [[animal skin]]
 *[[Potion of lignification]]
-*[[Beast talisman]]
+*[[Quill talisman]]
-*[[Flux talisman]]
+*[[Protean talisman]]
-Shapeshifters start the game in [[Beast Form]].
+Shapeshifters start the game in [[Quill Form]].
 ==Starting Skills and Stats==
 These are adjusted by your species' [[aptitude]]s.
-*[[Fighting]]: 1
+*[[Fighting]]: 2
 *[[Unarmed Combat]]: 3
 *[[Dodging]]: 2
@@ Line 30: / Line 31: @@
 ==Strategy==
-[[Beast Form]] does ''not'' give a special boost to Unarmed Combat; it boosts all melee and ranged damage, affecting even [[stone]]s and [[dart]]s you throw. If you find a great weapon in the early Dungeon, don't be afraid to use it. Note, however, that [[Flux Form]] forces you into Unarmed Combat, and other talismans do boost Unarmed damage.
+[[Quill Form]] is a very balanced form — it doesn't put restrictions on [[weapon]] use and helps a decent amount against melee enemies, which comprise the brunt of early game threats). [[Flux bauble]]s can be a lifesaver against early dangerous encounters, such as with threatening [[unique]]s or bands of enemies; and will last for multiple encounters afterwards (or until you use the [[ability]] End Transformation), allowing you to mostly steamroll early floors after a single use.
 ===Skilling===
@@ Line 36: / Line 39: @@
 *At 3 Unarmed skill, your fists will be stronger than any plain [[short sword]]s or [[spear]]s on the ground. However, weapons with a strong [[brand]] - such as short swords and [[whip]]s of [[venom]] or [[electrocution]], are better than your unbranded fists.
-*When in Beast Form, each level in Unarmed Combat gives more benefit than Shapeshifting. Shapeshifting, in turn, gives more benefit than weapon skills, and lets you advance to Flux Form.
+*Generally, investing [[XP]] into weapon skills is a decision with multiple possible ramifications — you're likely to outscale [[unarmed combat]] for a good while, but many forms across several tiers (including [[Yak Form]] and [[Scarab Form]] from the [[protean talisman]]) will disable weapon use, making you less effective while in these forms, while characters that invest in [[unarmed combat]] keep their options more open.
-**If you don't find a better weapon on D:1, you'll want to train UC for a bit (not training Shapeshifting ''at all''), to make combat easier.
+**Note that the first few levels of any [[skill]] are cheap. For [[Human]]s, going from 3 -> 4 Shapeshifting would take the same XP as 0 -> 3 in any other [[aptitude]] 0 skill. So once a skill becomes a lot more expensive than the others, you can train another useful skill - especially important when amassing multiple [[talisman]]s that incentivize you to train multiple disparate skills.
-Depending on what you find and what you've trained, you may want to upgrade to a different form (usually Flux Form), stay in Beast Form, or use formless Unarmed Combat.
+Depending on what you find and what you've trained, you may want to upgrade to a different form (usually the form you get from the [[protean talisman]]), stay in Quill Form, or stay formless.
 ==History==
-{{CBA|0.33|Shapeshifters will start in [[quill talisman|Quill Form]]. They'll have three [[flux bauble]]s, a [[potion of lignification]], and a [[protean talisman]]. Also, their Fighting skill will be 2 instead of 1.}}
+*Prior to [[0.33]], Shapeshifters started in [[beast talisman|Beast Form]], had the [[flux talisman]] instead of a stack of [[flux bauble]]s, did not have the [[protean talisman]], and their Fighting skill was 1.
 *Shapeshifters was introduced in [[0.31]], replacing the [[Transmuter]] background.
 {{backgrounds}}
 [[Category:Backgrounds]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:30, 21 February 2024
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	==History==		==History==
	*Shapeshifters was introduced in [[0.31]], replacing the [[Transmuter]] background.		*Shapeshifters was introduced in [[0.31]], replacing the [[Transmuter]] background.
		+
		+	{{backgrounds}}
		+	[[Category:Backgrounds]]