Shapeshifters

[Gorema]

This will propably never get implemented into the game, but I thought of sharing this idea.

The idea is to shift shapes(obviously)
But here's the thing, you have 3 different(for the sake of explaining, let's assume we have 3 trees)

Now, one tree would have a heavenly form, an angel like, if you don't mind.
The other one would have a demonic form, looking a bit like Diablo.
The third tree could be shared skills between the two or a tree for animal forms.

The heavenly tree would be a bit more defensively focused, while the demonic tree would be offensively focused. Don't know about the third tree.

Love it, hate it, don't care? Feedback would be appreciated on the idea

[meccagoldwin]

I am all for shapeshifeters, or even a shapeshifter class. I have been hearing this thing about angel demon forms in a few different places, and while it is cool I think part of the appeal of the story is being a mortal thrust between the conflict of heaven and hell.

[Gorema]

Being mortal doesen't meen you couldn't t use your skills to shapeshift into the form you want. I think I'll be fleshing out this idea more and see if anyone likes it.

[Gorema]

Sorry for the double post, I couldn't find the edit button o.o

So, here's a slightly more complete idea.

Overviw

The Shapeshifter would be able to turn into a demonic or heavenly entity, each tree with it's own skills

The Three(presumably) trees

There would be three trees: Demonic, Heavenly and the third one could be passives or skills that both trees could use.

The Demon Form

The Demon form is the offensive one. One changes into a devil like demon upon transformation, and gains a host of new stats such as increased damage, slightly increased attack and run speed(and only a slight one)
The Demon is offensive in nature and would have skills that centre around melee, fire and lightning. He/she would have skills such as demonic swipe, an attack which adds fire and lightning damage, possibly shocking or igniting the struck enemy. The animation would be a slow, swiping slash that would take a medium amount of mana. Another one would be a tail slash, that would work as a basic AoE crowd control skill(still needs thinking)
As you'd be putting more points to the demonic form skill, not only do your attributes gain bonuses while in a demonic form, your demon's appearance would change with more points. At level one, you would like an basic demon, with a tail and small horns and your skin would be red. Now as you'd increase points in the skill, your horns would get bigger and nastier looking, your body would have spikes in places like your knees, elbows and back etc. You would become slightly bigger in size and your skin would get an 3:2 Red:black tint to it max level, or something aesthetic like that.
Basically the Demonic form would play like a melee char that hit's fast and hard, is very offensive in nature, but cannot take a whole lot of punishment(balancing reasons)
Their voice would be growling/gnarling with an angry tone.

The Angel Form

The Angel form would play considerably more defensive that the Demon form. One changes into an angel like warrior, gaining bonuses to their attributes(noticebly different from the demon forms though) increased life and defense and use of heavenly magic, which can heal, damage or bless the Angel and his allies. Possible example skills would be an healing aura, which heals his allies(paladin style). An attack skill example could be an beam of heavenly energy, which strikes an enemy from afae. Higher ranks in the skill could increase damage, amount of enemies struck, possible different effects such as conversion, they could be blinded etc.

As you would put more points into the Angel form, you gain more health, defense and your attributes will be boosted(once again in different proportions to the Demonic form) and your appearance will change from an "ordinary" Angel into an more archangel like form(think Tyrael or Hadriel) The more points you put, the bigger your wings get, the more sturdy looking armor you get and you get this aura(glow) of holyness.

All in all, the Angel would be a good all around form and would be liked in a party for his/her defensive abilities and buffs. His attacks would consist of using heavenly energy, a weapon and buffs.
His sound would sound hollow and echoey, if you understand what I'm trying to say.


Now, to makee the gameplay different from the other classes, they should obviously play differently. The Demon form shouldn't be as powerful in brute force or speed, but should be strong in a different kind of way, perhaps utilizing charges A.K.A Assassin or Use an energy/combo point system from WoW or the adrenaline system from GW, or perhaps a mixture of them.

The Angel's gameplay therefore, must be different from the Demon AND pre-existing classes. Perhaps by giving him spellsword like gameplay. As in, let him shoot beams of heavenly energy at enemies at range and them charge in give them a good ol' spanking with the nice weapon.

P.S I think the Angel form should keep his/her weapon from his/her human form and use it's stats, while the Demon get's to use his teeth, tail and limbs, and as such should be given a different damage stat from his/her human form weapon.



Still working on the lore. Might just for the hell of it ask Blizz if they have ever considered this kind of class.