Polymorph based caster?

[DoomAtaru]

Always been a fan of shifter like characters, but unfortunately that niche has often been filled by the druid class only on d&d games. Sadly, I could never enjoy the rp and restrictions that come with the class.
Having just read the wiki though, it seems there have been HUGE changes to polymorphing here, including a ton of new form and goodies for non druids.
My question is how viable would a polymorph based caster like a wizard be in the long run, and how to build one if possible?
Obviously the character would fight and spend most of his time shifted, just using spells beforehand as support like buffs and such.

[aaron22]

im not sure how it will work as im unsure how the BAB of the shape will work. will having a higher BAB will give the shape a higher BAB? what gear will go into the change? like MFP will give the shape a better AC than robes. will a pure CL wizard have essentially the same or maybe better shape than a lower CL one with higher BAB and stuff like PA/IPA, KD/IKD, CE/ICE, etc.. what will go with the shape? what about duelist feats? Tempest feats? FB feats? Smite line? i am unsure exactly how it will work.

[Nachti]

will having a higher BAB will give the shape a higher BAB?

Yes. Augment Form raises the BAB of low BAB classes to medium.

So if you have 10 EK + 10 Wizard you have a BAB of 10+5= 15. If you have the Augment Form Feat your BAB raises to 10 + 7 = 17 - gaining an additional attack as result.

what gear will go into the change?

Right now only weapons transfer over to polymorph shapes. Nothing to shapechange.

Transmutation focus raises AC.

will a pure CL wizard have essentially the same or maybe better shape than a lower CL one with higher BAB and stuff like PA/IPA, KD/IKD, CE/ICE, etc.. what will go with the shape?

They will have the same power. A Level 30 Wizard will have 22 BAB and a Gish up to 28 BAB.

Power Attack is a combat mode = will work.
Knockdown requires an action = wont work.

what about duelist feats?

Will work for forms that use the proper weapons. Same for Bladesinger/Deathsinger.

Tempest feats? FB feats? Smite line? i am unsure exactly how it will work.

Smite requires an action = wont work.
Supreme Cleave is a passive feat = will work.

Theres currently no form that uses two weapons, so tempest shouldnt work with it.

Advice

I propably would build a gish and go for CON / Regen Feats.

[Sun Wukong]

I have a dwarven Sorcerer/Fighter/Eldritch Knight/Arcane Scholar from before the update, it has Fast Healing III. It was bit annying to level up, but like with all arcanist, the more levels you get the better it becomes.

You can see the stats of the creatures here: https://wiki.bgtscc.net/index.php?title=Polymorphing

I have not tested the Augment Form feat, but it is a feat that in theory should enable you to remain a pure arcanist. For example, you could just go for a Wizard 30 build if you wanted.

Or perhaps you would want to be able to get BAB of 26+ with the Augment Form feat, in which case something like a Wizard 6/Eldritch Knight 7/Dragon Slayer 7/'Something else' 10 could be your preferred build.

You could just ignore the Augment form and go for Wizard 5/'Something' 8/Eldritch Knight 10/Dragon Slayer 7 for 23 BAB.


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Now, the easiest way to make use of your new form is just buff up and beat things one on one. With Mirror Images, Concealment, and +15 AC from your spells, you can do it just fine.
But there are other things you could also try...

For example, if your new form has an immunity to ability damage or poison you could try the following:
1) Gather a mob,
2) Casting Cloudkill on the ground,
3) Polymorph/Shapechange and get EXP.

Or perhaps you should look over at spells like: Death Armor and Elemental Shield:
1) You pick a form that has regeneration.
2) You buff up with your primary focus on DR alone. You want to have as much DR as possible, but also as little DR as possible. What you want is that the enemy can still damage you whenever they score a hit. Additionally, you will want the enemy to hit you as often as possible, and this means that you can leave out some of the AC buffs, and you should not use things like Mirror Images or Concealment.
3) You cast both Death Armor and Elemental Shield, preferably as extended spells.
4) Then you polymorph into a form that has innate regeneration.
5) Now you are ready to gain EXP. The enemies simply kill themselves by trying to kill you. Whenever they score a hit against you, they take far more damage themselves, and regeneration should be enough to keep your HP positive. You can apply AC increase if the enemies are too rough.

Both of these options work, and both of these paths will burn through your polymorph and shapechange spells because you will have to reapply the spells mentioned above. In one sense you would prefer to be a sorcerer due to their spontaneous spellcasting.

But in a party, just Polymorph/Shapechange with all your defensive buffs cast beforehand and you should be golden.

And like with all arcanists, the higher your level gets, the better you become. The low levels can be a struggle, but with levels you get more spell slots, more duration and then you will have a great deal of fun.