This month, we examine two epic level progressions for two of the most versatile and unique druidic prestige classes from Masters of the Wild: the shifter and the verdant lord.

Epic Shifter

The epic shifter has gone beyond the normal druidic ability to wildshape; no longer does she simply assume a new form when she changes shape. The epic shifter actually becomes the new creature. Epic shifters are rarely encountered in their true form; indeed, some of the most ancient and powerful shifters claim (with some pride) to have forgotten their true form entirely.

Epic shifters are generally a wild and carefree lot, and they prefer to spend their time exploring the multiverse and reveling in new forms and shapes they discover along the way. Their natural affinity with wild shape duplicates many of the epic wild feats, but a few of them, such as Colossal Wild Shape, Imbue Wild Shape (see below), and Quicken Wild Shape (see below), are quite popular choices.

Wisdom is perhaps the most important ability for the shifter, since it helps enhance any divine spells she can cast. Strength and Dexterity are often ignored by shifters since they can just turn into something with the score they require.

Other Options: Most epic shifters do not possess a fair amount of spellcasting ability, since they have chosen to focus their training on their ability to wild shape. Some shifters continue to study magic, though, and those who can qualify for feats like Epic Spellcasting and Improved Spell Capacity benefit greatly from these feats, especially if they have the Natural Spell feat.

Hit Die: d8.

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Epic Wild Shape(Su): At 11th level, an epic shifter gains the ability to use epic wild shape. This functions identically to greater wild shape (see the description of the shifter in Masters of the Wild for details on greater wild shape), except that the shifter gains all of the supernatural special attacks and supernatural special qualities of the assumed form. The epic shifter is still limited to new forms that have equal or fewer Hit Dice than her own. Spell-like abilities are not granted by epic wild shape. An epic wild shape lasts for only an hour. The epic shifter can use epic wild shape an additional 2 times each day at 14th level, and two more times a day every 3 levels after that.

Bonus Feats: The epic shifter gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of epic shifter feats) at 13th level, and again every three levels after that.

Epic Shifter Bonus Feat List: Colossal Wild Shape, Damage Reduction, Dire Charge, Epic Endurance, Epic Fortitude, Epic Reflexes, Epic Speed, Epic Spellcasting, Epic Toughness, Epic Will, Fast Healing, Ignore Material Components, Imbue Wild Shape (see sidebar), Improved Darkvision, Improved Low-Light Vision, Improved Metamagic, Improved Spell Capacity, Perfect Health, Permanent Emanation, Quicken Wild Shape (see sidebar), Spell Stowaway, Superior Initiative.

Epic Verdant Lord

The epic verdant lord protects the plants of the natural world, preventing other creatures from causing damage to the environs and wreaking terrible vengeance upon those who would abuse the forest for their own needs. Often, an epic verdant lord retires to the depths of an ancient forest in times of peace and spends decades in quiet contemplation, arising from his slumber only when he senses his world has come under attack.

Epic verdant lords are, above all else, patient. They rarely act out of haste, and as a result they tend to avoid the flashier and more frantic combat epic feats. Verdant lords prefer to acquire feats with long-term value, such as the various Craft Epic Item feats or Extended Life Span.

Wisdom is generally the most important ability for verdant lords.

Other Options: Although most verdant lords are deliberate in their actions, some headstrong lords find the traditional "lethargy" of their brothers to be a major disadvantage. These verdant lords focus more on combat, combining the potent defenses of their plant bodies with various combat-related feats to become truly dangerous guardians of the natural world.

Hit Die: d8.

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Regeneration (Su): An epic verdant lord's body repairs damage to itself with shocking speed as long as he is in a natural area. At 11th level, the verdant lord gains regeneration 3; the rate of the lord's regeneration increases by +3 every three levels after that. Acid, cold, fire, and negative energy deal lethal damage to a verdant lord. In urban areas, or inside of structures, the verdant lord's regeneration does not function and he takes lethal damage from all sources; if the verdant lord later enters a natural area, any lethal damage he suffered in the non-natural region remains as damage and heals normally, but any further damage is treated as nonlethal (except for acid, cold, fire, and negative energy).

Gift of the Green (Su): As the verdant lord gains levels, he begins to manifest amazing abilities and qualities possessed by many plantlike creatures. At 13th level, and again at every 3rd level after that, a verdant lord may select one of the following:Camouflage: In a natural area, the verdant lord can use a free action to blend in with the surroundings and gain total concealment. This functions just like a greater invisibility spell except that the effect lasts until the verdant lord enters a structure or an urban environment or uses a free action to suppress it.

• Constricting Vine: The verdant lord gains a natural melee attack in the form of a thick vine. If the vine hits, it inflicts 1d8 points of bludgeoning damage and can immediately make a grapple check without provoking an attack of opportunity. If the vine gets a hold, it constricts for 1d8 points of damage plus 1.5 times the verdant lord's Strength modifier each round the hold is maintained.
  
  
• Natural Armor: The verdant lord's natural armor increases by +3 as his skin grows thick and barklike. This ability can be selected multiple times.
  
  
• Poison Thorns: The verdant lord gains the ability to fire poison thorns from his flesh. These thorns have a range increment of 70 feet, deal 1d8 points of damage on a hit, and have a x3 critical multiplier. Any creature struck must make a Fortitude save (DC = 10 + half the verdant lord's level + his Constitution modifier) or suffer 1d6 points of temporary Dexterity damage (the initial and secondary damage is the same).
  
  
• Reach: The verdant lord's arms become long like tree branches; his reach increases by 5 feet. This gift may be chosen up to three times.
  
  
• Wild Shape (Plant): The verdant lord may wild shape into a plant creature as a 12th-level druid. Each time he gains a new gift of the green, he may wild shape an additional time each day. This wild shape ability stacks with any other uses of wild shape the character may possess.

Other gifts of the green can be designed by the player, although the DM must approve of any player-designed gifts.

Bonus Feats: The epic verdant lord gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of epic verdant lord feats) at 12th level, and again every three levels after that.

Epic Verdant Lord Bonus Feat List: Armor Skin, Augmented Alchemy, Automatic Silent Spell, Automatic Still Spell, Craft Epic Staff, Create Epic Infusion (see sidebar), Damage Reduction, Efficient Item Creation, Energy Resistance, Epic Endurance, Epic Spellcasting, Epic Toughness, Extended Life Span, Improved Spell Capacity, Instant Infusion (see sidebar), Master Staff.