Bonded Wild Shape Druid Variant

A druid has the option of using their Nature's Bond Ability to enhance their WildShape ability, thus increasing its effectiveness, however, they do forgo their choice of Animal Companion, or Extra Domain by making this decision.

The Changes

Quickened Shape
At 5th level your Wild Shape ability becomes a move action.

At 10th level your Wild Shape ability becomes a swift action.

At 15th level your Wild Shape ability becomes a free action.

At 20th level your Wild Shape ability becomes an immediate action.

Nature's Magic
Starting at 4th level you gain a magical enhancement bonus to your natural attacks equal to 1/4 your Druid level. This bonus functions like that of a normal magical weapon for the purposes of attack, damage, and bypassing damage reduction.

+++ Starting at 1st level you are capable of using Beast Shape I at will.

+++ All other instances of your Wild Shape ability function as normal except that your uses per day become hours per day. Thus at 6th level where you would normally have 2 uses of Wildshape per day, you'd instead have 2 hours of Wildshape per day. You can use this time in any manner in which you desire.

Example: You could Wildshape for 45 minutes, then for 25 minutes at another time, then for 50 more minutes later on.

+++ A Bonded WildShape druid is capable of taking on the forms of Vermin. Add the following list of Vermin abilities to the appropriate Beast Shape levels.

Vermin Abilities.

Beast Shape I
Malleable, Susceptible to Salt, Water Dependency, Pull (Filament), Luminescence, Flash Burst, Attach, Blood Drain, Poison 1/round for 2 rounds (1d2 Ability Type Damage), cure 1 save.

BeastShape II
Lunge, Mandibles, Sudden Strike, Gnaw, Poison 1/round for 4 rounds (1d3 Ability Type Damage), cure 2 consecutive saves.

Beast Shape III
Poison 1/round for 6 rounds (1d4 Ability Type Damage), cure 3 consecutive saves.

Becoming Familiar with a Form
In order to assume the form of a creature you must be familiarized with that creature. Becoming familiar with the creature is done by studying the creatures form, and its way of life. This is represented by a Knowledge check appropriate for the type of creature against DC 10 plus the creature's Challenge Rating. You must spend a total of 24 hours studying however, you may not study in periods less than 2 hours.

If you fail to succeed the Knowledge check after having studied, you may attempt to make another knowledge check at half the time requirement, after you have fully rested.

You are only capable of memorizing a total amount of forms equal to half your Druid level plus your Intelligence Modifier. You are able to learn new forms by replacing a familiarized form through study.

Example: Leila, a female Druid has spent three to four days studying the habits and general life of a squirrel family. She has accumulated at least 24 hours of time studying these animals and is now capable of taking their form.

If Leila had failed to study these animals, she would need to have a full night's rest, and then study them for 12 hours, if she once again failed the check then she would require another full night's rest and only 6 hours of study the next day.