3) The classes would suffer from the Thats-Cool syndrome, which means a large majority of people would make and play the class.
I'm curious as to why this is placed with reasons that would object to an update to the polymorph system. I for one, know I would not waste my time playing a class I did not personally think would be cool.
For instance, if I like the idea of samurai and their sword use, I would be inclined to work with a Fighter and eventually app for a Weapon Master. Is there a problem there?
Furthering this example, suppose a blockbuster samurai movie comes out and inspires several of the players here to make samurai-esque characters. Are they at fault for being so very moved to make something "That's Cool"?
If you're playing a class to avoid its 'cool factor' I, just don't know what to say, other than that's very ironic.
Furthermore, in your post you claimed that because the class can be,
counted on one hand.
It somehow loses priority. This "That's-Cool" syndrome should do oodles in restoring a balance to that class where it can be counted on, two hands?
In all honestly, this is a small community with a few amount of statistics at hand, so this gut-measurement can't really serve as a definitive judgement. If players are now calling out for change, the call should be answered with change, as in time this could very well become a popular issue.
And even now we see the popularity grow, because you fear an update to the polymorph system would cause players to think Shifters are cool.
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Shifters are a rare breed of druid, yes, it does seem a bit silly if there was several of them running around at the same time.
This statement makes me feel even if Shifters were a rare breed, that's hardly a reason not to update the polymorph system. I'm sure there are many phenomena in place that can attribute to a reasonable growth in the class frequency, primarily the in-game reason of the Dark Powers.
The infrequency of shifter apps makes me think it's not a priority of resources at the moment. If we address one class and their lack of abilities, we should be addressing them all for balance's sake. Such as shadow dancer's getting their charisma based shadow conjuration and evocation or Blackgaurd's full spell list.
Here, we're comparing apples and oranges. Yes, updating a class, is updating a class, but coding CHA calculations and integrating a finished product are different types of coding. I think if we're not in the coder's shoes, it really isn't our call to demand the class be put last in a list of things to do.
What is our call, as the community is request that the developers see what can be done, and keep alert to the fact that there is a demand for change.
So if, it turns out, implementing a tool like this is more feasible than the seemingly more popular Shadow Dancer's demands, why not fulfill the community request?