So, I wrote the main entry for The Perfectly Reasonably Powered Shifter, a revised version of the class, back in Feb 2025. It has everything... except the aspects.

I've been working on those aspects ever since. There are a lot of moving parts to have a revised class feature covering dozens of options, each with 2 power levels, for a revised class. I'm pretty happy with where it is now, but I need ONE more pass through most of it to catch any corner cases, oddities, and exceptions.

But I've made that pass for the core rules and a few of the aspects, so here those are!

The Elemental Shifter, Fey Shifter, Giant Shifter, and Plant-Shifter archetypes (built off things a druid can summon, and that thus clearly have connections to nature) are still in core design.

Aspects

A shifter draws her primary strength from an association with a specific type of animal. As a result, when a shifter uses her shifter aspect or wild shape class features, she can assume only the forms of her chosen aspects. Until reaching 5th level, a shifter has only a single aspect, but as she increases in level, she gains more control over her metamorphosis, allowing her to take on multiple aspects and even merge aspects.All shifter aspects have a minor form and a major form. The minor form grants a shifter a few of the animal’s physical traits, while the major aspect is the form she takes on when she uses wild shape to fully transform into an animal. The list of abilities gained with the major aspect include those gained from the wild shape class feature, but the benefits gained from any resulting changes to size are not listed here (see beast shape II for shifters with animal aspects but, for Shifters with a vermin aspect such as dragonfly or spider, see vermin shape II).

Ability Score Bonuses

Both minor and major aspects list an enhancement bonus (and eventually an inherent bonus) to a specific ability score. If the shifter already has an enhancement bonus to that score which is as large or larger than the bonus granted by the aspect, the shifter may opt to add the aspect's bonus to a different ability score. The same is true for the inherent bonus. This decision must be made each day when the shifter regains her uses of daily abilities. A shifter may apply the aspect's enhancement and inherent bonuses may apply them to different scores, if the shifter already has bonuses equal to both to the aspect's main ability score.

Feats

When a aspect grants you a bonus feat when using the form, you do not not need to meet any of those feats' prerequisites. If an aspect allows you to select different bonus when you already have the granted bonus feats, you do need to meet all of those feats prerequisites. You must make this choice of alternate feat when you acquire the feat it replaces, and it cannot be changed until you next gain a shifter level.

Alternate Natural Attacks

A shifter can draw on her chosen animal aspect to transform her hands into deadly weapons, as represented by the shifter’s claws class feature, but not every animal has prominent claws. The following list provides alternate natural attacks for the shifter claws class feature. Each time the shifter activates her shifter’s claws ability in her natural form, she can manifest one of the alternate natural attacks listed below for any of her chosen aspects, or those that relate to her archetype. Each alternate natural attack replaces one of the shifter’s claw attacks. The shifter can gain up to two different alternate natural attacks with this method. These alternate natural attacks modify only the damage type of the shifter’s natural attacks and otherwise function exactly as the shifter claws class feature.

Aspect Choices

The following options represent only the most common choices used by shifters. Other aspects based on different animals certainly exist, and might grant similar powers or entirely new abilities based on the animal’s themes and nature.

Bat

The aspect of the bat imparts mastery over darkness and the night. Though not as powerful in battle as some other aspects, those who take this aspect become adept at skirmishing and spying.

Minor Form: You gain darkvision with a range of 60 feet. If you already have darkvision with this range or greater, the range of your darkvision increases by 30 feet. At 8th level, you gain darkvision with a range of 90 feet instead. If you already have darkvision with this range or greater, your darkvision increases by 60 feet. At 15th level, you gain the 8th-level benefit and gain blindsense with a range of 15 feet or, if you already have blindsense with a range of 15 feet or more, you increase its range by 10 feet.

Major Form (beast shape II): Your shape changes to that of a dire bat (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 30). While in this form, you gain a base speed of 30 feet, a fly speed of 40 feet (clumsy), blindsense with a range of 10 feet, and a bite attack (1d8 damage). At 8th level, the fly speed increases to 60 feet (good), the range of your blindsense increases to 20 feet, and you gain the Flyby Attack feat (Bestiary 315). At 15th level, your fly speed increases to 80 feet (good) and you gain the Hover feat (Bestiary 315).

Ability Bonus: Wisdom (+2 enhancement bonus, +4 at 8th level, +6 at 15th level; Innate bonus of +1 (16th), +2 (17th), +3 (18th), +4 (19th), +5 (20th).

Alternate Natural Attacks: Bite (B, P, S), wing (B)

Bear

The aspect of the bear invokes a juggernaut of tireless endurance and furious power. Those who take this aspect are known for surviving severe wounds and delivering punishing blows in return.Minor Form: You gain Endurance as a bonus feat. At 8th level, you gain Great Fortitude as a bonus feat, and at 15th level you gain Toughness as a bonus feat. If you already have these feats, you gain the benefit of the feat again (stacking with the feat you already have) while using your minor aspect.Major Form (beast shape II): Your shape changes to that of a dire bear (Bestiary 31). While in this form, you gain a base speed of 40 feet, low-light vision, scent (30 feet), a bite attack (1d8 damage), and two claw attacks (1d6 damage) with the grab ability. At 8th level, you gain Improved Natural Attack (Bestiary 315) with your claws. At 15th level, the critical multiplier of your claw attack increases by 1 (×2 becomes ×3) to a maximum of ×4, and you gain the Awesome Blow feat (Bestiary 314).

Ability Bonus: Strength (+2 enhancement bonus, +4 at 8th level, +6 at 15th level; Innate bonus of +1 (16th), +2 (17th), +3 (18th), +4 (19th), +5 (20th). Alternate Natural Attacks: Bite (B, P, S)

Boar

Those with the aspect of the boar are famously stubborn.Minor Form: You gain Diehard as a bonus feat. At 8th level, you add your Hit Dice to your Constitution when determining the negative number of hit points at which you die. At 16th level you gain ferocity (as the universal monster rule) which only works as long as your negative hit points do not exceed your Consotututioon score.Major Form (beast shape II): Your shape changes to that of a dire boar . While in this form, you gain low-light vision, the scent ability, a gore attack (1d8), and a base speed of 40 feet. At 8th level you gain Improved Natural Attack with your gore attack, and you gain powerful charge (+1d8 on your gore attack). At 15th level, you gain 1 additional hit point per Hit Die you have, and you gain Awesome Blow (Bestiary 314) as a bonus feat.

Ability Bonus: Wisdom (+2 enhancement bonus, +4 at 8th level, +6 at 15th level; Innate bonus of +1 (16th), +2 (17th), +3 (18th), +4 (19th), +5 (20th). Alternate Natural Attacks: Gore (P), hoof (B)

Bull

Source Ultimate Wilderness pg. 29The bull is a fierce charger and is adept at trampling its foes, pounding them to a bloody pulp.Minor Form: You gain Improved Bull Rush as a bonus feat. At 8th level, you gain Greater Bull Rush as a bonus feat. At 16th level, you gain trample as the universal monster ability, and may use it against creatures no larger than yourself. If you already have a feat granted by this aspect, you may choose a different feat to gain as a bonus feat.

Major Form (beast shape II): Your shape changes to that of a Large bull (see Cattle on page 179). While in this form, you gain a base speed of 40 feet, low-light vision, scent, and a gore attack (1d8 damage) with powerful charge (+1d8 on your gore attack). At 8th level, you gain the trample as per the universal monster rule (dealing gore damage plus 1-1/2 times your Strength modifier). At 15th level, your gore damage increases to 2d8 and you gain the Awesome Blow feat (Bestiary 314).

Ability Bonus: Strength (+2 enhancement bonus, +4 at 8th level, +6 at 15th level; Innate bonus of +1 (16th), +2 (17th), +3 (18th), +4 (19th), +5 (20th).

Alternate Natural Attacks: Gore (P), hoof (B), slam (B)

Crocodile

The crocodile lurks in the water, unseen until it lunges forth with its powerful jaws.Minor Form: You gain a 20 foot swim speed, and Improved Grapple. At 8th level, your swim speed increases to 30 feet, and you gain the death roll special attack. At 15th level, you gain a +4 bonus to your CMB check to perform a death roll.

Death Roll (Ex) When grappling a foe of your size or smaller, as a standard action you can perform a death roll. As you cling to your foe, you tuck in your legs and rolls rapidly, twisting and wrenching your victim. Make a grapple check. If it is successful, you inflict your bite damage, knock the creature prone (if it isn't already), and maintain your grapple.Major Form (beast shape II): Your shape changes to that of a crocodile. While in this form, you gain a swim speed of 30 feet, low-light vision, a bite attack (1d8) with the grab ability, and a tail slap attack (a secondary natural attack that deals 1d12 points of damage). At 8th level, once per minute as a free action, you can increase your land speed by 20 feet for 1 round. At 15th level, you gain Improved Natural Attack with your bite attack and you can become a Large crocodile.

Ability Bonus: Strength (+2 enhancement bonus, +4 at 8th level, +6 at 15th level; Innate bonus of +1 (16th), +2 (17th), +3 (18th), +4 (19th), +5 (20th). Alternate Natural Attacks: Bite (B, P, S), tail slap (B)

(A shifter in minor crocodile form, with bite and tail attacks, carrying a... morningstar. Yep, that's it, it's totally a morningstar! Art by warmtail.)