>Shapeshift (spell):
>
>I don't know why ANYONE would ever use this once you get
>shapeshift skill. The spell costs WAY more mana, has WAY more
>lag, both in casting and reverting from, and can only be done
>outside of combat, whereas the skill has very low mana cost,
>pretty short lag in using, and virtually no lag reverting
>from, and it can be done mid-combat. There have been several
>times when I knew I had a really good group and had already
>spent some time gathering a large pile of offensive wands,
>that I just skipped right over practicing shapeshift spell and
>just used horns of the bull and offensive wands (or a marble
>statue piece) right up to level 28.
>
>Benefit for skipping shapeshift spell:
>
>Conserve 1 or 2 practice sessions (depending on int)
>No chance of level skill gains going into shapeshift spell
>where they'll be a complete waste 14 levels later.
>

You're absolutely correct. Zulg made it very skippable when he left shifters have shapeshift skill and the controls without needing it.

I will certainly address this.