Shapeshifters are one of my favorites to play so far, waiting for those new forms and learning about them is great.

One thing about the class is the randomness in the way you gain a form. This is part of the fun, being the surprise, but it can also be a damper on gameplay and/or roleplay if you get a form that burdens your goals as a character.

I thought it might deepen the skill level of the class for gampeplay more if they introduced a system similar to the Thieves "thief points", but for shapefocus or "focus points". The idea would be, you could put a lot of focus into one style, and get really powerful forms in a certain class (offensive, utility, etc) or you could spend a few points on the side to get, like, an air form or water form. Or maybe even spread the points evenly to have a decent form in each class. Though that may prove weak at level 50, because you'd essentially have a form somewhere in the power level between 2nd and 3rd tier forms, and no 4th tiers of any style.

I guess, this system would allow you to either earn forms the same way we do now, with only 2 styles, 1st - 4th Tier in mainfocus and 2n-4th tier minorfocus. Though there wouldn't be major and minor focus, you'd just be spending your points in a manner that buys form in the same way they are distributed now, or you could put enough points in one style to get a 1st - 4th tiers, but then spread out the rest of your points so you could have 2nd - 3rd tier forms in more than one other style. Having a spare water or air creature would be a useful tactic, for instance. This system would allow for another technique, where theoretically you could put all your points in one style only, and get something like a 5th tier form, though this may be too strong, so maybe put a cap on styles too.

It would also be neat if there was an aspect where you could focus your character on certain animal spirits. A shapeshifter who is adept in serpents, felines, canines, bovines, birds, etc. Would be a neat twist, almost like having spirit animals or animal guides.

If they get back around to doing another revamp for shifters, I wouls guess they might give them more customizable spell options. To give the class a continuation of the mage feel. Or edge options for their greater enlivens to make them do different things.

I would rather see edges for greater enlivens than seeing another revamp.

Yeah, that would be cool too. I suppose the main theme of the request was, to give the player more control of what forms they get, in order to bring more skill level into the class, rather than luck. All in all, still really fun, and for all I know the mystery might be what makes it fun anyways.

The only skill level difference tends to be preps for shapeshifters. I do not think adding player control over what forms they get will give any sort of skill increase to the class. If we wanted a skill increase to the class I would suggest adding more abilities to each form. But that is my opinion. They are a lot better since the revamp.

EDGE IDEAS:
Just some ideas. The values are probably not balanced.
Really wanted to get some ideas flowing for shapeshifter edges.

These edges would be mostly expensive but gives shape shifters something to spend the rest of their edges on.

Greater Enlivens
Offense
Ferocity of the Tiger-Meowmix - Small + damage, small increase to +dex and +str
Relentlessness of the Jaguar - Small chance to engrage when an opponent flees combat +2 dam, stacks up to 3 times - would have an echo
Bestial Fury-Killing Frenzy- As opponent gets closer to death damage increases. We are talking no change until gushing +2 dam, writhing +4dam, convulsing +8dam. - Values are there as placeholders
Instinct of the Predator-Blood tracker- Better bleeding from Instinct
Unstable Mutation - Focused mutation - less likely to use an element your opponent is immune or resistant to.

Defense
Recovery of the Snake- Snake?!? SSSNNNNAAAAKKKEEE!!!(MGS reference)-Regen MV faster in form.
Shell of the Armadillo-Diamond Shell-Very small that hits the shell leaves their hand ringing-things like bash would need a different echo. Does a small -4hit -4dam maldict
Primal Tenacity- Not sure where to go with this one
Agility of the Mongoose- FlyingMongooseOfDoom- +2 Dex with this greater enliven active
Skin of the Displacer Beast-Displacement Bite-Free main attack when you actually dodge something.

Air
Eyes of the Eagle-The sky is falling-Gives a bonus to damage of that divebomb attack air shifters get sometimes + makes it easier to land.
Spirit of the Thunderhawk-Sounds good already, not sure it needs more
Deftness of the Falcon-Also sounds awesome
Hearing of the Barn Owl-MostLikelyOP- Hears silent attacks in the same area they are in (not when above). Would hear a tigerclaw, thrown dagger, mocho person being struck, but they do not know who it is doing the striking - kinda like when shapeshifters get struck.

Water
Never played a water major so I'm not sure what they even need.

Brutality of the Shark-Maybe the same as beastial fury for offense shifters.
Litheness of the Dolphin-Sounds good.
Hide of the Walrus-Also sounds great.
Gills of the Axolotl-Also sounds awesome.

Water needs a new greater enliven- Land Shark... :P
Its edge will be "candygram", which is what the shark says before he eats you.