You are welcome to play this elusive dominant shifter, and demonstrate how getting the forms slightly earlier leads to horrible unbalance.

Low-to-mid-level shifters were something of a burden during ranking. They weren't remotely a threat in PK until hero range. Moving the forms earlier addresses this without altering hero combat much.

Considering that several other recent changes lowered the overall power of a hero shifter (allowing them to be effected by maledictions, etc.), I don't think your argument holds any water.

valguarnera@carrionfields.com