Shapeshifters can seem a bit one dimensional at times. Play style can counter this at times. Recently, I've been trying to play the class with a little more versatility. So, at L51, after ignoring partial shifts (besides horns of the bull and shell), I'm revisiting them.

I noticed that 'ears of the bat' allows you to detect someone sneaking, but as the help file implies, only if they are visible to you. I would propose that it be changed to work like, I think, awareness does (muscular bobcat skill) and lets you detect someone sneaking when they enter or leave the room whether they are visible to you or not.

The reasoning is threefold:

1. From a realism perspective, ears of the bat uses sound to hear someone even while sneaking. It should have nothing to do with being able to see the sneaker.

2. As is, I see it's use as so limited, it's a waste of practices. At any level, if I can see a threat, I'm not going to sit there out of form with ears of the bat up to know when they enter the room. I'll get out or shapeshift.

3. It adds some utility and usability to this partial shift, but doesn't break anything in terms of balance. At high levels, if you have ears of the bat up, you're out of form and very vulnerable. It's not going to save your life if someone wants you dead, but may help you protect against thieves slowly robbing you blind while you converse in the Inn.

Thanks for your consideration

As any character with the scroll skill though, I found the scrolls very useful (before they were removed). Take from that what you will.

Some utility forms have the ability and it's just dope. Not as good as seen my but still miles better than just danger sense.

Hence why I mentioned I never practiced it. Plus I'm a fan of Utility foci and you usually get at least one form that gets sees sneaking/sense sneaking (or at the very least danger sense) by the time you hit 43.

But yeah...

Helped me a few times.

I tested it out with an invis elf. Didn't have detect invis up. Didn't notice him leave or enter. Put detect invis up, noticed him leave and enter.

It was only at 80% or so. Could that make a difference if it's not perfected?

Was thinking of a form that detects sneak:

Trail to the Inn


A small white bunny hops around under a tree nibbling grass.
Standing near a tree, a guard takes a break while eating cherries.
Someone has arrived.

civilized outdoor <100%hp 94%m 99%mv 10 AM>
East Sumner's Road


A sign points south towards the Inn of the Eternal Star.
Someone has arrived.

civilized outdoor <100%hp 94%m 99%mv 10 AM>
You feel you may want to be wary.

civilized outdoor <100%hp 94%m 99%mv 10 AM> rev
You concentrate a moment and return to your normal shape.
You maintain the hardness of your skin as you shapeshift.
You maintain your speed as you shapeshift.
You maintain your levitation as you shapeshift.
You maintain your phase as you shapeshift.
You maintain your phase as you shapeshift.

civilized outdoor <100%hp 93%m 99%mv 10 AM> brand
You brandish the staff of fire.
A ball of fire erupts from your paws, engulfing the area in flames.
Someone yells 'Die, Kowelu, you sorcerous dog!'
Jessa stops following you.
Your fireball CHARS Jessa!
Jessa has a few scratches.