Dwarmaj said:

If you can find something that's Gargantuan size with 15 or less HD, let me know. The HD restriction makes most creatures above Huge unattainable so Gargantuan size is a pretty useless ability.

I agree. But some people are using THE TRICK because the wording of Greater Wildshape is not clear when GWS is based on Wild Shape.

IMC, we've house ruled the shifter: No forms with more HD than the shifter PC has. No feats are gained. Extraordinary abilities, senses, natural armor, racial boni and attack routine are gained. And this ruling won't change when 3.5 is out.
I'm playing a Bbn 1 / Drd 7 / Shifter 6 and it makes fun despite the two restrictions. Walking around as a troll is ok, but only outside of civilized lands

About Shapechange: Perhaps it is overpowered because of access to Su powers:
In a second group, I'm playing a druid (level 16). He's quite impressed by dragons and wants to take a dragon form sometimes in the future.

With the ELH rules he needed four epic feats (beast shape, dragon shape, gargantuan shape, colossal shape), WIS 30 and Knowledge (Nature) 30 to reach his goal at level 27...

With the 3.5 rules, he needs two normal feats (extend spell, persistant spell) and again four epic feats (4x improved spell capacity) to pass the goal at level 27! He can morph in almost everything he has encountered so far for 24 hours a day and make full use of all Su abilities. This includes DR, breath weapon, regeneration,... IIRC, Shapechange has a cap at 50 HD. But c'mon, that's no real drawback.

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