Now, suppose I still want to play that Gnome/Druid/Shifter concept. How would I go about looking at goals for the application? I already know goals are the most important part of the application, they show how my character will interact with other characters to foster Adventure and Intrigue, so what will I be doing to earn the Shifter Prestige Class?
Shifters come with their own set of "stereotypes", as does any Prestige Class (PrC). Usually, the idea is a character who loses his individuality by adopting the physical form of many creatures, so at home with a myriad of physical forms–the mind begins to lose its own self-identity or find it less important on a cosmic scale.
That's all well and good, but our concept was a Rock Star and he is all about his individuality. So how would a Shifter make sense?
He seeks love, and remember he sought the love of elven women. He likes glory and attention. Yet he's a mere gnome and this has often troubled him.
So our shifter is looking to actually over-come some self-doubts and internal insecurities by becoming something more than he really is now. Part of becoming a Shifter for him is an escape from what he dislikes about himself physically.
An interesting story could develop here where the character learns to find peace with what he is and forsakes his pursuit of the Shifter PrC; or even where he finds it and discovers that as an individual spirit--he already was more than his physical form and this is what finally loosens the bonds he had on his gnome-form and allows him to accept the power of a Shifter.
Now, the story is interesting--but not important to the application process typically. What you need are goals that will interest DMs and players.
Shifter goals often tend to be generic, and that's in keeping with most Prestige Class goals because people try to use stereotypical goals that suit the class (or faction in faction applications). Let's avoid the obvious:
Our character is a Rock Star! and this doesn't suit the concept at all.
