No, it isn't
When compared to other effective builds that are available this is not too strong. I can not stress this strongly enough, a caster of equal level would be able to own you and be more effective against most emenies.
Example Fey Form build
Let's look at a partial build using the Fey Form spell.
15 point buy, human, level 5 Shifter (Feyform), 18 Dexterity & 16 Wisdom. B.A.B of +5.
Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot (No -4 if your target is engaged in melee), Undersized Mount (You can ride creatures of your size category), and Weapon Focus (+1 to Atk). This will give you a ranged touch attack of +10 (within 30 feet +11 with a +1 damage to each attack). Because the Muse is medium size you will not get a boost to Dexterity from the Fey Form spell.
Ranged 5 sound strikes +10 ranged touch (4d6 sonic)
Percentage that all attacks will hit touch AC for the +10 attack:
\begin{array}{|l|r|r|r|r|r|r|r|}
\hline
\text{Hits} & \text{AC 14} & \text{AC 15} & \text{AC 16} & \text{AC 17} & \text{AC 18} & \text{AC 20} \\ \hline
\text{1} & 85\% & 80\% & 75\% & 70\% & 65\% & 55\%\\ \hline
\text{2} & 72\% & 64\% & 56\% & 49\% & 42\% & 30\% \\ \hline
\text{3} & 61\% & 51\% & 42\% & 34\% & 27\% & 17\% \\ \hline
\text{4} & 52\% & 41\% & 32\% & 24\% & 18\% & 9\%\\ \hline
\text{5} & 44\% & 33\% & 24\% & 17\% & 12\% & 5\%\\ \hline
\end{array}
The odds for the +11 attack are slightly better:
\begin{array}{|l|r|r|r|r|r|r|r|}
\hline
\text{Hits} & \text{AC 14} & \text{AC 15} & \text{AC 16} & \text{AC 17} & \text{AC 18} & \text{AC 20} \\ \hline
\text{1} & 90\% & 85\% & 80\% & 75\% & 70\% & 60\%\\ \hline
\text{2} & 81\% & 72\% & 64\% & 56\% & 49\% & 36\% \\ \hline
\text{3} & 73\% & 61\% & 51\% & 42\% & 34\% & 22\% \\ \hline
\text{4} & 66\% & 52\% & 41\% & 32\% & 24\% & 13\%\\ \hline
\text{5} & 59\% & 44\% & 33\% & 24\% & 17\% & 8\%\\ \hline
\end{array}
List of enemies this build will struggle against
This list isn't exhaustive by any means. I mainly checked CR 5 enemies. I barely looked at other CR's and only added a bare minimum of their strengths, assumed to be ran by a semi competent GM! Look at each monster and the percentages to hit seen above to see that Fey Form Shifter is not overpowered! Average damage will be 17 sonic per hit, consider other factors by each enemy that will significantly change this! For a monster that doesn't have the Dodge feat, trade one of their feats for it. GM's have been encouraged to tweak monsters on many occasions.
- Template CR +1
- Template CR +2
- CR2
- CR3
- CR4
CR5
AC 14
- AC 15
- AC 16
- AC 17
- AC 18
- AC 20
- CR 6
- CR 7
Things to consider about a 5th level build using Fey Form (Muse)
As you can see above, enemies with a good touch AC or better, is definitely a weak point for Fey Form (Muse) You will need to consider that it's a ranged natural attack. So each attack will provoke an attack of opportunity if you are threatened, you know some monsters actually have 10 ft. reach or more (gasp). If you move more than a 5-foot step you may only make a single attack (a mount will take care of this) Also in some situations your enemy may have cover (+4 to AC) due to terrain (e.g. closed in spaces) with allies possibly getting in the way. Spells such as a high DC Colorspray (Awesome Display), Mudball, or Stinking Cloud will own your @$$. Mirror Image is a common spell that would buy a character a round against Fey Form (Muse). If intelligent enemies learn about your tactic, Resist Energy, Communal (Sonic) on a enemy team could change the outcome of the battle.
A stronger comparison build
Here is a build to compare it to (This will be a long post, so I'm just posting one comparison build with a particular regard to damage. I could have made this build more optimal, but purposely chose not so.).
15 point buy, human, level 5 Fighter (Dragoon), 18 Strength & 16 Dexterity. B.A.B of +5.
Feats: Mounted Combat, Ride by Attack, Spirited Charge, Power Attack, Furious Focus, Weapon Focus, and Weapon Specialization.
Item +1 lance.
Mount Dire Bat Combat trained.
Charge Attack +14 (+15 if flying above) (3d8+51)
Percentage that attack will hit AC of 19, 21
\begin{array}{|l|r|r|r|r|r|r|r|}
\hline
\text{Attack} & \text{AC 19} & \text{AC 21} \\ \hline
\text{1st +10} & 80\% & 70\%\\ \hline
\text{1st +15} & 85\% & 75\%\\ \hline
\end{array}
Average damage 64.
Closed in spaces. Charging limitations and many of the spells listed above.
While Fey Form (Muse) is good, it's not overpowered. Well built casters generally have variety and power.
A Summoner spirited charge build will be more powerful than the Fighter build above. Mainly due to the eidolon and the spells.
Ultimately, a caster with top spell selections (mainly battlefield control/save or suck) could shut these guys down, and be more valuable in most situations.
*I'm assuming a competent GM. If he's running a Paizo adventure, then not running it as is. Their adventures are heavily skewed toward the PC's (e.g. weak enemies, poor combat advice for running monsters) and any effective 5th level build would be overpowered if such adventures are ran without changes.