polymorph spells do not change type. This is covered in the magic section of the book.
Yes, as you are not that creature type, you are simply emulating it.
Perhaps that would be a better word to use with these spells, since polymorph has traditionally given powers, types, et al.
"A polymorph spell transforms your physical body to take on the shape of another creature."
So you don't become the creature, you simply look/ have the shape of one physically.
Personally I think the polymorph line of spells was 'nerfed' a bit too much. After all you lose most spell casting ability, most your magic items, can't have an armor bonus from any item (armor bonus magic items are specificly none active while a polymorph spell is active) and basically make you worse off than you were before you polymorph, since any AC bonus you do get from the new form will generally not make up for the amount you lost due to items not working.
IF you plan on polymorphing on a regular basis I strongly suggest either getting class features that allow you to still and silent spell your spells (such as arcane trickster) or take those meta magic feats, along with eschew materials.
Also remember if you start at a size larger than medium or smaller than small you have to adjust to one of these sizes before gaining any bonuses for your new form (I would recommend just making a copy of the table on page 212 for easy referral if you are going to use a polymorph spell).
So I was reading through the pathfinder bestiary preview and under elemental subtypes it lists various effects such as Immunity to paralysis, poison, sleep effects, stunning, and not being subject to critical hits or flanking. Also, Elementals do not breathe, eat, or sleep (among a few other things)
Anyways looking at the players handbook it says under Elemental Body 3 that "You are also immune to critical hits and sneak attacks" which is omitted from the first 2 versions of the spell. Does this mean that you do not gain the elemental subtype by using elemental body/wildshape?
(which I suppose would also mean you don't gain other obvious effects like lack of need to breath, so a water elemental could drown?)
I also suppose questions about weather or not to trust the phb or Bestiary are relevant possibly
*Ooohh that arrow just crit the wind elemental through it's Oxygen"
As you go from elemental body 1 and the other spells that let you change to different things you get more abilities when take the next higher progression in the spell chain. This was done to get rid of the 3.5 polymorph confusion, and to nerf druid. You only get what they specifically say you get. As an example beast shape 1 does not give you trip, pounce, and other special attacks, but the other beast shapes do.
So does this mean that a spell like "Speak with Animals" wouldn't work with a wild shaped druid since it's not actually an animal type / a water elemental/plant druid wouldn't take the extra damage from Horrid Wilting since they only resemble those creatures types?Yes, as you are not that creature type, you are simply emulating it.
Perhaps that would be a better word to use with these spells, since polymorph has traditionally given powers, types, et al.
"A polymorph spell transforms your physical body to take on the shape of another creature."
So you don't become the creature, you simply look/ have the shape of one physically.
correct
IF you plan on polymorphing on a regular basis I strongly suggest either getting class features that allow you to still and silent spell your spells (such as arcane trickster) or take those meta magic feats, along with eschew materials.
Also remember if you start at a size larger than medium or smaller than small you have to adjust to one of these sizes before gaining any bonuses for your new form (I would recommend just making a copy of the table on page 212 for easy referral if you are going to use a polymorph spell).
Ah "Natural Spell" feat is definitely the feat to go with as it handles the job of pretty much all those other feats you mentioned (also without increasing the spell slots of the spells)
Also, the line "In addition, other spells that change your size have no effect on you while you are under the effects of a polymorph spell" means that the table on pg 212 is useless to a druid of any of the base races, since there all small or medium creatures.
(Unless they want to use the spell "Animal shape" on a creature thats not medium/small)
Natural Spell requires wild shape so if you are a druid then yes it is the way to go. IF you aren't however (say a sorcerer) it's no good to you as you can't even take it.
An OFFICIAL ruling on this would be appreciated!
Creative Director
|
An OFFICIAL ruling on this would be appreciated!
Callings for official rulings, by the way, are going to be particularly slapdash in their response for a while, as Jason's down in Gen Con Australia.
But as far as the polymorph spells go... you do not change type or gain subtypes when you use them. The spells are pretty clear on what abilities you can gain when you use them, and changing type or gaining subtypes is not among those abilities.
I tend to agree that the polymorphs are greatly nerfed. You're simply not going to find a mage with enough physical stats to make the polymorphs terribly worthwhile.
As a result, polymorph spells are mainly worthwhile for gaining new types of movement, senses, and occasionally, interesting abilities.
One of my favorites is earth elemental. Earth glide + tremorsense + push can be quite useful.
I tend to agree that the polymorphs are greatly nerfed. You're simply not going to find a mage with enough physical stats to make the polymorphs terribly worthwhile.
As a result, polymorph spells are mainly worthwhile for gaining new types of movement, senses, and occasionally, interesting abilities.
One of my favorites is earth elemental. Earth glide + tremorsense + push can be quite useful.
Tremorsense would be useful if you got it. I don't see that you do, however.
Indeed you don't. Wildshape into an earth elemental, and you're blind once you go underground. I'm not really sure how you navigate with earth glide without some form of sight, but it is an interesting thing.
Similarly, I don't think that water elemental body gives you an ability to breathe water. Wildshaping into an aquatic animal does, since you get its general breathing powers, but your standard elemental doesn't breath at all, so water elemental body doesn't give you that. Very odd...
An OFFICIAL ruling on this would be appreciated!Callings for official rulings, by the way, are going to be particularly slapdash in their response for a while, as Jason's down in Gen Con Australia.
But as far as the polymorph spells go... you do not change type or gain subtypes when you use them. The spells are pretty clear on what abilities you can gain when you use them, and changing type or gaining subtypes is not among those abilities.
Thanks for the response and for your time. it is greatly appreciated.
Elemental body has already become out of date with the changes to elementals in the bestiary, so it makes it that little more confusing.
Indeed you don't. Wildshape into an earth elemental, and you're blind once you go underground. I'm not really sure how you navigate with earth glide without some form of sight, but it is an interesting thing.
Similarly, I don't think that water elemental body gives you an ability to breathe water. Wildshaping into an aquatic animal does, since you get its general breathing powers, but your standard elemental doesn't breath at all, so water elemental body doesn't give you that. Very odd...
I thought that would be cleared up. I just give them blindsight while they are gliding, and I give invisible stalkers see invisibility but it only works with other invisible stalkers.
Similarly, I don't think that water elemental body gives you an ability to breathe water. Wildshaping into an aquatic animal does, since you get its general breathing powers, but your standard elemental doesn't breath at all, so water elemental body doesn't give you that. Very odd...
Luckily you can.
PRD -> Magic -> Spell Descriptions -> School (Subschool) -> Transmutation -> Polymorph:
"If the form grants a swim or a burrow speed, you maintain the ability to breath if you are swimming or burrowing."
Now, since a Water Elemental has a swim speed, you can breathe water.