hello there!
i don't know if this has been asked before, but does assuming the form of another type of creature, e.g. a bear, by means of a beast shape spell, or wild shape for that matter, actually give you that type (animal in this case)?
how does this interact with favored enemy or spells like animal growth ? furthermore, could use magic device be used to overcome this if your type didn't change?
[end barrage of questions] ;)
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Check out the polymorph sub-school info, polymorph no longer changes you into the being you become, it just grants a specific list of abilities based on the spell, & grants a bonus to your disguise check when someone examines you in your changed form. A druid wild shaped into a bear cannot be affected by spells that only target animals, but can still be held with hold person.
That is not true, the fact that is specifically changes your type means the inverse is true. You lose your humanoid type and gain whatever type that the creature has, meaning for instance if you transform into a jellyfish on dry land you lose the ability to breathe normally and will suffocate.
That is not true, the fact that is specifically changes your type means the inverse is true. You lose your humanoid type and gain whatever type that the creature has, meaning for instance if you transform into a jellyfish on dry land you lose the ability to breathe normally and will suffocate.
No, Stubs has got the right end of this stick.
Polymorph spells only allow you to take the form of another creature type. You don't become a bear, you just have the form of a bear granting you some bonusses and penalties.
Your type does not change, and there is nothing implying that it does. It is a part of the substantial changes pathfinder has made to polymorph.
I am convinced there are some lengthy threads about wildshape around these boards, where some official words have be added. But I don't have the time to go digging right now.
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Hmmm, after combing the PRD it seems that you are correct technically speaking it does not state anywhere that your type actually changes. It is very heavily implied as it states that you change your shape to that of the specific type by means of the magic but it does not change your actual type.
This to me seems like a glaring hole in the RAI but maybe not. I guess shapechanging into a jellyfish on land IS safe, but it would mean that you can't turn into a fish underwater in order to be able to breathe though, you can only have it one way.
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Polymorph: a polymorph spell transforms your physical body to take on the shape of another creature. While these spells make you appear to be the creature, granting you a +20 bonus on Disguise skill checks, they do not grant you all of the abilities and powers of the creature. Each polymorph spell allows you to assume the form of a creature of a specific type, granting you a number of bonuses to your ability scores and a bonus to your natural armor. In addition, each polymorph spell can grant you a number of other benefits, including movement types, resistances, and senses. If the form you choose grants these benefits, or a greater ability of the same type, you gain the listed benefit. If the form grants a lesser ability of the same type, you gain the lesser ability instead. Your base speed changes to match that of the form you assume. If the form grants a swim or burrow speed, you maintain the ability to breathe if you are swimming or burrowing. The DC for any of these abilities equals your DC for the polymorph spell used to change you into that form.
In addition to these benefits, you gain any of the natural attacks of the base creature, including proficiency in those attacks. These attacks are based on your base attack bonus, modified by your Strength or Dexterity as appropriate, and use your Strength modifier for determining damage bonuses.
If a polymorph spell causes you to change size, apply the size modifiers appropriately, changing your armor class, attack bonus, Combat Maneuver Bonus, and Stealth skill modifiers. Your ability scores are not modified by this change unless noted by the spell.
Unless otherwise noted, polymorph spells cannot be used to change into specific individuals. Although many of the fine details can be controlled, your appearance is always that of a generic member of that creature's type. Polymorph spells cannot be used to assume the form of a creature with a template or an advanced version of a creature.
When you cast a polymorph spell that changes you into a creature of the animal, dragon, elemental, magical beast, plant, or vermin type, all of your gear melds into your body. Items that provide constant bonuses and do not need to be activated continue to function while melded in this way (with the exception of armor and shield bonuses, which cease to function). Items that require activation cannot be used while you maintain that form. While in such a form, you cannot cast any spells that require material components (unless you have the Eschew Materials or Natural Spell feat), and can only cast spells with somatic or verbal components if the form you choose has the capability to make such movements or speak, such as a dragon. Other polymorph spells might be subject to this restriction as well, if they change you into a form that is unlike your original form (subject to GM discretion). If your new form does not cause your equipment to meld into your form, the equipment resizes to match your new size.
While under the effects of a polymorph spell, you lose all extraordinary and supernatural abilities that depend on your original form (such as keen senses, scent, and darkvision), as well as any natural attacks and movement types possessed by your original form. You also lose any class features that depend upon form, but those that allow you to add features (such as sorcerers that can grow claws) still function. While most of these should be obvious, the GM is the final arbiter of what abilities depend on form and are lost when a new form is assumed. Your new form might restore a number of these abilities if they are possessed by the new form.
You can only be affected by one polymorph spell at a time. If a new polymorph spell is cast on you (or you activate a polymorph effect, such as wild shape), you can decide whether or not to allow it to affect you, taking the place of the old spell. In addition, other spells that change your size have no effect on you while you are under the effects of a polymorph spell.
If a polymorph spell is cast on a creature that is smaller than Small or larger than Medium, first adjust its ability scores to one of these two sizes using the following table before applying the bonuses granted by the polymorph spell.
Think of the polymorph subschool rules as "new clothes" for your character. Much like an outfit may provide certain bonuses, such as Natural Armor, extraordinary senses, or special movement types, the change of shape spells grant you specific abilities depending on their description. See each particular spell for abilities and bonuses gained.
The character remains much the same, "under the clothes," and can even use many of her normal abilities (like the aforementioned Sorcerer with Claw bloodline power). The new form typically protects the PC as the actual creature's body would. (I.E. a fish body will grant a swim speed and the ability to breathe underwater.)