Should a creature using its change shape ability, like a faceless stalker or a kitsune, take on an Aura appropriate to the spell the ability is described as functioning like?
During the standard/move/swift action the change is happening: yes
After the change has taken place: no
Change shape is treated as a spell with a duration of instantaneous.
the casting of the "spell" makes an aura just as casting CLW on yourself would. NOTE: this does include a lingering aura as talked about in, i believe, the detect magic spell entry. However, said aura lingers where the spell's effect takes place(in this case the square that the kitsune changed into human form.)
During the standard/move/swift action the change is happening: yes
After the change has taken place: no
Change shape is treated as a spell with a duration of instantaneous.
the casting of the "spell" makes an aura just as casting CLW on yourself would. NOTE: this does include a lingering aura as talked about in, i believe, the detect magic spell entry. However, said aura lingers where the spell's effect takes place(in this case the square that the kitsune changed into human form.)
I don't know where you are getting this instantaneous duration from. Change Shape normally behaves like some flavor of polymorph spell(Polymorph, Alter Self, Beast Shape etc) with some changes. Those effects are not instantaneous, so if there is an aura it would stick around for as long as the aura lasts.
Now, as for whether or not the ability actually has an aura...maybe? The rules don't state whether or not supernatural abilities have auras, and on top of that Change Shape is like a spell, so it may or may not have an aura like that spell. The rules aren't clear.
I will say that from a gameplay perspective you shouldn't give Change Shape an aura, because doing so completely destroys the effectiveness of Change Shape for any creature that relies on it for Social Stealth. Succubi, Kitsune and Human form Dragons are really easy to peg when they walk around with a constant Transmutation(Polymorph) aura. That's how I run it, and I suspect that's how the ability was intended to function, but I don't know for sure, so it's ultimately up to you or your GM to decide how they want it to function.
regardless of the instantaneous thing(which is a discussion for another thread) we agree that the answer to the op's question is:
No, detect magic does not detect anything after someone has used change shape(su).
and THAT is the important part.^_^
Change Shape is a Supernatural Ability.
These can't be disrupted in combat and generally don't provoke attacks of opportunity. They aren't subject to spell resistance, counterspells, or dispel magic, and don't function in antimagic areas.
No SR, counter, or dispel argue for not detectable as magic.
Non-function in antimagic, argues for detectable as magic.So lets look at the detect spell.
Detect Magic list things with auras:
An aura's power depends on a spell's functioning spell level or an item's caster level; see the accompanying table. If an aura falls into more than one category, detect magic indicates the stronger of the two.
The table lists: Functioning spell, and Magic item
Since the ability is (Su) and not (SLA), I think it has no detectable aura.
/cevah
Since the ability is (Su) and not (SLA), I think it has no detectable aura.Well reasoned position, so expect table variance.
:-)
Were that the only evidence, I would agree.
That is why I looked at the spell. It can only see two kinds of auras. Spell auras and Item auras. It does not detect alignment aura of clerics.
While the ability is run mechanically by the polymorph rules, it is not an SLA which runs by spell rules. It is a Su, and thus does not generate an aura like a spell.
If it does have a detectable aura, it is not one that detect alignment or detect magic can see. How then would it be detected? True Seeing would work, but I don't think anything less than that.
/cevah