Metamorph Alchemist' Shapechanger ability and Discoveries that alter your body?

[miscdebris]

HeHateMe wrote:

You get multiple uses per day, yes, however it specifically states that you can change form as a standard action at any time during that duration. So by level 6 or so you have 3 uses of 6h which equates to a full day almost of being whatever you want, whenever you want.

I don't see how that works under the first paragraph of Shapeshanger. It looks like it is simply explaining that using the ability is a standard action.

[Imbicatus]

Metamorph:

Shapechanger (Su): At 1st level, a metamorph gains
the ability to transform herself into another form. This
ability functions like alter self, except as noted here. The
effect lasts for 1 hour per metamorph’s alchemist level, or
until she changes back. Changing form (to another form
or back) is a standard action that doesn’t provoke attacks of
opportunity. The metamorph is fatigued for 1 round each
time she changes shape.

A metamorph can use this ability once per day at 1st
level, and an additional time per day at 4th level, and every
2 alchemist levels thereafter, for a total of nine times at
18th level. At 20th level, a metamorph can use shapechanger
as a free action once per round, either before or after all her
other actions, with no daily limit.

The ability functions as alter self. Alter Self allows you to assume one form per casting. You cannot cast Alter Self and then freely change forms through the duration of the effect. The line stating that changing form is a standard action that doesn't provoke is just a clarification of the Su ability rules.

[miscdebris]

That's what I thought. Thanks.

[Ellias Aubec]

I don't read it that way. Plus the next sentence that mentions they are fatigued after changing doesn't really make much sense if it is only one form per use as using the spell doesn't do the same thing.

[Blake's Tiger]

I read it like Imbicatus.

You get to change shape X times per day. When you change from true form to new form, you're fatigued for 1 round. When you change from new form back to true form, whether by intention, effect, or expiration of the duration, you are fatigued for 1 round. If you choose to use a second use of Metamorph before the first one expires in order to change into a different form, you are fatigued for one round.

There's nothing in the text that suggests to me that a character can shift forms as many times as they want during the duration.

Why would you need 9 uses at 18 hours per day at 18th level if you could just choose a form at will?

[HeHateMe]

Just dropping in and reviving this dead thread to ask a question: was there ever any official clarification from the developers on this issue? Because right now, it's very unclear how physical discoveries like Tentacle or Wings are supposed to work with Shapeshift. And if they don't, then what was the point of keeping discoveries in the first place?

Personally, I think they should continue to work, as the whole purpose of this archetype is changing your body into other things, but I'm not the official voice of Paizo.

[Chess Pwn]

hahahahaha, Thinking that we get official clarification from the developers on ANY issue. The only things we get that are official are the FAQ posts by the PDT. They post maybe once a week on Fridays.

[James Risner]

You get something official when you have threads of people poking each other's eyes out OR 60 to 100 faq clicks.