Does polymorph add clothes to animals? Should it?

[Melkiador]

I was looking at the Decoy familiar, and it has this ability:
"At 11th level, a decoy can transform into a perfect likeness of its master, as the alter self spell. It can hold this form for up to 1 minute per caster level; upon changing back, the decoy must remain in its natural form for an equal amount of time before transforming again."

So, assuming my hedgehog transforms into a copy of me, would it be wearing a copy of my equipment? Would it be naked?

[David knott 242]

Assuming that the master is wearing clothes and carrying equipment, the Decoy familiar would have to appear to be wearing clothes and carrying all of the master's equipment or it wouldn't be a perfect likeness.

The familiar should not be able to do anything of any practical use with that apparent equipment, however -- especially if the equipment is magical.

[quibblemuch]

I'd say no. It acts like alter self, which is a transmutation, not an illusion. If, e.g., I cast that spell on myself to turn into a skum, I keep all my equipment (i.e., turn into a "naked skum" beneath my pants -- I don't get a seaweed loin cloth or whatever skum chic is.

"Perfect likeness" is of the master, not of the master and his pants.

Put some dang pants on your hedgehog, sir or madam.

[James Risner]

I'd also rule "naked" likeness and you'd need to put cloths on the familiar.

[Daw]

Doppelgangers used to be able appear to be clothed, I assume that this has changed.
Honestly, it makes more sense this way. Just put your decoy in your second best outfit, glamor up a couple toys, and you are good.

[David knott 242]

One problem I see is that a familiar has a completely different shape from a humanoid, so miniature clothing that you put on the familiar in its normal form probably won't look right when it assumes its master's form.

Would there be any problem with the master having a set of his own clothes and other equipment handy the first time he has his familiar assume his form and dressing him as desired at that point? After all, a humanoid's clothing and equipment are merged into his polymorphed form when he assumes most non-humanoid forms. Would the same happen with a non-humanoid creature that is currently in humanoid form, or would you have to dress up the familiar each time you want him to assume his master's guise?

[Drahliana Moonrunner]

Melkiador wrote:

I was looking at the Decoy familiar, and it has this ability:

"At 11th level, a decoy can transform into a perfect likeness of its master, as the alter self spell. It can hold this form for up to 1 minute per caster level; upon changing back, the decoy must remain in its natural form for an equal amount of time before transforming again."

So, assuming my hedgehog transforms into a copy of me, would it be wearing a copy of my equipment? Would it be naked?

Your decoy familiar would APPEAR to be as dressed and equipped as you are, but there would be no game mechanic change... It would merely be an appearance facsimile which has no game affect. If you're wearing a sword on your belt, the familliar would have a hilt attached to it, but it would not be able to "draw" a sword and it would have no AC adjustment from it's fake armor.

[Ravingdork]

If that's true, then it might get awkward when the guards ask your party and your familiar to disarm. :P

[James Risner]

You have medium size clothing, and you dress the familiar when you do this. Not miniaturized clothing.

As Drahliana suggests, there will be table variance. In their case, where you have fake gear part of the polymorph.

[Drahliana Moonrunner]

Ravingdork wrote:

If that's true, then it might get awkward when the guards ask your party and your familiar to disarm. :P

I think the fact that you and your familiar look exactly alike might tip off the guards long before it got to that point.

[mbauers]

You're level 11? Spend 200 gp and get some Sleeves of Many Garments for your hedgehog. Problem solved.

[quibblemuch]

Drahliana Moonrunner wrote:

Ravingdork wrote:

If that's true, then it might get awkward when the guards ask your party and your familiar to disarm. :P

I think the fact that you and your familiar look exactly alike might tip off the guards long before it got to that point.

It's easy to tell us apart! I'm the one in the pants...

[Lorila Sorita]

I would say it has the same clothing as you do but no equipment. So like an explorers outfit or whatever basic clothing you started with. Pathfinder isn't an adult game, so I expect that the spells don't force people to run around naked. At the very minimum I would say they at least have undergarments on.

[BigNorseWolf]

"So your familiar turns into an EXACT replica of you?

"Yeah, why?"

Looks at familiar. Looks at caster. Starts snickering.

"Its cold out without pants!