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I have been trying to scour the web in order to try to find some clarifications about polymorph and its effects on armor and other items, so I thought I'd ask for a few clarifications. I'll number my questions as they are quite annoying... And I would prefer if design staff answered them since I have read the relevant sections extensively and concluded the text is ambiguous.
There is an old thread where Jacobs posts that if polymorph and use wild armor you do not suffer any of the penalties associated with wearing armor. But for balance reasons he believes the player should also get armor proficiency; similar to how Mithral armor works. This is problematic because there is no telling if the subject of polymorph is now wearing armor.
1) Polymorph + Wild Heavy Armor + Non-proficiency gives penalties according to rules?
2) If I have evasion (as a druid/rogue) and wear a wild hide armor (medium armor), can I use evasion or am I prohibited from doing so?
3) If (2) works, so would other class features (such as Monk bonuses) that depend on wearing as light armor as possible.. while shapeshifted and using Wild armor/shield, right?
4) If (1), (2) or (3) holds, would using non-Wild armor or shields change anything? That is, would a heavy fortification dragonhide full plate without Wild enhancement provide non-proficiency penalties or interfere with class abilities that require you to wear lighter armor?
As for magic item bonuses themselves, I have found so many contradicting answers online. I won't list them, instead quoting the core rulebook...
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.
I have always assumed this means magic items cannot be activated, but continuous effects persist. But the first terms defined in the rules define the word bonus to have a very special meaning.
Bonus: Bonuses are numerical values that are added to checks and statistical scores.
So the text could also be read as only numerical bonuses working (so only Amulet of Mighty Fists with +enhancement bonus for Druids and no abilities, making druids very unhappy). So I need to ask some more questions...
5) Does Ring of Evasion and Amulet of Mighty Fists [Flaming] work while polymorphed (continuous effects)?
6) What about Bodywraps of Mighty Strikes while polymorphed; since it requires no action, is it an activation?
7) What about Shield of Arrow Deflection. It also requires no action, and is only a little silly for roleplaying reasons as the shield is merged with the player?
8) What about Boots of Speed (free action)?
9) If only bonuses remain, does this mean any penalties associated with some cursed items disappear (let's say a necklace of strangulation or headband of stupidity)?