looking at the beta rules for "shapechange" the spell seems woefully underpowered for a 9th lvl Wizard level spell (not sure how it plays out for other classes). I understand that the 3.5 version was powerful and had to be capped. I even accept that the spell chains are a reasonable compromise. But they do not work at all with high level campaigns.
I realise that Pathfinder is focussed on lower/intermediate level play, but as it stands, except for the ability to fly/burrow/swim etc (which you could get with a low level poly variant) there is no good reason to use a higher level spell varaiant when you are a playing a high level wizard.
You're essentially useless in a fighting role:
- your BAB is used, +9 @18th lvl for wiz
- you get a paltry +5 to your BAB for the strength increase *at best*
- if you have average strength that's an amazing +14 attack bonus,
- I'd be surprised if you hit any decent 18th level foe with that (AC34+ seems common) And that's the primary attck - -5 for the next and ...well...
Yes, you could be buffed, but even that won't add more than what, +6 to strength...? so + 3? hm. still, not much help.
Ok, so physical attacks are not useful. Ok, - what about other/supernatural etc? Severely curtailed. Ok, I have bo problem with that. To a point. lets take Form of Dragon 3 (a mighty 8th level spell) - an awesome 12d8 (save for half - or evade for none).... every 1d4 rounds (so what, twice in a combat?) And a few other odd and ends that won't help you much against decent level foes. Or you could turn into a giant turnip (sorry a Huge [plant] turnip) and lash enemies with your turniptian tendrils ;-) or something...
Anway, my rambling message is basically saying this: pegging the stat increase to one, fixed value, regardless of spell caster level is not likely to yield a useful spell at high levels. I agree with the removal of many of the abilities that the old shapechange granted (or I accept them as necessary), but I really think that these spells need to be scaled to account for caster level. So +x/level above X etc. I'd love to know how a storm giant (a 'huge' giant) can even lift a storm giant sized boulder with the paltry strenth boost (+8 to average wiz strength) granted by the spell, let alone toss it hundreds of feet. If the scaling was done correctly, the lower level spells could retain their existing power levels and the higher level ones would scale to the point where they could actually serve a purpose in combat (both physical and other attacks). And if you are going to insist on the hard wired stat - make it the stat for a typical example of that type e.g. Huge Dragon (set the strength 30 etc, don't give a bonus. Or give a bonus that will take average caster to to average strength etc).
Why is a primary spell caster wanting to enter melee?
This coming from someone who's played a primary spell caster in his last two campaigns.
Shapechange and polymorph in general should be useful for some benefits- but should never let the squishy classes enter melee and wade it out with the baddies. Modify shapechange so the wizard can get the strength of a dragon? That seems abit excessive to me- especially given that other classes get the spell too. Namely- druids.
Shapechange already adds a good number of bonuses.
For one- each casting gives you any number of potential shapes. that is to say- you can shapeshift multiple times per casting. You can change it as an immediate action (rather than it taking a standard- quite the boon!).
The duration is 10 times that of the other shape spells.
So what can you do with this spell that you can't do with the others? You can take a form, scout a location, take a biped form, cast your spells, take another form, move around the battle field.. etc, etc. etc.- all with one casting of the spell.
This spell, like its brothers, and like Wildshape, has been seriously toned down. I do not think it was accidental that you can no longer Shapechange into a melee critter and wade into combat. Rather- I think that was the direct intent of the alterations. The Wizard, the Sorc, the Druid, should no not be casting a spell and turning into Mr Melee. We have melee classes to fill that role.
-S
Why is a primary spell caster wanting to enter melee?
So what can you do with this spell that you can't do with the others? You can take a form, scout a location, take a biped form, cast your spells, take another form, move around the battle field.. etc, etc. etc.- all with one casting of the spell.
-S
I'm not arguing to take over the fighter's melee role - but in some cases you need to step in and take a more physical role (perhaps the fighter has been KO'd and you have to do something, I've been in such desperate straights before), and a *9th level* spell should certainly enable that.
Referring to your scenario above: I could do all those things with lower level spells. Using the lower level variants in fact (perhaps even one casting, since flying is probably the most useful form change). The point is: why bother turning into a dragon *with a 9th level spell* if all you can do is fly/scout etc? Why not simply cast fly (or overland flight) - which allows you to fly and retain all your abilities, cast all your spells and so on (which dragon shape may not)? There are well established ways to scry/scout etc - we certainly don't need another spell to accomplish this. If this is the intention, they should drop the pretence and create a new spell call "Mages Versatile Locomotion" or something (at a much lower level) and have done with it. I assume that since it's a dragon and not say, a homing pigeon, they actually *expect* the form to have some use beyond simply flying about? And what else could that be but combat? The even mention attacks, breath weapon etc). Granted, you could toast a few peasants with your breath weapon - but we all know that's not what you'll be facing in the next cave...
Currently, your draconic form is too weak to mean anything at high levels (which is what I'm concerned with). I don't mind the lower level poly school spells - but as it stands, shapechange simply looks too weak - my group has already agreed that we will house-rule in such a variant. Yes, even the fighter.