If I use a polymorph effect to transform into a creature that can cast spells naturally (such as a drider, naga, or rakshasa), can I continue to cast my (class') spells even though I might not have hands (as is the case with the naga)?
The rules are quite clear in that I would be able to cast my class spells when polymorphed into a dragon despite not having hands. I want to know if this applies to all spellcasting creatures even though they might be lacking hands, vocal cords, or costless material components.
If I use a polymorph effect to transform into a creature that can cast spells naturally (such as a drider, naga, or rakshasa), can I continue to cast my (class') spells even though I might not have hands (as is the case with the naga)?
The rules are quite clear in that I would be able to cast my class spells when polymorphed into a dragon despite not having hands. I want to know if this applies to all spellcasting creatures even though they might be lacking hands, vocal cords, or costless material components.
If you can cast without material components and you can speak then you should be able to cast spells, but if you don't the eschew materials feat then you should not be casting any spells. The classes you named have innate sorcerer levels. The naga probably should not be casting spells by RAW unless they have no somatic component.
If you can cast without material components and you can speak then you should be able to cast spells, but if you don't the eschew materials feat then you should not be casting any spells. The classes you named have innate sorcerer levels. The naga probably should not be casting spells by RAW unless they have no somatic component.If I use a polymorph effect to transform into a creature that can cast spells naturally (such as a drider, naga, or rakshasa), can I continue to cast my (class') spells even though I might not have hands (as is the case with the naga)?
The rules are quite clear in that I would be able to cast my class spells when polymorphed into a dragon despite not having hands. I want to know if this applies to all spellcasting creatures even though they might be lacking hands, vocal cords, or costless material components.
So let me see if I understand this correctly. Your stance is that while so transformed (1) I would require my material components or else have the eschew material components feat, and (2) naga by RAW shouldn't be able to cast any of their spells without the Still Spell metamagic feat (and by extension I shouldn't be able to either without said feat while in naga form, but I can anyways)?
So let me see if I understand this correctly. Your stance is that while so transformed (1) I would require my material components or else have the eschew material components feat, and (2) naga by RAW shouldn't be able to cast any of their spells without the Still Spell metamagic feat (and by extension I shouldn't be able to either without said feat while in naga form, but I can anyways)?If you can cast without material components and you can speak then you should be able to cast spells, but if you don't the eschew materials feat then you should not be casting any spells. The classes you named have innate sorcerer levels. The naga probably should not be casting spells by RAW unless they have no somatic component.If I use a polymorph effect to transform into a creature that can cast spells naturally (such as a drider, naga, or rakshasa), can I continue to cast my (class') spells even though I might not have hands (as is the case with the naga)?
The rules are quite clear in that I would be able to cast my class spells when polymorphed into a dragon despite not having hands. I want to know if this applies to all spellcasting creatures even though they might be lacking hands, vocal cords, or costless material components.
Correct mostly.
As far as whether or not you can cast spells in Naga is up to the DM. In Pathfinder, unlike in 3.5 you gain the creatures form(along with other things), but don't actually gain that creature's type so even though the Naga gets to bypass the rules I dont think you should be able to do it. I do realize some may see this as heavy-handed, but with the new polymorph rules I don't think its unfair. I will also admit that I would have to look into it more to make a real decision, but my first response would be to not allow the player/naga to cast in naga form.
The naga traditionally can cast spells because it uses the undulations of its body, and the wiggles of its tails, to perform somatic components.
If a PC wanted to emulate such I would either make them take a skill point or two to learn that "language" or make them take some other means to study the Naga to figure out how they do it.
The magic already lets you know how to move without having to learn how, but thats probably about as far as I'd stretch it.
Drider however are entirely different. While their "spider" part is quite monstrous, their "humanoid" part is... well.. humanoid. I'd have no problem with letting them cast somatic componented spells.
Just my thoughts.
-S