My DM let me use alter self to become an aasimar. Normally, I'm an elf.
What racial traits do I gain or lose?
the spell is pretty self explanatory
When you cast this spell, you can assume the form of any Small or Medium creature of the humanoid type. If the form you assume has any of the following abilities, you gain the listed ability: darkvision 60 feet, low-light vision, scent, and swim 30 feet.
Small creature: If the form you take is that of a Small humanoid, you gain a +2 size bonus to your Dexterity.
Medium creature: If the form you take is that of a Medium humanoid, you gain a +2 size bonus to your Strength.
So efectively you gain +2 Strength, and maybe darkvision if they have it?
Maybe the text in the spell description is not clear enough.
It is intended to mean that you get a +2 to Dex if you take a smaller form (medium to small), and +2 to Str if you take a larger form (small to medium).As from elf to aasimar you don't change size, you don't get any size modifier from the new form.
So basically an elf who turns into an aasimar only gets Darkvision.
an aasimar is an outsider, so imho you couldn't use alter self to become one, as you can only change into humanoids. Maybe into a human or something that may look like an aasimar.
for the stat boosts: i think as you can choose your new form you can make it a little more stronger than average, therefore the Str +2 (or the missing Str -2 when changing into a smaller form), same for Dex.
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So efectively you gain +2 Strength, and maybe darkvision if they have it?Maybe the text in the spell description is not clear enough.
It is intended to mean that you get a +2 to Dex if you take a smaller form (medium to small), and +2 to Str if you take a larger form (small to medium).
As from elf to aasimar you don't change size, you don't get any size modifier from the new form.So basically an elf who turns into an aasimar only gets Darkvision.
Do you have a cite for this?
So efectively you gain +2 Strength, and maybe darkvision if they have it?Maybe the text in the spell description is not clear enough.
It is intended to mean that you get a +2 to Dex if you take a smaller form (medium to small), and +2 to Str if you take a larger form (small to medium).
As from elf to aasimar you don't change size, you don't get any size modifier from the new form.So basically an elf who turns into an aasimar only gets Darkvision.
Actually, no; the spell grants a +2 Str if assuming the form of any Medium-sized humanoid or a +2 Dex if assuming the form of any Small-sized humanoid. Your starting size is considered only if you originally are not a Small or a Medium creature. Even if it seems silly, an Half-Orc who takes the form of an Elf with Alter Self actually gains Str; you have to consider that the spell works more like a lesser version of the various Bull's Strength or Cat's Grace (in regard of bonuses to ability scores it grants) with the addition of some features (like Low-light Vision or Darkvision). As many people said, you are not changing yourself, you are effectively putting on a 'foam-rubber costume' which enhances some of your existing abilities and confers some other features.
For a creature smaller than Small, you have first to change your statistics in order to reach Small size; for a creature larger than Medium, you have first to change your statistics in order to reach Medium size (following the adjustments on the table under Magic -> Spell Descriptions -> School (subschool) -> Transmutation -> Polymorph):
"If a polymorph spell is cast on a creature that is smaller than Small or larger than Medium, first adjust its ability scores to one of these two sizes using the following table before applying the bonuses granted by the polymorph spell.
Creature's Original Size________Str__Dex__Con__Adjusted Size
Fine______________________+6___–6____—_______Small
Diminutive_________________+6___–4____—_______Small
Tiny______________________+4___–2____—_______Small
Large_____________________–4___+2___–2_______Medium
Huge_____________________–8___+4___–4_______Medium
Gargantuan_______________–12___+4___–6_______Medium
Colossal__________________–16___+4___–8_______Medium
"
As a final note, nobody with the current spells can assume the 'foam-rubber' form of an Aasimar, since the Aasimar is not a Humanoid but an Outsider... and currently there are no spells to assume the form of an Outsider, except for Elemental Body I-IV (which allow only to assume the form of an Elemental, a specific Outsider creature).
EDIT: Ninja'd by Puma D.Murmelman regarding the Aasimar thing :) ...
Just my 2c.
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I would like to have an official clarification on this from the Paizo staff, as it sound quite cheesy to me.
I don't think the spell was intended to become a lesser version of Bull's Strength or Cat's Grace.
Otherwise a grey elf could turn into a grey elf and get a +2 to strength, thus cancelling his racial penalty (-2 Str).
I know the grey elf doesn't have a -2 str in Pathfinder, there are no grey elves actually.
That's just an example. After all, the Aasimar is not in Pathfinder either.
I would like to have an official clarification on this from the Paizo staff, as it sound quite cheesy to me.
I don't think the spell was intended to become a lesser version of Bull's Strength or Cat's Grace.Otherwise a grey elf could turn into a grey elf and get a +2 to strength, thus cancelling his racial penalty (-2 Str).
I know the grey elf doesn't have a -2 str in Pathfinder, there are no grey elves actually.
That's just an example. After all, the Aasimar is not in Pathfinder either.
Well, I know mine is not an 'official clarification', but an Alter Self cannot be made permanent, has a duration of 1 minute per caster level, and cannot let you assume the aspect of a specific creature - not even yourself (you would end with a 'generic' aspect of a member of your own race which would vaguely resemble you). All this for +2 Str.
For a 2nd-level spell it would be better to stick with Bull's Strength, if you only want more Strength (same duration, +4 Str); granted, the +2 Str from Alter Self is a size bonus however, so it would stack with an existing Belt of Strength - the spell has its merits, but it does not grant overpowered bonuses (and again, it has a really low duration).
And the Aasimar is in the Bestiary... it is the first creature, actually :) .
I don't think the spell was intended to become a lesser version of Bull's Strength or Cat's Grace.
I agree, I believe you only get the STR or DEX bonus if you change sizes.
After all, the Aasimar is not in Pathfinder either.
Your wrong there, the Aasimar is in the Bestiary.
And the Aasimar is in the Bestiary... it is the first creature, actually :) .
Oops, true. Sorry. I guess i made a confusion with the Genasi, who is not (I just checked to be sure).
For the stat bonus from Alter Self, as I said, the best would be to have an official answer from the good Paizo people, as so far we just all have personal opinions and interpretations.
I don't think the spell was intended to become a lesser version of Bull's Strength or Cat's Grace.I agree, I believe you only get the STR or DEX bonus if you change sizes.
Just to counter a little, it this were true a Medium-sized Druid who Wild Shapes into a Wolf (Medium sized creature) should not gain a +2 Str, only a +2 natural armor.
And the same would be true for a Small-sized Sorcerer who uses Elemental Body I to turn into a Small Air Elemental - no +2 Dex either.
(as a side note, I said that the Alter Self spell works like a lesser version of the various Bull's Strength or Cat's Grace in regard of bonuses it grants to ability scores, but I also added that it grants other specific bonuses - not least the ability to camouflage yourself into another totally different creature)
As stated above, the polymorph spells do not actually change your body - they form a 'magic costume' over your body which grants you size bonuses to Ability scores, natural armor bonuses, extra movement, natural attacks, and so on. But they do not change your type (a Human Druid Wild-shaped into a Shambling Mound is still vulnerable to Hold Person and can benefit from Enlarge Person).
The form you assume in the end gives a fixed amount of bonuses and some bonuses which are in part dependant to the form itself, but these bonuses are granted through the spell (or the special ability which emulates the spell, like Wild Shape) which emulates the form - these bonuses often are not exaclty identical to those the real creature possesses (as a Fire Elemental, for example, you gain only Resist Fire 20 through the Elemental Body spells, despite the fact that a true Fire Elemental is completely immune to fire). Changing into an Elf, an Orc, a Wolf or a Boar has relevance only for the fact that for the first pair of forms you need a 2nd level spell (which gives a fixed bonus and some specific bonuses dependant on the form you are trying to emulate - Elf has Low-light Vision, Orc has Darkvision), for the second pair of forms you need a 3rd level spell (which gives other fixed bonuses and some other specific bonuses, again dependant on the form you are trying to emulate - Wolf has a Bite attack, Boar has a Gore attack).
EDIT: last paragraph smoothed a bit for clarity.
Just my 2c.
The game designers have already clarified this. It essentially IS a lesser bull's strength/cat's grace.
Where is the official clarification for alter self granting stat bonuses even if I don't change size categories?
Also, I know alter self is normally restricted to Humanoids. My DM ruled that aasimar are also legal forms for this spell.
It's rather simple:
Small creature: If the form you take is that of a Small humanoid, you gain a +2 size bonus to your Dexterity.Medium creature: If the form you take is that of a Medium humanoid, you gain a +2 size bonus to your Strength.
IF the form you take is that of a small humaniod THEN you get a +2 size bonus to Dex.
Please note that it doesn't say, "IF you change size" or "IF you are not already small" or "Get this bonus if your size changes" -- it says specifically and explicitedly that IF the form is small then you get the bonus.
Same for medium and strength.
Nowhere in either part does it say anything about what size you start at, only what size you end at.
Where is the official clarification for alter self granting stat bonuses even if I don't change size categories?
Also, I know alter self is normally restricted to Humanoids. My DM ruled that aasimar are also legal forms for this spell.
It's rather simple:
Small creature: If the form you take is that of a Small humanoid, you gain a +2 size bonus to your Dexterity.Medium creature: If the form you take is that of a Medium humanoid, you gain a +2 size bonus to your Strength.
IF the form you take is that of a small humaniod THEN you get a +2 size bonus to Dex.
Please note that it doesn't say, "IF you change size" or "IF you are not already small" or "Get this bonus if your size changes" -- it says specifically and explicitedly that IF the form is small then you get the bonus.
Same for medium and strength.
Nowhere in either part does it say anything about what size you start at, only what size you end at.
That's right, because if you're going to alter self, do it in style. Noone's going to alter self into Napolean Dynamite. You alter yourself into Chuck Norris.