I was just reading through the druid options in the APG and saw the Mountain Druid. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that they get a crap-ton of bonuses for meager tradeoffs. In fact, the Mountain Druid single handedly solves two of the major issues with Druid Wild Shape builds: the relevance of wildshape after 12th level, and the ability to keep up with the AC of other front-line fighters.
The addition of Giant Form allows the druid to maintain his own weapons, benefitting from his BAB, as well as keep his armor (since it will be readjusted to fit his new size). This means that a druid can have a shield, full plate (Dragonscale or some such), Barkskin/natural armor pendant, & the armor bonuses of his new shape. This ends up becoming a very decent AC with only as much required of any other melee type.
Adding on to that, the druid can also grab regeration (troll), rend, rock throwing/catching, immunities/resistances, and additional vision. All while weilding a weapon, wearing armor, and casting his wide selection of spells.
This may not be a return to the former glory of the druid, but nobody wants that. This does, however, put druids back on the map as a character who can successfully take to the front lines and remain competitive all the way to 20.
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keep his armor (since it will be readjusted to fit his new size).
i dont have the APG, but does it specifically call this out? giant form doesnt, and weapons and armor doesnt resize to fit other sizes (unlike when under the effect of enlarge person). its a polymorph spell, so i'm pretty sure it absorbs into the new form, just like normal wildshape
keep his armor (since it will be readjusted to fit his new size).i dont have the APG, but does it specifically call this out? giant form doesnt, and weapons and armor doesnt resize to fit other sizes (unlike when under the effect of enlarge person). its a polymorph spell, so i'm pretty sure it absorbs into the new form, just like normal wildshape
The polymorph subschool description does indeed call this out (in the Core Rulebook).
Yes, this specific clause of the Polymorph subschool is what makes Giant Form one of the strongest polymorph spells available.
When you cast a polymorph spell that changes you into a creature of the animal, dragon, elemental, magical beast, plant, or vermin type, all of your gear melds into your body. <...> If your new form does not cause your equipment to meld into your form, the equipment resizes to match your new size.