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When you use a higher-level polymorph spell to assume a shape available with a lower-level one, do you get the bonuses specified in the higher-level spell, or the lower-level one?
An example: elemental body I lets you become a Small air elemental, and get +2 Dex and +2 natural armour. Elemental body II also lets you become a Medium air elemental, and get +4 Dex and +3 natural armour. If you use elemental body II to become a Small air elemental, do you get +2 Dex/+2 natural, or +4 Dex/+3 natural?
When you use a higher-level polymorph spell to assume a shape available with a lower-level one, do you get the bonuses specified in the higher-level spell, or the lower-level one?
An example: elemental body I lets you become a Small air elemental, and get +2 Dex and +2 natural armour. Elemental body II also lets you become a Medium air elemental, and get +4 Dex and +3 natural armour. If you use elemental body II to become a Small air elemental, do you get +2 Dex/+2 natural, or +4 Dex/+3 natural?
The bonus is connected to the chosen form, so you get the smaller bonus. But any other abilities gained follows the spell you are using.
When you use a higher-level polymorph spell to assume a shape available with a lower-level one, do you get the bonuses specified in the higher-level spell, or the lower-level one?
An example: elemental body I lets you become a Small air elemental, and get +2 Dex and +2 natural armour. Elemental body II also lets you become a Medium air elemental, and get +4 Dex and +3 natural armour. If you use elemental body II to become a Small air elemental, do you get +2 Dex/+2 natural, or +4 Dex/+3 natural?
The stat bonuses are based and balanced on the size of the element/form you actually take. You would get the lower of the two bonuses in your example. With the two spells you used in the example there is actually no reason to (besides needing to be small) take the smaller form as you gain less from a more powerful spell. In the case of Elemental Body III you actually do gain some additional immunities, but again the bonuses provided by the larger body aren't worth losing in just about every case.
Yes, looking at the other polymorph spells, this seems right.
In the other spells, the bonuses are explicitly tied to the shape (Small animal gets Small animal bonuses, whether you're using beast shape I or beast shape IV), it's only the elemental spells that seem to tie the bonuses only to elemental type rather than size, but I'm guessing the intent was to tie them both.
Yes, looking at the other polymorph spells, this seems right.
In the other spells, the bonuses are explicitly tied to the shape (Small animal gets Small animal bonuses, whether you're using beast shape I or beast shape IV), it's only the elemental spells that seem to tie the bonuses only to elemental type rather than size, but I'm guessing the intent was to tie them both.
Can't argue intent, well I won't argue intent as I wasn't the one who wrote the rule book. What I can say is, the attack you get from choosing an air element is based on size so not taking the largest size you can is counter productive for combat. If you are choosing it for the movement that is one thing, but you could have just used a lower level spell for that (in the case of a non wild shaping druid). Just means you are using more resources for less effect.