I was just looking over the wording for the spells such as Beast Shape and Plant Shape and my question is this;
Can you become any creature listed in that type category or only creatures of that type and that size listed for the spell?
For example, Plant Shape I allows you to become a medium plant, let's say a violet fungus since it's medium sized. Can I use Plant Shape II or III to become a Large or Huge Violet Fungus? Plant Shape I to become a medium sized Treant? Or Beast Shape I, could I become a medium sized Tyrannosaurus Rex?
I could go on and on with examples but I hope that conveys my query.
I doubt it, you are not allowed to add templates, you become a "typical" member of the race.
No, due to poor foresight.
I thought the same, but in checking the rules I don't see the "typical member of the species" text anywhere in either the Polymorph subschool rules or the individual spells. Here's the relevant texts, for reference:
Polymorph: A polymorph spell transforms your physical body to take on the shape of another creature. While these spells make you appear to be the creature, granting you a +20 bonus on Disguise skill checks, they do not grant you all of the abilities and powers of the creature. Each polymorph spell allows you to assume the form of a creature of a specific type, granting you a number of bonuses to your ability scores and a bonus to your natural armor. In addition, each polymorph spell can grant you a number of other benefits, including movement types, resistances, and senses. If the form you choose grants these benefits, or a greater ability of the same type, you gain the listed benefit. If the form grants a lesser ability of the same type, you gain the lesser ability instead. Your base speed changes to match that of the form you assume. If the form grants a swim or burrow speed, you maintain the ability to breathe if you are swimming or burrowing. The DC for any of these abilities equals your DC for the polymorph spell used to change you into that form.
In addition to these benefits, you gain any of the natural attacks of the base creature, including proficiency in those attacks. These attacks are based on your base attack bonus, modified by your Strength or Dexterity as appropriate, and use your Strength modifier for determining damage bonuses.
If a polymorph spell causes you to change size, apply the size modifiers appropriately, changing your armor class, attack bonus, Combat Maneuver Bonus, and Stealth skill modifiers. Your ability scores are not modified by this change unless noted by the spell.
Unless otherwise noted, polymorph spells cannot be used to change into specific individuals. Although many of the fine details can be controlled, your appearance is always that of a generic member of that creature's type. Polymorph spells cannot be used to assume the form of a creature with a template or an advanced version of a creature.
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. Items that provide constant bonuses and do not need to be activated continue to function while melded in this way (with the exception of armor and shield bonuses, which cease to function). Items that require activation cannot be used while you maintain that form. While in such a form, you cannot cast any spells that require material components (unless you have the Eschew Materials or Natural Spell feat), and can only cast spells with somatic or verbal components if the form you choose has the capability to make such movements or speak, such as a dragon. Other polymorph spells might be subject to this restriction as well, if they change you into a form that is unlike your original form (subject to GM discretion). If your new form does not cause your equipment to meld into your form, the equipment resizes to match your new size.
While under the effects of a polymorph spell, you lose all extraordinary and supernatural abilities that depend on your original form (such as keen senses, scent, and darkvision), as well as any natural attacks and movement types possessed by your original form. You also lose any class features that depend upon form, but those that allow you to add features (such as sorcerers that can grow claws) still function. While most of these should be obvious, the GM is the final arbiter of what abilities depend on form and are lost when a new form is assumed. Your new form might restore a number of these abilities if they are possessed by the new form.
You can only be affected by one polymorph spell at a time. If a new polymorph spell is cast on you (or you activate a polymorph effect, such as wild shape), you can decide whether or not to allow it to affect you, taking the place of the old spell. In addition, other spells that change your size have no effect on you while you are under the effects of a polymorph spell.
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.
<snip table>
When you cast this spell you can assume the form of any Small or Medium creature of the plant type. If the form you assume has any of the following abilities, you gain the listed ability: darkvision 60 feet, low-light vision, constrict, grab, and poison. If the form you assume does not possess the ability to move, your speed is reduced to 5 feet and you lose all other forms of movement. If the creature has vulnerability to an element, you gain that vulnerability.
Small plant: If the form you take is that of a Small plant, you gain a +2 size bonus to your Constitution and a +2 natural armor bonus.
Medium plant: If the form you take is that of a Medium plant, you gain a +2 size bonus to your Strength, a +2 enhancement bonus to your Constitution, and a +2 natural armor bonus.
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This spell functions as plant shape I except that it also allows you to assume the form of a Large creature of the plant type. If the creature has immunity or resistance to any elements, you gain resistance 20 to those elements. If the creature has vulnerability to an element, you gain that vulnerability.
Large plant: If the form you take is that of a Large plant, you gain a +4 size bonus to your Strength, a +2 size bonus to your Constitution, and a +4 natural armor bonus.
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This spell functions as plant shape II except that it also allows you to assume the form of a Huge creature of the plant type. If the form you assume has any of the following abilities, you gain the listed ability: DR, regeneration 5, and trample.
Huge plant: If the form you take is that of a Huge plant, you gain a +8 size bonus to your Strength, a –2 penalty to your Dexterity, a +4 size bonus to your Constitution, and a +6 natural armor bonus.
As far as I can tell, nothing in there prohibits you from becoming a Large violet fungus (advanced through hit dice, not through templates, although even then I don't see any rules prohibiting templates either). This makes sense, because you get much less for it than you did in 3.5; the stat gains are fixed by size category and the special abilities are limited by the spell. There's no gamist or simulationist reason not to allow it (at least for the "natural" size ranges of the creature in question -- gargantuan house cats are probably not really intended).
Please reread the fourth paragraph of what you posted;
Unless otherwise noted, polymorph spells cannot be used to change into specific individuals. Although many of the fine details can be controlled, your appearance is always that of a generic member of that creature's type. Polymorph spells cannot be used to assume the form of a creature with a template or an advanced version of a creature.
What Kierato said, you can become any monster which fits the limitations of the spell,
you can´t ´make up your monster´ applying a new size to an existing monster.
The only gray area is cases where the Bestiary (or other official source) actually says that a distinct species exists, using the stats of another species with a ´size´ template applied (for convenience´s sake)*. But the RAW is clear, no templates, and you get the suite of characteristics (attacks, movement, abilities, size) associated with one specific, existing monster species. (Likewise, you can´t just add on eligible Special Abilities to any monster)
* The only problem here is discerning what is legitimate? If it has a totally different name it´s OK, but if it´s called ´Giant Raven´ or ´Dire Dolphin´ then it´s not OK? If ´Dire Dolphins´ exist in the game world, why exactly aren´t they considered a separate eligible species, but ´Killer Dolphins´ (treated as Dolphins with Dire Template) ARE a valid separate species? The problem here is just that taking a hard line on the RAW effectively means many species can´t be polymorphed into because Paizo has chosen to represent them as Templated variants on other species. AFAIK there isn´t any feedback from the design staff on this, though some other Paizoans chimed in with essentially what I discuss here.
Yep, there it is. Thanks.
Who's talking about applying templates?
All you have to do is modify the damage from it's attacks up or down according to the size changing rules (a d4 becomes a d6 or whatnot) to fit your new size.
You would still only gain the benefits listed in the spell description, so a medium sized (Plant Shape I) Treant wouldn't have trample, for example, and you only gain the ability score modifications listed in the spell description.
That would be advancement, which is outlawed in polymorph spells (see my first post).
The only gray area is cases where the Bestiary (or other official source) actually says that a distinct species exists, using the stats of another species with a ´size´ template applied (for convenience´s sake)*
Yeah. I'm so sad I can't turn into a Small Pouncing Velociraptor... Deinonychus meh, I'm a finesse rogue!