I go a few question on wildshape since I'm thinking about playing a druid.
1. Can I cast Greater Magic Fang (the +1 to all attacks version) on myself before I use wildshape and still get the bonus to all attacks when I do change my form? I think this should work since you can cast GMF on an unarmed strike but I'm not quite sure.
2. Does Wildshape change your creature type? I've read the polymorph rules like 5 times but I can't find an answer. It always says you assume the form of another creature but never mentions anything about your type changing or not. I know I don't get the elemental or plant trait immunities with the exception of the few mentioned by the higher spells, but for the purpose of spells and other abilities do I actually become an animal or elemental or plant when I use wildshape?
3. Do I read correctly that a druid cannot assume the form of magical beasts with his wildshape ability despite the higher beast shape spell's ability to grant such forms?
4. Elemental body II-IV say they work like Elemental Body I exept they grant better bonuses and the ability to change into larger elementals. Unlike Beast shape and plant shape, however, it does not link the better bonuses to the larger forms. As I read it, Elemental Body IV would allow me to change into an elemental of any size (small-huge) and get the bonuses listed in elemental body IV. So I could be a small earth elemental with +8 Strength, -2 Dex and +6 natural armor?
1) It's a magical effect and you still have it after the shape, so yes I'd say thats how it works.
2) You know, I wondered that very same thing myself, and I can't find an answer to it either.
3) That's correct. You can assume specific forms as if using beast shape, but you are not infact using beast shape.
4) Hmm, I see what you mean... It would seem your interpretation is indeed the RAW. Elementals are alien creatures their physical strength doesn't necessarily have to have any relation to their body. So if you really spend a 7th level slot on changing into a small elemental you gain moer than if you just spend a 4th level one. Of course druids circumvent this somehow.
1. I think that it should be fine: note that the spell is cast upon creature not specific natural attack. From the description of the spell I would say that even magic fang or focused greater magic fang could be cast in this way: it does not targets natural weapon, it targets living creature, thus it can be cast at creature not possessing specificed natural attack yet.
E.g. 8th druid casts greater magic fang on himself and picks claws to get +2 enhancement bonus. He does not have claws so gets no bonus until he grows some through a spell or wildshape.
2.It does not. Polymorphs do not change type, you are still your old type so you cannot be targeted with animal-only spells.
3. Wildshape mentions only animal when referring to beast shape so no, not without alternate class abilities, feats or other effects.
4. The way it is written it could be like you wrote, but I think that intent was for the bonuses only to apply to elemental shapes of specific size.
1. Can I cast Greater Magic Fang (the +1 to all attacks version) on myself before I use wildshape and still get the bonus to all attacks when I do change my form? I think this should work since you can cast GMF on an unarmed strike but I'm not quite sure.
Greater magic fang should work. Even regular ol magic fang should work as long as you've got the body part before you shift.
2. Does Wildshape change your creature type? I've read the polymorph rules like 5 times but I can't find an answer. It always says you assume the form of another creature but never mentions anything about your type changing or not. I know I don't get the elemental or plant trait immunities with the exception of the few mentioned by the higher spells, but for the purpose of spells and other abilities do I actually become an animal or elemental or plant when I use wildshape?
If a product doesn't say that it regrows hair then it doesn't. Your creature type appears to remain unchanged.
Hmmm i don' know about the crit immunity. On the one hand its not specifically called out as a feature you gain, on the other hand it is a direct result of the gross physical anatomy of the form.
RAW no, realistically yes.
3. Do I read correctly that a druid cannot assume the form of magical beasts with his wildshape ability despite the higher beast shape spell's ability to grant such forms?
Huh. Never noticed that before. RAW they can't. I don't know if it was left off the list on accident.
4. Elemental body II-IV say they work like Elemental Body I exept they grant better bonuses and the ability to change into larger elementals. Unlike Beast shape and plant shape, however, it does not link the better bonuses to the larger forms. As I read it, Elemental Body IV would allow me to change into an elemental of any size (small-huge) and get the bonuses listed in elemental body IV. So I could be a small earth elemental with +8 Strength, -2 Dex and +6 natural armor?
Hey! a clear answer. You get the bonus of your shape or the spell, whichever is lower. If you want the +8 strength you need to be huge.
4. Elemental body II-IV say they work like Elemental Body I exept they grant better bonuses and the ability to change into larger elementals. Unlike Beast shape and plant shape, however, it does not link the better bonuses to the larger forms. As I read it, Elemental Body IV would allow me to change into an elemental of any size (small-huge) and get the bonuses listed in elemental body IV. So I could be a small earth elemental with +8 Strength, -2 Dex and +6 natural armor?Hey! a clear answer. You get the bonus of your shape or the spell, whichever is lower. If you want the +8 strength you need to be huge.
Well the problem is this:
Elemental Shape 4 says it works like ES 3, just allows huge elementals. ES 3 says it works like 2 just large etc.Elemental Shape 4 also says if you turn into an Earth Elemental you get a +8 bonus on strenght.
I just noticed it specifically calls it a size bonus, so it would make sense it's tied to size. So I'm going to change my verdict from before and say the RAI at least is that it's size dependent, but a strict reading of the RAW would allow it, as weird as it is.
Hmmm i don' know about the crit immunity. On the one hand its not specifically called out as a feature you gain, on the other hand it is a direct result of the gross physical anatomy of the form.
Actually, it DOES mention the crit immunity. But only for elemental Body III and IV.
You get the bonus of your shape or the spell, whichever is lower. If you want the +8 strength you need to be huge.
Well the strange thing is that plant shape and beast shape (and monstrous physic and undead anatomy and vermin shape) specifically say you only get the higher bonuses IF you change to a larger form. Elemental Body says nothing like that.
After a quick check I see that form of the dragon and Giant Form have the same problem, stating that you can assume a larger form but not linking the better bonuses to the size.I just noticed it specifically calls it a size bonus, so it would make sense it's tied to size. So I'm going to change my verdict from before and say the RAI at least is that it's size dependent, but a strict reading of the RAW would allow it, as weird as it is.
I don't think the bonus type is an idicator. It's just a type of bonus like every other. Alter self can grant a size bonus without actually changing your size.
Well the strange thing is that plant shape and beast shape (and monstrous physic and undead anatomy and vermin shape) specifically say you only get the higher bonuses IF you change to a larger form. Elemental Body says nothing like that.
After a quick check I see that form of the dragon and Giant Form have the same problem, stating that you can assume a larger form but not linking the better bonuses to the size.
I think that it is omission caused by the fact that form of the dragon II/III and giant form II give only one new form each instead of list of new choices.
"This spell functions as form of the dragon I except that it also allows you to assume the form of a Large chromatic or metallic dragon. You gain the following abilities:"
List of gained abilities can be considered to be based upon the condition of picking the Large form. The same language is used in giant form.
If you want larger bonusses to e. g. Str, you need to assume the correctly sized form.
It's not possible to assume a small elemental form using the bonusses of a huge elemental.
This was discussed way back on the example of giant form.
The different forms a druid an assume via wild shape work like this:
- Choose form (animal, elemental, plant)
- Choose size (small, medium, large, huge)
- Apply stat changes and add other gimmicks given by that specific version of the spell your wildshaping mirrors.
Concerning magic fang(, greater), you loose attacking with an unarmed strike as per the humanoid base form, but gain a new one: natural attack, dealing lethal damage (under normal circumstances, exceptions might exist). So I would rule that it does work the way you describe it; casting magic fang(, greater) before wildshaping, transfers the bonus gained from your hands to your claws (or similar) and keeps up with the change from nonlethal to lethal (since it affects both attack forms as spelled out in the spell description.
The spell also states that
[it]does not change an unarmed strike's damage from nonlethal damage to lethal damage.
Mh.
So after wildshaping I am either stuck with a nonlethal attack or no attack (enhancement) at all, since my hands/mouth have changed?Is it a class feature to be able to attack with your hands as unarmed strike doing nonlethal damage? Since you loose them when polymorphing, I would actually lean towards a no... Must.Stop.Over-interpreting.
The druid being not able to change into magical beasts fits flavour-wise, wouldn't you say? Might be a balance issue, too.
The wildshape class feature also specifically mentions that
[h]er options for new forms include all creatures with the animal type.
Emphasis mine.
Ruyan.
I don't think the bonus type is an idicator. It's just a type of bonus like every other. Alter self can grant a size bonus without actually changing your size.If you don't change your size, you don't get the bonus.
Really? I don't see anything in the rules backing that interpretation. If it was correct, a human druid in medium animal form wouldn't get a strength bonus either.
1) I think it's in that grey GM area. I would think it's ok. However, some GMs may say that you had it applied to your unarmed strikes and then when you polymorphed you are now using natural attacks that were not modified by the spell.
2)No. The polymorph section specifically say that the ability you gain are based upon the specific polymorph spell. Since none of those spells state that you gain said creatures type...you don't.
3)Yep. The druids wildshape puts an extra caveat on the Beast Shape spells. Animals only.
4)Correct. It's poorly written. I think it's supposed to be bonuses based upon size of the elemental you choose and work exactly like Beast Shape.