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Inspired by this thread, I've started working on a guide to the various Wild Shape forms. Hopefully it will be an easy reference guide for finding the fastest or best combat forms at the different sizes, so you don't have to slog through three bestiaries to find the fastest small swimmer or what have you.
However, going through, I've found a question coming up repeatedly. Polymorph effects give you the natural attacks of a form, but no other abilities unless specifically listed. The question, then, is what about natural described as extraordinary abilities? Things like the Giant Frog's "Tongue," which are both special attacks and natural attacks? Or something like the Dimetrodon's Tearing Jaws, which would be out as an extraordinary ability, but would have applied if it was just contained in the stat block instead of getting a special mention later.
I'd strongly lean towards them not being usable while polymorphed into the form, but I thought I'd get a second opinion. Wouldn't want to cheat such creatures out of at least a mention for their unique abilities, after all.
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Inspired by this thread, I've started working on a guide to the various Wild Shape forms. Hopefully it will be an easy reference guide for finding the fastest or best combat forms at the different sizes, so you don't have to slog through three bestiaries to find the fastest small swimmer or what have you.
However, going through, I've found a question coming up repeatedly. Polymorph effects give you the natural attacks of a form, but no other abilities unless specifically listed. The question, then, is what about natural described as extraordinary abilities? Things like the Giant Frog's "Tongue," which are both special attacks and natural attacks? Or something like the Dimetrodon's Tearing Jaws, which would be out as an extraordinary ability, but would have applied if it was just contained in the stat block instead of getting a special mention later.
I'd strongly lean towards them not being usable while polymorphed into the form, but I thought I'd get a second opinion. Wouldn't want to cheat such creatures out of at least a mention for their unique abilities, after all.
As written, you don't get them, and I think that was intentional. The wild shape ability is spontaneous, so they have to limit what you can do with it a little bit.