I mean, seriously, the vast majority of polymorph forms become death traps when your AC drops by as much as 8 points. Why does this rule even exist?
I can understand melded armor not helping, but bracers of armor essentially functions like mage armor (which DOES work while polyormphed), so why do the bracers suddenly stop functioning even though every other continuous item doesn't?
Seems extremely arbitrary to me.
Discuss your thoughts.
I thought items that were always on such as the bracers of armor or rings of protection did continue to function. I don't normally use polymorph rules so I may have missed something.
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I think the rule is pretty nonsensical as well. Paizo certainly went a bit overboard with their polymorph-nerfing.
wraithstrike:
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).
I think it is just poor wording. I would allow Bracers of Armor to continue to function, personally. I think the intent was that your shield and your armor are gone, so you don't get the benefit from them to your AC, though you would keep other bonuses (such as a fire resist enchant).
It says in the magic section that items that provide armor or shield bonuses cease to function. Rings of protection (which provide a defelection bonus) and amulets of natural armor (which provide an enhancement bonus to natural armor) do continue to function.
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I think the rule is pretty nonsensical as well. Paizo certainly went a bit overboard with their polymorph-nerfing.
wraithstrike:
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).
Does this mean that non-AC effects of magical armor and shields, such as energy resistance, shadow, or fortification, still function?
Does this mean that non-AC effects of magical armor and shields, such as energy resistance, shadow, or fortification, still function?I think the rule is pretty nonsensical as well. Paizo certainly went a bit overboard with their polymorph-nerfing.
wraithstrike:
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).
Due to the armor melding into the form and you losing 'armor and shield bonuses' RAW would be a yes.
I managed to get a comment from James Jacobs on the matter.
Bracers, like armor, are worn objects that provide an armor bonus. When you polymorph, your worn armor melds with your body because the flavor of the spell doesn't want to get all complicated with transforming the shape of your armor in order to fit, say, a bear or an octopus or whatever. And since bracers of armor are basically just "armor" by another name, for sake of ease and balance, they get absorbed like anything else.
If it's that big a deal... take off the bracers and polymorph and then put them back on if you've got things in your new form that can wear bracers.
Now, the idea that polymorph spells become "death traps" is hyperbole. Remember, most of those folks who are typically using polymorph effects are spellcasters who don't have really strong armor options. Even druids are limited in the type of armor they can wear, and arcane spellcasters are normally going to be using mage armor anyway due to the relatively prohibitive cost of bracers of armor +5 or greater. So the typical polymorpher is gaining better physical stats and attacks and natural armor than they normally have. If you're playing a character who already has a really good armor class and good physical attacks... polymorph is probably not for you.
Furthermore... there are other uses for polymorph that don't involve combat. Disguises, transport, etc.
And it may well be arbitrary... but that's what ALL the rules are. Arbitrary. If they weren't they would be more like guidelines or suggestions, and that's an entirely different game.
Take from it what you will. I'm just happy the designers bother to provide some input at all.
I think he's mistaken about spellcasters not having armor options for one thing. Other classes get armor and class bonuses. Spellcasters get spell buffs, polymorph and the like.
At high levels, a spellcaster with an amulet of natural armor +5 a ring of protection +5, bracers of armor +8, a +5 buckler (or shield spell) can survive without too much trouble (that's around a 34 AC for you math light weights). However, when he changes into a Huge Earth Elemental (one of the better armored forms), then he gains +6 natural armor, but then suffers a -11 penalty to AC (-8 bracers, -2 size, -1 Dex). His AC is suddenly 5 points lower, meaning that if he were to try to go into melee combat against level appropriate enemies (kind of implied with this particular form) he would get totally creamed.
I don't expect him to do damage like a fighter, but I do expect his high level spells to not get him killed. If he had kept the bonus to AC from his bracers, the spell might actually be good for something other than escaping with earth glide or flight.
It seems pretty clear that this was an attempt to keep druids as less than fighters and other martial classes, which they should be. It's rough for a while, but +1 Wild Stoneplate only costs about 18k and a single feat, and that's very easily in your budget by 9th or 10th level- sooner even, if you're casting Greater Magic Fang and Barkskin.
In the druid community there seems to be this huge scare of purchasing Wild armor because it's a +3 enchantment and I don't really understand that. Wild Shape is already really powerful in what it does, so it's a bit more expensive to get to where a fighter is but it's not impossible.
And as for other polymorph forms I've never had a problem with it. Wizards/sorcerers don't have access to this but can instead cast mage armor/shield, and humanoid forms change the armor to fit your new form.
Honestly, I don't see an issue with it. The game provides many ways to make up for this if you're willing to seek them out. It (helps) keep casters from being better fighters than the actual fighters, though they can come pretty close with some serious investment.
Edit: Dang. Sorta ninja'd by James Jacobs.
Its weird that Mage Armor works but bracers don't. They have the same effect, don't they? Also, Armor bonus from armour and bracers are actually different because one of them is a force effect. I think there should be a different category of bonus for it. Call it "Force Armour."
Well, they could make Mage Armor a deflection bonus, but if they did that it would not stack with rings of protection.
Its weird that Mage Armor works but bracers don't. They have the same effect, don't they? Also, Armor bonus from armour and bracers are actually different because one of them is a force effect. I think there should be a different category of bonus for it. Call it "Force Armour."
mage armor is a spell. bracers of armor are worn items. Ongoing spells aren't impacted by the polymorph school because they are not dependent on form. Items are because they are to various degrees absorbed.
I mean, seriously, the vast majority of polymorph forms become death traps when your AC drops by as much as 8 points. Why does this rule even exist?
I can understand melded armor not helping, but bracers of armor essentially functions like mage armor (which DOES work while polyormphed), so why do the bracers suddenly stop functioning even though every other continuous item doesn't?
I had similar thoughts when I learned about the polymorph rules. I'd been planning on taking Elemental Body on my magus eventually, but the polymorph rules make it a poor decision.
My belief is that the intent is to prevent these spells from being useful to characters who are already melee focused. You can expect spellcasters to not have much in the way of physical defenses, so these spells are appealing. But the loss of melee-oriented defensive magics means that melee characters will find less to love.
My belief is that the intent is to prevent these spells from being useful to characters who are already melee focused.
If it is, that makes one wonder why the synthesist archetype was printed. It gets top-notch melee capabilities, as well as defensive spells like mage armor and shield to complement their melee focus.
Wait. The protection from bracers of armor isn't a force effect? Since when!?
The flavor text states they are field of force, but the actual crunch of the item states armor bonus and nothing about applying towards incorporeal creatures and such.