Hi,
I have two questions about Many Forms:
Many Forms (Su) As a standard action, you can assume the form of a Small or Medium humanoid, as the alter self spell. At 7th level, you can assume the form of a Small or Medium animal, as beast shape I. At 11th level, you can assume the form of a Small or Medium magical beast, as beast shape III. At 15th level, you can assume a variety of forms, as greater polymorph. You can use this ability for 1 minute per day per oracle level. This duration does not need to be consecutive, but it must be spent in 1-minute increments. You must be at least 3rd level to select this revelation.
For the spells mentioned, the spell components are:
Components V, S, M (a piece of the creature whose form you choose).
Question no. 1: since Many Forms is a supernatural ability that functions "as the alter self spell", would it also have verbal, somatic and/or material components? Or does "as the spell" only refer to the outcome of the spell, not to how this is accomplished?
Question no. 2: if Many Forms does have material components, are those considered cheap, thus being made superfluous by the eschew materials feat?
Spell-like abilities never have material components.
If a price is not listed they are considered cheap.
Spell-like abilities never have material components.
If a price is not listed they are considered cheap.
It's not a spell-like ability. It is a supernatural ability.
Supernatural abilities require no components unless it says it does.
I expected that. After all, it doesn't say anywhere that supernatural abilities do have material components.
However, in this particular case, the ability's description says:
As a standard action, you can assume the form of a Small or Medium humanoid, as the alter self spell.
Would you consider "as the alter self spell" as "it says it does"?
Supernatural abilities require no components unless it says it does.
Another reason for needing a material component is that, in my opinion, you would need it to determine the creature you're going to assume the form of. No material component, no creature to imitate.
Which brings me to another question: does alter self make you assume the form of: [list]
Since the spell description says:
Components V, S, M (a piece of the creature whose form you plan to assume)
When you cast this spell, you can assume the form of any Small or Medium creature of the humanoid type.
I assume that the first option would be the correct one. Also,
If the form you take is that of a Small humanoid, you gain a +2 size bonus to your Dexterity.
would seem to point in that direction.
Just to reverse the question, then: would you be able to alter self into a specific individual if you wanted to, or doesn't it allow for that?
It's been almost a year since this topic died a sad, silent death.
Is there anyone who still has anything to contribute? I still have some open questions (see my last post).
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1) "As the alter self" refer to the outcome of the spell. It don't supersede the fat that it is a SU ability. Same thing for the different beast shape.
I, as a GM, would require you to know something about the creature you want to become, so it should be something that you have encountered, or something that can be know with a knowledge check of 10 if you don't have skill rank in the appropriate knowledge, or you should beat the appropriate DC knowledge skill check the first time you try to transform in that creature.
To put it another way: I wouldn't allow you to turn in a Chupacabra because the player has seen it in the Bestiary and he think that 3 attack are nice. But if he has fight one of those or he can beat a DC 18 knowledge arcana or he has spent some time researching the beast he can turn into one.
Note: if you are instead using a spell the knowledge part is moot, as you would have a piece of the creature that give the needed information to the spell.
2) Alter self and assuming a form: the general rules for Polymorph magic apply (they are here), i.e "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."
Subtypes are a valid target, so "aquatic elf" is a valid choice.