I have an NPC witch who should be coming up soon in-game who has the Beast Shape II spell coming from her patron (Transformation), and I'm looking for a suitable animal form to use for the spell.
I've been having trouble with that part.
Ideally I'm looking for something large-sized and amphibious, because she might battle the PCs above or below water depending on circumstances. I haven't been able to find anything that's amphibious, large, and an animal all at once though, so I figured I'd check here to see if there's any options I missed.
If it turns out there's nothing that fits what need, then I guess plan B is to find one form for land-based combat, and one form for aquatic combat. I'd rather keep it simple with only one animal form on standby if-possible, though.
Crocodiles, hippos and giant octopus all fit your criteria.
They don't, actually.
Crocodiles and Hippos both benefit from high Constitution scores (and in the case of the crocodile, the Hold Breath ability) that aid in holding their breath for a large number of rounds, but they can't actually breathe water.
And the Octopus is aquatic, rather than amphibious, so its usefulness on land is limited.
The Giant crab seems to be usefull for your purpose. I dont think you loos the ability to breathe air if you polymorf in to a fish btw.
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A couple of fun notes about the Octopus for wild shape.
It has a land speed of 20'.
It has the aquatic type, when you wild shape you don't get it so you still breath air and when swimming breath water.
If its on your spell list combine octopus with spider climb and allow it to climb up the side of the boat, reach over and grab people and dump them in the water.
Use longstrider or expeditions retreat to increase land speed when necessary.
People wonder why Halfling always live inland, its because the small octopus preys on Halflings. They like to sneak up on land grab them and drag them back into the water, a very sad tale but every once in a while Halflings in sea coast village disappear into a dark cloud in the water as they are grappled dragged down then jet'd deep to their doom.
Playing around on the srd reveals the Swamp Barracuda. Though it's medium, the Giant template exists to make it large.
So that's one way I can think of for a large, amphibious animal form.
However, you're then looking at a mere 10ft base speed...which is more than problematic unless you can deny the party the ability to use that lack of mobility. Or let it be their possibility of winning.
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Actually, thanks to a goofy rules loophole, even shapeshifting into a Jaguar lets you breathe underwater.
All you need is a swim speed and you're set. Crocodiles (among other things) definitely work, and seem fitting thematically.
Actually, thanks to a goofy rules loophole, even shapeshifting into a Jaguar lets you breathe underwater.
Now THAT is promising and opens up a lot more options!
Maybe I'll give the witch a backup method of breathing underwater, just in case (water lung hex, or a potion of water breathing, or something), but that little transmutation loophole should make this a lot more interesting as far as what sort of options will work for me.