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Hey!
Just wanted to test the waters and see what people generally think of this. I've heard it in several places that an elemental can be in any shape (though I don't know where in the rules or bestiaries that is...) What forms can I assume when using the "Elemental Body" spells?
1. Can I assume the shape of some sort of animal?
2. Can I assume the shape of a human / other humanoid?
3. Can I assume the shape of a monstrous humanoid, such as a centaur or witchwyrd (which has 4 arms)?
4. Can I assume any form of which I've seen (including my companions eidolon?).
5. Can I assume any form that I can conceive (such as a 6 armed, two head monstrousity)?
And as a side question, can a barbarian rage while in elemental form?
Thanks ahead of time!
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You can assume about whatever form you want but will get no mechanical advantage out of it. As an example we'll use a witchwyrd. You could certainly tailor your elemental form to that appearance, but possessing the appearance of bearing four arms will not, per RAW (or RAI), grant you more attacks. You get your class abilities and what's listed under elemental body/the elementals themselves only. That being said, you're still going to obviously be an elemental. You'd need a good bit of illusion magic to look like something else in any convincing manner, at least if you wanted to do so without losing elemental traits.
And the barbarian? Can most definitely rage. There isn't anything, to my knowledge (I could be mistaken) in elemental body that will prevent you from using class abilities.
You can be shaped like just about anything...in the same way that Micky Mouse has a head shaped like a rodent. Remember, you turn into a being made that is just a mass of hot air, water, or polished rock. You are not getting fancy enough here to fool anyone. Ever. You mostly just get down the specifics like number of limbs, maybe even something as precise as having fingers.
But yes, you can take anyshape you want, as long as there is no mechanical advantage (like a disguise check or something). It is over all a fairly arbitrary decision. The only advantage that I've seen affected by this choice is that you might be able to wield weapons if you are generally humanoid shaped (you know, pair of legs, hands, etc). I am basing this off the fact that creatures with the elemental subtype gain weapon proficiencies when they possess that shape. While transmutation spells do not the subtype, it certainly points in the favor of working thumbs.
Anyway, about barbarian. Here is the relevant line from the transmutation school:
While under the effects of a polymorph spell, you lose all extraordinary and supernatural abilities that depend on your original form (such as keen senses, scent, and darkvision), as well as any natural attacks and movement types possessed by your original form. You also lose any class features that depend upon form, but those that allow you to add features (such as sorcerers that can grow claws) still function.
So, the bit I would focus on here is the one about "depend on your original form". Now, do you gain rage because you are a human, or because your are a barbarian? Well, then, I am going to presume your answer and say it is a class feature, and has nothing to do with how many toes you possess. And nothing in the rules say that an intelligent wolf can't be a barbarian going about raging (in fact, there are rules that go right to the contrary). So you should be fine. You could even benefit from something like the fiend totem or beast totem and gain some horns or claws if you wanted.
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I've hit the same conclusion with weapon proficiency, that it should work, though I really want to find a bestiary example of this.
As for having no mechanical advantage, is there a specific FAQ or anything else out mentioning that? If not thats fine too, just wondering. My thought was *possibly* assuming the form of a witchwyrd and being able to hold a rod as well as a sword, while having a hand free for spell casting.
I've hit the same conclusion with weapon proficiency, that it should work, though I really want to find a bestiary example of this.
As for having no mechanical advantage, is there a specific FAQ or anything else out mentioning that? If not thats fine too, just wondering. My thought was *possibly* assuming the form of a witchwyrd and being able to hold a rod as well as a sword, while having a hand free for spell casting.
I'll acknowledge that, if we are to work under the assumption of hands, then that would be about the most you could benefit.
You couldn't do multiweapon fighting (since I am fairly sure you need to have multiple arms in your base form to take that), but just having something to hold stuff and being able to do jazz hands? Sure, as long as you are not doing anything too silly (6 arms seems like you might be stretching it). it is up to GM discretion on how far you can take it in that direction.