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Prerequisites: Cha 13, base attack bonus +3, kitsune.
Special: A kitsune may select this feat any time she would gain a feat.
Benefit: You can take the form of a fox whose appearance is static and cannot be changed each time you assume this form. Your bite attack’s damage is reduced to 1d3 points of damage on a hit, but you gain a +10 racial bonus on Disguise checks made to appear as a fox. Changing from kitsune to fox shape is a standard action. This ability otherwise functions as beast shape II, and your ability scores change accordingly.
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (a piece of the creature whose form you plan to assume)
EFFECT
Range personal
Target you
Duration 1 min./level (D)
DESCRIPTION
When you cast this spell, you can assume the form of any Small or Medium creature of the animal type. If the form you assume has any of the following abilities, you gain the listed ability: climb 30 feet, fly 30 feet (average maneuverability), swim 30 feet, darkvision 60 feet, low-light vision, and scent.
Small animal: If the form you take is that of a Small animal, you gain a +2 size bonus to your Dexterity and a +1 natural armor bonus.
Medium animal: If the form you take is that of a Medium animal, you gain a +2 size bonus to your Strength and a +2 natural armor bonus.
This spell functions as beast shape I, except that it also allows you to assume the form of a Tiny or Large creature of the animal type. If the form you assume has any of the following abilities, you gain the listed ability: climb 60 feet, fly 60 feet (good maneuverability), swim 60 feet, darkvision 60 feet, low-light vision, scent, grab, pounce, and trip.
This spell functions as beast shape I, except that it also allows you to assume the form of a Tiny or Large creature of the animal type. If the form you assume has any of the following abilities, you gain the listed ability: climb 60 feet, fly 60 feet (good maneuverability), swim 60 feet, darkvision 60 feet, low-light vision, scent, grab, pounce, and trip.
Tiny animal: If the form you take is that of a Tiny animal, you gain a +4 size bonus to your Dexterity, a -2 penalty to your Strength, and a +1 natural armor bonus.
Large animal: If the form you take is that of a Large animal, you gain a +4 size bonus to your Strength, a -2 penalty to your Dexterity, and a +4 natural armor bonus.
Does it have unlimited duration because the duration isn't listed?
If it uses the duration of Beast Shape 2, what is your "Caster Level"?
Seeing as it's a kitsune I'd be tempted to say that the transformation would last as long as the kitsune wants, but that might be dubious. If using Beast Shape II, probably use the character's HD as their caster level.
Except Fox Shape modifies the kitsune's racial change shape ability:
Change Shape (Su) A creature with this special quality has the ability to assume the appearance of a specific creature or type of creature (usually a humanoid), but retains most of its own physical qualities. A creature cannot change shape to a form more than one size category smaller or larger than its original form. This ability functions as a polymorph spell, the type of which is listed in the creature's description, but the creature does not adjust its ability scores (although it gains any other abilities of the creature it mimics). Unless otherwise stated, it can remain in an alternate form indefinitely. Some creatures, such as lycanthropes, can transform into unique forms with special modifiers and abilities. These creatures do adjust their ability scores, as noted in their description.
Which is fine, as by itself, a kitsune in Fox Shape is a poor choice for martial combat and unable to cast spells with somatic or verbal components.
Ambrosia Slaad: I'm sorry... where does it state that Fox Shape modifies the Kitsune's racial Change Shape ability?
Is your argument that the part you bolded could be applied to a Kitsune using a Beast Shape spell or really any Polymorph effect?
Also, Tiny sized Foxes can make very good martial combatants. ;)
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Also, Tiny sized Foxes can make very good martial combatants. ;)
Oh god, is this a songbird? ಠ_ಠ
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Thymus Vulgaris: My build uses some of the same things. ;)
Well, considering that there is no badwrongfun, have fun! :D
I don't know where the rules backup for what Ambrosia Slaad says about Fox Shape altering/adding to the kitsune's Change Shape racial ability would be found, but I am tempted to agree, simply because it makes sense that it would work like that.
Maybe it's this line:
You can change into a fox in addition to your other forms.
To me at least, this very much seems to imply that it works off of the existing change shape ability.
Well, for my part I would like it to be permanent. I just don't want it to be that way "because I think that is how it works". I want rules to back me up. The character I have in mind I plan on playing in Fox form as close to 100% of the time as possible.
I agree, 'in addition to your other forms' is a reference to the change shape ability.
I dislike basing a rules standpoint on fluff text. :(
It's not just fluff. It's also a short description of the feat to let you get the gist of it before you read the longer text—great for the purpose of skimming through lots of feats when you don't know exactly what you're looking for.
I hear ya. And it would be if it were that simple.
However, there are a couple of PFS GMs that seem to like to argue with the simplest most common sense things. To me what you say makes sense. Unfortunately to some of them fluff text isn't a hard enough rule for them to base something on. ...and honestly, even though I agree that is how it works, with only flavor text to base something on I can honestly see table variation as a possibility.
Hm. While I doubt it will ever make it there if you do not mind, please hit FAQ.
1. If it doesn't have indefinite duration, it would work according to your character level by general rule.
2. That said:
Kitsune Change Shape:
Change Shape (Su) A kitsune can assume the appearance of a specific single human form of the same sex. The kitsune always takes this specific form when she uses this ability. A kitsune in human form cannot use her bite attack, but gains a +10 racial bonus on Disguise checks made to appear human. Changing shape is a standard action. This ability otherwise functions as alter self, except that the kitsune does not adjust her ability scores.
Fox Shape uses the same language, other than:
-Referring to foxes instead of humans;-To beast shape II rather than alter self;
-DOES (rather than does not) modify your stats for altered size. This sometimes happens with Change Shape abilities.
That all said:
If the kitsune racial (Change Shape) has infinite duration as per the UMR, then Fox Shape also does since it's just another instance of Change Shape.
Byakko: I had been working on something similar myself and then realized it could be done with Fox Shape and have become interested. It is also for PFS and I have my 1 game in for the Kitsune. The RP opportunity interests me as much as exploring the mechanics. I am one of those rare breeds that believes that one is able to both power game AND roleplay and that they are not mutually exclusive and neither is to be hated. Weird, right? ;)
Neither do I believe that powergaming is an apt description, really. Its more like "finding the proper mechanics to support the image of the character I'm trying to build".
Thank you for sharing your experience. That makes me feel better. There are a still a couple of PFS GMs that I expect to disagree with the simplest things so I like to go in prepared.
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I see it as the chance to play the Black Beast of Caer Bannog. Who wouldn't jump at that?
Get your Monty Python right. That video shows the rabbit of Caer Bannog. The black beast of arghhhhhhhh is what they find inside the cave.
Kudos to those willing to think outside the box and are eager to try playing as a something other than a boring ol' bipedal humanoid.
Is there a link to this fabled Songbird build? Whatever it is, it sounds intriguing.
Kudos to those willing to think outside the box and are eager to try playing as a something other than a boring ol' bipedal humanoid.
Is there a link to this fabled Songbird build? Whatever it is, it sounds intriguing.
Aren't they foxes who can assume human form?
Aren't they foxes who can assume human form?
In Japanese mythology, yes.
In Pathfinder, they're a race of anthropomorphic foxes who can assume human form. And can also take a feat to transform into good old-fashioned regular foxes too.
Beastspeak, Silent Spell, or Ring of Eloquence handles Verbal Components.
Which is why I specifically included:
Which is fine, as by itself, a kitsune in Fox Shape is a poor choice for martial combat and unable to cast spells with somatic or verbal components.
Ring of eloquence would meld into the fox form. Beastspeak and Silent Spell would work, assuming the spell didn't have somatic components, but they're also resources the kitsune caster could be spending on a SoS/SoS spell or another feat, etc.
Ambrosia Slaad: I'm sorry... where does it state that Fox Shape modifies the Kitsune's racial Change Shape ability?
Is your argument that the part you bolded could be applied to a Kitsune using a Beast Shape spell or really any Polymorph effect?
Also, Tiny sized Foxes can make very good martial combatants. ;)
As others have said, the wording of the Fox Shape feat is pretty specific and covers it. However, it would only cover the forms covered by the kitsune's racial change shape; other polymorph effects remain unaffected and have the normal spell's duration.
Why wouldn't the ring of eloquence keep functioning?
Oops, you (and blackbloodtroll) were right:
...The wearer retains the ability to speak in these languages even if she assumes a form normally unable to do so (such as a druid wild shaped into a wolf).
I blame Cosmo for too much website editing addling my brain cell.
The guy who never speaks, only makes strange, obnoxious, and unrealistic animal noises, and uses overtly disruptive pantomime.
I know that guy. The guy who roleplays animals only.
As a DM, I would give him the ring for free.
LOL!
Yeah... I don't plan on being an annoying player. The Ring of Eloquence will be one of my early investments. ...although I am thinking of only ever using it to whisper into my son's character's ear. ;)