So, my druid is going to be level 12 soon(TM) and she'll get access to the last real upgrade to her wild shape ability.
My question though is, does she get the DR from elemental body IV even if she's not a huge elemental. From the way I read the rules it seams she does:
At 12th level, a druid can use wild shape to change into a Huge elemental or a Huge plant creature. When taking the form of an elemental, the druid's wild shape now functions as elemental body IV. When taking the form of a plant, the druid's wild shape now functions as plant shape III.
This spell functions as elemental body III, except that it also allows you to assume the form of a Huge air elemental, Huge earth elemental, Huge fire elemental, or Huge water elemental. The abilities you gain depend upon the type of elemental into which you change. You are also immune to bleed damage, critical hits, and sneak attacks while in elemental form and gain DR 5/—.
Air elemental: As elemental body I except that you gain a +4 size bonus to your Strength, +6 size bonus to your Dexterity, and a +4 natural armor bonus. You also gain fly 120 feet (perfect).
Earth elemental: As elemental body I except that you gain a +8 size bonus to your Strength, a -2 penalty on your Dexterity, a +4 size bonus to your Constitution, and a +6 natural armor bonus.
Fire elemental: As elemental body I except that you gain a +6 size bonus to your Dexterity, a +4 size bonus to your Constitution, and a +4 natural armor bonus.
Water elemental: As elemental body I except that you gain a +4 size bonus to your Strength, a -2 penalty on your Dexterity, a +8 size bonus to your Constitution, and a +6 natural armor bonus. You also gain swim 120 feet.
From how I read it I also assume that you DON'T get the 120 feet fly or swim speed UNLESS you're huge. Since those are spesifically mentioned under the seperate elementals.
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At level 12 you use the Elemental Body 4 spell for all elemental wild shapes
This means regardless of size all your elemental forms gain DR 5/-.
This is one if those cases where your wildshape gives you abilities above and beyond the normal creature but in a consistent and incremental way.
As you said the flight speed of 120' would only apply while a Huge Air Elemental.
The DR is part of phrase that has 'also'.
As in, you get those form options, and you ALSO get DR. They are separate things. This spell (which the wildshape is based off of) adds new options, and upgrades all the options.
That particular fly speed is only while huge, yes. That is because it is part of the listed benefits of that form. It is not part of the 'also'. It is part of the original statement about forms and the benefits that come from those forms.
Do Animal forms with DR also grant you DR? Or they don't because it's an "ability" not listed in the Beast Shape description?
I can't find this anywhere online... but there are hints saying that people DO grant DR to their animal forms.
Do Animal forms with DR also grant you DR? Or they don't because it's an "ability" not listed in the Beast Shape description?
I can't find this anywhere online... but there are hints saying that people DO grant DR to their animal forms.
The OP understood things exactly correct. To your question DeZrog, you have to look at the description in the various polymorph spells and/or Wildshape ability. There is usually a description of perks, bonuses, or abilities that you get on the front end. These are applied to any shape or form you assume with the spell/feature. After that description, there is a list of specific sizes or types of creatures you can become. In that list, you'll see an additional listing of various animal abilities. Regardless of whatever a real/normal animal/monster can do, you only get the abilities of the animal that match that part of the spell description.
So, specifically for DR. You get a set amount for the use of the spell, regardless of the base creatures natural DR. Sometimes it's better, but often Wildshape is squishier than a real animal, unless you build to be a melee type Druid.
So unless it strictly says DR in the ability list, you don't get DR? I was wondering if it was more like a racial trait or a melee attack ability (i.e. a characteristic of the form)...
The Polymorph section seems rather vague about it:
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. While most of these should be obvious, the GM is the final arbiter of what abilities depend on form and are lost when a new form is assumed. Your new form might restore a number of these abilities if they are possessed by the new form.
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Azothath is correct on the DR matter. To his second point, though, there’s probably a better example to be made than the tiger—given that the Druid’s wild shape ability actually gives you all of the things he mentioned by level 8. Meanwhile, buying animals to fight for you and/or to magically possess them (though with a means other than magic jar, which isn’t on the Druid’s spell list) doesn’t feel very appropriate to the class.