The Face of the Devourer spell from the Inner Sea Gods book is interesting in that it looks like in can both buff a melee-based teammate or debuff an enemy spellcaster.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/f/face-of-the-devourer
This line in the text is interesting: "This transformation does not interfere with the target's senses or its ability to breathe, though it might prevent it from speaking."
Obviously this statement is due to the target's tongue and teeth becoming transformed. But what's confusing, is that the statement doesn't properly convey game mechanics.
For example, can a wizard can spells with a verbal component? Can a bard sing her songs?
Any ideas on game mechanics issues here? Thanks!
Contributor
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If the spell prevents the target from speaking (different from casting to casting, and subject to GM interpretation):
Verbal components of all sorts are right out.
Not all bardic music actually requires verbal/vocal activity - however, it wouldn't be untoward to assume that if they can no longer play their instrument or speak, then any performance that requires a skill check of that type is unusable.
So a bard who only has (sing) might be in trouble, while one with (act) or (comedy) might have some leeway. Diversify your performances!
By the same token, (wind instruments) might be prevented by some of the sample transformations, while (percussion instruments) is likely to be fine.
Does that make sense?
The spell says it may prevent the target from speaking, doesn't guarantee it.
It's also only a 1st level spell so it will have a low save DC unless you use it with heighten.
You're much better off just casting Silence on your big stupid fighter and having him grapple the wizard.
As a general tactic to stop someone from casting or a bard from singing it's probably not a great plan of action.
It's supposed to be a buff spell for melee characters, I doubt the intention was to be used offensively. The spell description even says its harmless.
If you really wanted to do it...I would probably give it at most a 25% chance to be unable to speak.
Thanks for your insight about this spell, folks.
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As the spell give the target random features and the spell don't specify a game mechanic either your GM set a chance for it to stop the target from speaking, or he can simply say that the target can speak.
The chance that the spell will stop someone from speaking would be a totally arbitrary number as the spell don't say anything. So a good number of game masters would make it happen only when appropriate to the story.
Note that if the target is under the effect of another polymorph he will be affected by Face of the Devourer only if he want .
You can only be affected by one polymorph spell at a time. If a new polymorph spell is cast on you (or you activate a polymorph effect, such as wild shape), you can decide whether or not to allow it to affect you, taking the place of the old spell. In addition, other spells that change your size have no effect on you while you are under the effects of a polymorph spell.