Do size changing spells and effects provide all of the bonuses for changing size (+ or - Dex/Str, reach/lack of reach, +/- to CMB/CMD, +/- to skills) or do they only provide the bonuses mentioned in the spell or effect?
I know it's often been assumed that they grant the additional bonuses, but I'm beginning to wonder if, in fact, they do or don't. Mainly because Pathfinder is a permissive system. It tells you what you get, not what you don't get. The rules on size changing are pretty clear, but, at the same time, spells tend to grant only what the spell says it grants.
This should clear it right up:
If a polymorph spell causes you to change size, apply the size modifiers appropriately, changing your armor class, attack bonus, Combat Maneuver Bonus, and Stealth skill modifiers. Your ability scores are not modified by this change unless noted by the spell.
The only thing you mentioned that isn't covered by this quote is reach, but that one should be obvious. You can't turn into a tiny cat and have 5' long legs - nobody would believe you're a real cat. Likewise, you can't turn into a big old ogre with 1' long arms - people would think you're hideously deformed. So you get the normal reach of whatever you become.
This should clear it right up:
If a polymorph spell causes you to change size, apply the size modifiers appropriately, changing your armor class, attack bonus, Combat Maneuver Bonus, and Stealth skill modifiers. Your ability scores are not modified by this change unless noted by the spell.The only thing you mentioned that isn't covered by this quote is reach, but that one should be obvious. You can't turn into a tiny cat and have 5' long legs - nobody would believe you're a real cat. Likewise, you can't turn into a big old ogre with 1' long arms - people would think you're hideously deformed. So you get the normal reach of whatever you become.
Phew, thanks for this! I knew I had a reason for thinking size changes altered more than the spell gave, but I couldn't remember what it was and thought it was one of those "everyone just assumed to be true" things.