Deathless Initiate and Polymorph

[Tarantula]

Deathless initiate has Prerequisites: Str 13, Con 13, orc or half-orc, Diehard, Endurance, base attack bonus +6. I am wondering if because of the racial requirement, you would lose the benefits of the feat when polymorphed (because its part of your base form). Thoughts?

[David knott 242]

Polymorph spells do not change your race or creature type.

[Vatras]

Normally that doesn't happen (see David's answer).

If you find a way to change your race/type, it is up to your DM ;)

(As example, if you are a life oracle, you can become the elemental type. I am sure there are other options around, but limited to the point where it isn't an issue.)

[Tarantula]

No, but you would lose the bite attack from Razortusk which also has a pre-req of half-orc.

I'm asking is deathless initiate a physical trait of orcs/half-orcs that would be lost on polymorph (like razortusk) or is it a non-physical thing that only orcs/half-orcs have access to (not sure of a good example).

[David knott 242]

It is an enhancement to your use of the Diehard feat, which is available to any qualifying creature of any form -- so I would say that the Deathless Initiate feat is not tied to your current physical form in any way.

[James Risner]

Tarantula wrote:

I'm asking is deathless initiate a physical trait of orcs/half-orcs that would be lost on polymorph

The rule is:

Quote:

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

So ask your GM.

If I were your GM, I'd say "No, it's a feat" in this case. But in cases like "grow two claws" or "grow a tusks for bite attack", I'd say you lose it.

[Tarantula]

Right. I'm trying to plan ahead for a character concept I have, so just trying to get a general feeling for how it is likely to be ruled. I just want to know to ask ahead of time before we start the campaign, instead of when we are level 11 and then find out it won't work that way. I'll probably end up building the character as half-orc with deathless initiate (the better option) and without (which would make them be staggered when below 0, the worse option).

Thanks for the input!