Is Fitting armor needed for a Mauler familiar that changes size?

[Michael Haneline]

Mauler familiars get the following ability:

Battle Form (Su)

At 3rd level, a mauler gains the ability to transform into a larger, more ferocious form and back at will. In battle form, the mauler’s size becomes Medium and the mauler gains a +2 bonus to Strength (this stacks with the normal Strength adjustments for increasing in size).

I was planning on having this for one of my characters and buying it Fitting armor for it. But now it sounds like Fitting might get banned in PFS because of the recent FAQ ruling.

I saw some threads arguing that Battle Form is a polymorph effect, and so any armor that familiar wears changes size when he does. Yet that description does not say anything about it being a polymorph effect. Was there some clarification somewhere that I missed? If not, is there some other reason armor it wears would change size when it does? Or would it need fitting armor? (And if it is not wearing fitting armor, and is just wearing tiny armor, would the armor be destroyed or something when it grew?)

Also, yes, I'm aware the familiar would need to use its one feat to "unlock" its armor slot.

[Mark Seifter]

It is indeed a polymorph effect; that'll be clarified more directly in Ultimate Wilderness.

[Gisher]

Mark Seifter wrote:

It is indeed a polymorph effect; that'll be clarified more directly in Ultimate Wilderness.

Very interesting. Not about Battle Form being a polymorph effect (since you have mentioned that before), but because this is in Ultimate Wilderness. I guess that's part of the "[n]ew and expanded rules to push your animal companions, mounts, and familiars to wild new heights."

[Tallow]

Michael Haneline wrote:

Mauler familiars get the following ability:

(And if it is not wearing fitting armor, and is just wearing tiny armor, would the armor be destroyed or something when it grew?)

When you have a polymorph effect, and the armor doesn't resize or reshape (because you are changing your shape, not just size), then your armor and other items meld into your new shape.

These rules are under Polymorph in the magic chapter of the CRB.

[Michael Haneline]

Tallow wrote:

Michael Haneline wrote:

Mauler familiars get the following ability:

(And if it is not wearing fitting armor, and is just wearing tiny armor, would the armor be destroyed or something when it grew?)

When you have a polymorph effect, and the armor doesn't resize or reshape (because you are changing your shape, not just size), then your armor and other items meld into your new shape.

These rules are under Polymorph in the magic chapter of the CRB.

Yes, I read the polymorph rules, but they said if you just change your size then your equipment grows with you. Are you saying you think the battle form ability is more than just a size change?

[Tallow]

No, I was answering the question about armor being destroyed

[Michael Haneline]

Tallow wrote:

No, I was answering the question about armor being destroyed

OH, got ya.

[Michael Haneline]

Hmm, I just reread polymorph subschool, and noted that it says "When you cast a polymorph spell that changes you into a creature of the animal, dragon, elemental, magical beast, plant, or vermin type, all of your gear melds into your body." Does that include mauler familiar's battle form, then?

Will that also be clarified in Ultimate Wilderness, Mark?

[claudekennilol]

Michael Haneline wrote:

Hmm, I just reread polymorph subschool, and noted that it says "When you cast a polymorph spell that changes you into a creature of the animal, dragon, elemental, magical beast, plant, or vermin type, all of your gear melds into your body." Does that include mauler familiar's battle form, then?

Will that also be clarified in Ultimate Wilderness, Mark?

Reread it again. It's not "changing" the creature's type. Magical Beast to Magical Beast changes no types.