Wild druids dont get to pick a form?


Classes


Can someone point out where wild druids get to pick their form when they spend a spell point to shape change.

Animal form and all of the other shape changing spells state "If you prepare this spell, choose from the options below"

There is nothing in the Wild Shape ability that supersedes this. From the rules preparing spells s only done by prepared casters (Wizard, Druid, Cleric) P 192.

So if they spend a Spell Slot on Animal form they can pick what animal they can change into. If they use their spell pool class ability they become an "Animal" but gain none of the specific abilities or increases to damage etc since this casting of animal form is not prepared.This would also be the case for any Spontaneous casters that chooses Animal form and its upgrades.

Am I reading this correctly? and is this intended?

Is a level 17 Dragon from druid shifting with his wild shape only dealing 5d4+12? (Armbands to increase unarmed damage)


I don't recall the exact wording but the caveat provided is that if you prepare the spell you have to pick a form when you prepare the spell, not that you can only pick a form if you prepare the spell. That would be silly.

Wild Shape or spontaneous casting you can choose your form when you cast, much more flexible.

Not sure where that last sentence is coming from, especially the d4. Shifting spells grant specific natural attacks with specific dice and damage modifiers, as well as set accuracy (and AC, and modifiers to certain skills) replacing whatever you had in your natural form, called out very clearly within the spell. Heightening the spell often gives more dice or a higher modifier, also clearly stated within the spell.

Handwraps of Mighty Fists have no effect while polymorphed, you just use the damage and accuracy listed for the spell. The exception is if you have Druid's Vestments (A magic item) and activate them when you cast on of these spells, then you use your own accuracy, AC, and skill modifiers (Counting of course any items you have such as Handwraps or armor) IF they are higher than the spell's numbers. This doesn't effect your damage though, you still use the damage dice and modifier listed.


I'm looking for the Caveat codified or the specific spot in the rules where it says that prepared=pick for spontaneous casters/ Power uses.

Rules as intended I 100% agree with the fact it should be more flexible if cast as a spontaneous or wild shaped spell. But the rules as they currently are in the book don't allow for that.

They specifically read "If/When you prepare this spell add one of the following." A line completely unique to those spells.

If you do not prepare Animal form you only get

19 AC
+7 to hit
+1 Damage
5 Temp HP
Low light vision
Athletics bonus +7

The paragraph starting with "If you prepare this spell" only applies if you prepare the spell it does not say if you cast or spontaneously cast this spell or use wild shape. Preparing spells is a specific thing on page 192.

In fact under spontaneous spells on 192 it specifically states You dont prepare spells.


Nice catch. I'm 100% that it's RAI that you chose the shape when you transform (and I assume you would have to chose the shape when you prepare it; which I frankly don't like). But scouring through the book I can't find anywhere RAW that you actually transform into a specific animal when you use animal form; or specific insect, dragon etc. by using wild shape. Only pest form allows you to pick your shape without the "if you prepare this spell" line later in the spell.

I wouldn't play with you not getting any form (it seems insanely weird that you are simply an animal but not specified any further at all) so even if that is technically RAW that to me is clearly an oversight of a badly phrased spell from Paizos side. However it is important to bring issues like this forward so Paizo will know they need to correct it. Or at least specify it clearly if no-shape is the actually intended effect. (It just can't be; it would be too dumb).

If Paizo have actually acknowledged this and changed it somewhere in an errata or FAQ I missed then my bad.

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