I am DMing HV, and we are nearing the end of book 1, and I am getting tripped up by the hound archon’s “change shape” ability. I know several of them appear later on in the AP as well, so I’d really like to get a handle on them, and a quick search hasn’t yielded much help.
A hound archon’s change shape allows them to assume any canine from small to large, per Beast Shape II. The change shape universal monster ability says it functions as the appropriate polymorph spell, but the creature does not adjust its ability scores.
The polymorph subschool lists a number of effects that impact your stats.
So what exactly happens if a hound archon changes into say, a large dire wolf?
Here is what is obvious to me that happens during the usage of change shape
1) Archon does NOT get +4 size bonus to strength (expressly mentioned in change shape)
2) Archon changes to large size, gaining associated bonuses / penalties to AC, Attacks, CMB/CMD, Stealth skill
3) He retains low-light vision and scent (dire wolf also has these, and BS II allows them)
4) He gains trip ability of a dire wolf, and +4 to CMD vs trip for having 4 legs
5) Replaces his bite / slam with bite attack of a dire wolf (1d8 dmg), at the hound archon’s BA bonus (+6), including proficiency (per polymorph subschool rules)
6) Gear (sword) melds into body, per rules for changing into an animal type (per polymorph subschool rules)
7) Gains +10 to disguise skill to appear as a dire wolf (per polymorph subschool rules)
8) Loses darkvision, which is specifically called out as something lost in the polymorph subschool rules
Here is what is not obvious to me when he uses change shape
1) What is his natural armor in dire wolf form? BS II says you get a “+4 natural armor bonus”. Does this mean a bonus of +4 to his original +9 natural amount? Does it mean you replace his +9 with +4 instead? Or does it mean you take the +3 normal nat AC of a dire wolf and then add a +4 bonus to this? This to me, is VERY unclear (mainly due to the word “bonus”) and I could see a case for it being either +4 or +7 or +13.
2) Per polymorph rules, you lose all extraordinary and supernatural abilities that DEPEND ON YOUR ORIGINAL FORM. I don’t know what this means. Which of the following abilities does and does not a hound archon retain when using change shape?
*Constant spell-like abilities: detect evil, magic circle against evil.
*At will spell-like abilities: aid, continual flame, greater teleport, message.
*Aura of menace
*Damage Reduction
*Immunities
*Spell Resistance
*True Speech
For my part, I'm tempted to let him keep all of the above, as they seem to come from divine gifts, rather than his "form". But I am interested in knowing what the rules actually say should happen.
Thanks in advance for any answers. This is a very confusing topic.
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I just didnt use the form because in book 1 a single hound archon was nearly a brick wall of a difficulty spike for the PCs. They had to get around his DR using bleed damage.
I also ran the entire fortress assault as one big moving fight/encounter too. They had to play it smart and avoid giving the defenders too much line of fire.
They also hired on the Necromancer Warmage from the town and used the cart with the mini ballista as a small APC.
I did much as KujakuDM did, ignored that ability. My players have come to hate when I reach over and grab the couple minis that I have been using for the Hounds. They are hard to injure and hit HARD! (Yeah, the fight with a Hound and the Angel Knight was a near TPK for my group. Nasty fight!)
Then they started running into angels. }:->
The antipaladin in my group smote him with his great sword and killed it single handedly in 2 turns :(