Okay, so I came up with a fun idea, that sounds too fun so naturally I question the legality of it because fun things are often illegal. Like J-Walking.
Question: How far can we push the limits of the words "equipment resizes to match your new size" when it comes to size changing effects?
So I made a tiny race using the race builder. He's a tiny mouse that builds dollhouses with a diminutive thrush "Mauler" familiar. He builds a "dollhouse" saddle on his dim mauler, and at level three it grows three sizes to medium as a standard action. Does my tiny mouse race now fly in style inside his size medium dollhouse castle?
Sounds like it'd work, I think you'd use the rules for a howdah rather than a saddle as such though.
Also, since mauler familiars lose any ability to speak - not just the ability granted to familiars of level 5+ masters - I'd suggest something other than a thrush.
Oh wow, I didn't even know a howdah was a thing in pathfinder. Good idea! :)
Cool idea! :)
This is a really cool idea.
Ok question: Since the Mauler doesn't lose the Share Spells ability, any reason why you couldn't use Beast Shape III to turn the Thrush+Howdah to Huge and then make it permanent with Permanency?
And if so, could you use Battle Form ability from Mauler to revert back to Medium size 3x day?
I'm thinking something like the oliphaunts and Haradrim in LOTR, except flying, and can switch to a medium sized creature when I don't want to be the primary target or so garishly large that I can't be sneaky.
permanency doesn't have beast shape on the list of spells it can effect. Also equipment would merge with the body under beast shape. If you had a different polymorph and you had some other means of extending the duration then the mauler polymorph setting size to medium could usefully override it though.
This is a really cool idea.
Ok question: Since the Mauler doesn't lose the Share Spells ability, any reason why you couldn't use Beast Shape III to turn the Thrush+Howdah to Huge and then make it permanent with Permanency?
And if so, could you use Battle Form ability from Mauler to revert back to Medium size 3x day?
I think only "polymorph any object" would work in that scenario, however you would have to equip a real Howdah at that point because the shapechange rules say if you transform into an animal, your gear melds into your body. The mauler can do it because its only growing in size. I think Mammoth rider would be the best prestige class to just get a permanent huge mount for your travels :D