Does the Jistkan Artificer lose their Golem Arm when using Monstrous Physique?

[BlackBacon]

Does the Jistkan Artificer lose their Golem Arm when they polymorph via Monstrous Physique?

"Golem Arm (Ex): A Jistkan artificer begins play with a golem arm grafted in place of one of his arms. The golem arm is a masterwork weapon" -Transmutation Rules

A: The Golem Arm is specifically a masterwork weapon therefore it doesn't merge into your polymorph.

"If your new form does not cause your equipment to meld into your form, the equipment resizes to match your new size." -Transmutation Rules

B. The Golem Arm is an (Ex) ability dependent on your original form and is therefore lost.

While under the effects of a polymorph spell, you lose all extraordinary and supernatural abilities that depend on your original form (such as keen senses, scent, and darkvision) ... You also lose any class features that depend upon form.

[Melkiador]

My take is that the arm is defined as "is a weapon", so it's 100% a weapon and should be treated as such. I do agree that it's all a bit wonky. Does the arm resizing include taking an arm form that more closely matches the polymorph?

I'd also say the arm ability isn't what's meant by "dependent on your original form". That's generally considered to refer to abilities gained from race and templates. And so, class abilities aren't meant to be included in that description.

[Derklord]

It may not be strict RAW, but it makes absolutely no sense to keep the golem arm - it replaces a natural arm, but when you polymorph into something, you can't pick individual body parts to not gain. The golem arm is a permanent part of your body, that's exactly the stuff polymorphing makes you lose.

[Java Man]

Does a standard polymorph effect replace a missing limb?

[Name Violation]

its an object, objects are absorbed into "most" polymorphed forms

Form of the dragon? no robot arm for you

Form of the Giant? Humanoid, probably keeps the mecha arm

[BlackBacon]

Java Man wrote:

Does a standard polymorph effect replace a missing limb?

As far as I can tell there's no ruling on this, but the general consensus is "probably, but ask your GM."

Derklord wrote:

It may not be strict RAW, but it makes absolutely no sense to keep the golem arm - it replaces a natural arm, but when you polymorph into something, you can't pick individual body parts to not gain. The golem arm is a permanent part of your body, that's exactly the stuff polymorphing makes you lose.

If the Golem Arm stayed I'd assume the new arm would attempt to grow behind the old one but find there's no room. The closest thing I can find RAW is in Enlarge Person "“If insufficient room is available for the desired growth, the creature attains the maximum possible size and may make a Strength check to burst any enclosures in the process.""

[Joesi]

I'm on the side of losing it, but since monstrous humanoid is not an animal, dragon, elemental, magical beast, plant, nor vermin, it could maybe be argued to the GM that it could be reasonable to keep.

Personally I think that since many monstrous humanoids are barely/hardly humanoid (ex. frequently more limbs or missing other organs/limbs), I still think it's a weak argument unless they were polymorphing only into another regular humanoid rather than some 6-armed winged creature.

Overall I'd tend to side with the ruling that regardless of the polymorph form that the arm would either pop off (becoming mostly useless), or meld with the polymorph form, but depending on the case (especially regular humanoid) I'd maybe accommodate a player. I think rules doesn't really factor into it.

[Azothath]

sad but RAW result, no (Ex) limb... but does that mean in a polymorph you are short one arm? not really.

Talk to your GM and get a sensible resolution. Would a guy with one leg polymorph into a wolf with 3 legs? no... you go into typical creature so the guy would get 4 legs.