Undead Druid and Wildshape

[Hargleblargh]

Hey guys, how would a juju zombie druid interact with wild shape? Beast Shape targets "yourself" and not "living creature" although polymorph does. The subschool page for polymorph doesn't mention living targets or even the spell "polymorph". Would the druid keep their original template(s) things (+4 Str, etc) aside from special attacks and abilities ((ex), (su)) relying on form? The polymorph rules prevent changing into a creature with a template, but is that a valid restriction if you already had the template to begin with? If you're curious, they got the Juju Zombie template through Onyx Spear.

[Neriathale]

I would go for a quick & dirty resolution that you wildshape as normal , but in animal form have undead traits. That avoids any fudge involving wildshaping to get healed by normal means.

IIRC you keep the stats of your base form apart from dex changes due to size, so the +4 strength still applies.

[TxSam88]

Well, it looks to me like turning into a JuJu Zombie would make the Druid Evil, which would put him into the Ex-Druid category.

"A druid who ceases to revere nature, changes to a prohibited alignment, or teaches the Druidic language to a nondruid loses all spells and druid abilities (including her animal companion, but not including weapon, armor, and shield proficiencies). She cannot thereafter gain levels as a druid until she atones (see the atonement spell description)."

So no wild shape at all.

[vhok]

polymorph in pathfinder doesn't change your types at all.

[zza ni]

TxSam88 wrote:

Well, it looks to me like turning into a JuJu Zombie would make the Druid Evil, which would put him into the Ex-Druid category.

"A druid who ceases to revere nature, changes to a prohibited alignment, or teaches the Druidic language to a nondruid loses all spells and druid abilities (including her animal companion, but not including weapon, armor, and shield proficiencies). She cannot thereafter gain levels as a druid until she atones (see the atonement spell description)."

So no wild shape at all.

there is nothing preventing a druid from being N.evil. if being a JUJU zombi also made him LAWFULL evil or CHAOTIC evil then you'd had a point there.

juju zombie template is "any evil" (and in fact the example in that page is "NE Medium undead".)

while Druid has "Alignment: Any neutral."

[Kasoh]

TxSam88 wrote:

Well, it looks to me like turning into a JuJu Zombie would make the Druid Evil, which would put him into the Ex-Druid category.

"A druid who ceases to revere nature, changes to a prohibited alignment, or teaches the Druidic language to a nondruid loses all spells and druid abilities (including her animal companion, but not including weapon, armor, and shield proficiencies). She cannot thereafter gain levels as a druid until she atones (see the atonement spell description)."

So no wild shape at all.

The alignment restriction on druids is if they cease being neutral. If the Undead is Neutral Evil, they can retain their Druid powers.

You might argue that an undead might no longer revere nature, but that's a character level decision so either the PC is going to make it work or this is an NPC and it can be whatever the GM says it is.

[zza ni]

there is already a template of druids turning undead. it has :
"If it had the ability to use wild shape, it retains this ability, but it can assume only the form of creatures that cannot fly. Any form it assumes (via wild shape or polymorph effects) and any creature it summons appears diseased, malnourished, or even in an advanced state of decay, although these are cosmetic effects; they do not impact actual game statistics. "

(the limit to non flying shapes is from the template. juju zombies should not have that anyway.)

the example monster entry is here . it has wild shape 6/day.

[Hargleblargh]

You bloody legends. Thanks guys. We've worked out the alignment thing.

[AwesomenessDog]

Kasoh wrote:

TxSam88 wrote:

Well, it looks to me like turning into a JuJu Zombie would make the Druid Evil, which would put him into the Ex-Druid category.

"A druid who ceases to revere nature, changes to a prohibited alignment, or teaches the Druidic language to a nondruid loses all spells and druid abilities (including her animal companion, but not including weapon, armor, and shield proficiencies). She cannot thereafter gain levels as a druid until she atones (see the atonement spell description)."

So no wild shape at all.

The alignment restriction on druids is if they cease being neutral. If the Undead is Neutral Evil, they can retain their Druid powers.

You might argue that an undead might no longer revere nature, but that's a character level decision so either the PC is going to make it work or this is an NPC and it can be whatever the GM says it is.

Smash cut to a druid lich hosting a picket with a sign reading, "Undeath is a part of nature!"