Hello all,
Say a swarm shifter is in their swarm form, can they still cast psychic spells?
Since those require emotion and thought.
Thanks in advance.
Absolutely. The ability to 'turn into a swarm' doesn't even resemble the functionality of wild shape, as this ability replaces it entirely. As there is no language to specify that this is a polymorph effect, it is not a polymorph effect. You simply gain what the ability says you do. You could even cast traditional spells with somatic and verbal components.
In my personal opinion, it should be treated as a polymorph effect but I didn't author it, so take that for what it is.
Absolutely. The ability to 'turn into a swarm' doesn't even resemble the functionality of wild shape, as this ability replaces it entirely. As there is no language to specify that this is a polymorph effect, it is not a polymorph effect. You simply gain what the ability says you do. You could even cast traditional spells with somatic and verbal components.
In my personal opinion, it should be treated as a polymorph effect but I didn't author it, so take that for what it is.
That sounds odd, you're a flat mass of vermin at that point?
Which also makes me wonder why a swarmshifter has to wait to lvl 9, for a swarm of spiders to be able to climb, or a swarm of wasps able to use wings to fly.Still, it would lend itself well around a Calistria/Desna theme.
Become a swarm of flying diminutive insects and cast psychic magic.
swarm shifter is a bit odd, yeah. you transform into a swarm but you keep your humanoid form because it isnt a polymorph effect. the only thing that changes is that you increase in size, get +2 natural armor, and can occupy the space of creatures. you dont even get any natural attack
youre still capable of emotion and thought because the ability doesnt make you mindless. imagine having a class feature that turns you into a NPC
Tottemas has the right of it.