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The key phrase is "Assume that form" not "Gain the statistics of that form", so any strict mechnanical interactions are out.
It also doesn't say "You are an object" only that "You can function as that object for allies to use" so being a grain of sand doesn't mean you can be picked up and go invisible.
WRT to currency, it's not hard to imagine that the shopkeep you just paid an inordinate sum of currency to would immedietly notice that the platinum coin he was just paid has vanished, and put two and two together. That imo, is just the feat working as intended. You can do trickery but you need to actually get away with it.
Finally, I would point you to the following section in player core:
Sometimes a rule could be interpreted multiple ways. If one version is too good to be true, it probably is. If a rule seems to have wording with problematic repercussions or doesn't work as intended, work with your group to find a good solution, rather than just playing with the rule as printed.
The feat doesn't explicitly state "You cannot transform into objects with broader mechanical implications", but I think the intent of the feat is very clear that you're only mimicking the form of that object and gaining something like hardness is not the intent.
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If anything, I wish there were more abilities that were a little more open ended like this.
Isn't there a restriction on valuable items?
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The feat doesn't explicitly state "You cannot transform into objects with broader mechanical implications", but I think the intent of the feat is very clear that you're only mimicking the form of that object and gaining something like hardness is not the intent.
IMO, the feat seems to imply that you'd have to be able to transform into objects with broader mechanical implications. The form in the name can't be used if you take damage from heat/fire. Same for a wok or a waffle iron. Sledge hammers and mining picks would have to be hard enough to affect stone. A portable anvil, like what's in the Repair Toolkit, has to have the ability to survive being hammered repeatedly and not be damaged.
That said, I'd make sure it's limited to the "form of a simple tool or object", so no special materials [an adamantine sword isn't "simple"], so any hardness would top out at 5. That'd mean taking damage from falls over 10', and anything like being fired through a wall would hurt quite a bit: a catapult deals 5d10 bludgeoning and you get to take 5 off... It would mean that metal tools actually work, such as a frying pan not taking fire damage from use.
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The feat doesn't explicitly state "You cannot transform into objects with broader mechanical implications", but I think the intent of the feat is very clear that you're only mimicking the form of that object and gaining something like hardness is not the intent.IMO, the feat seems to imply that you'd have to be able to transform into objects with broader mechanical implications. The form in the name can't be used if you take damage from heat/fire. Same for a wok or a waffle iron. Sledge hammers and mining picks would have to be hard enough to affect stone. A portable anvil, like what's in the Repair Toolkit, has to have the ability to survive being hammered repeatedly and not be damaged.
Sure but then we just go back to what I said about intent. The feat clearly intends you to use the tool or item as as a tool, not as a defensive shift. That's what I mean about "Not getting hardness". You have implied hardness because the tool works, sure, but there's no mention about capital H Hardness because that's not what the feat is trying to do.
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A few points from a non-rules standpoint:
- It's worth noting that the reference is to a story about a tanuki turning into a teakettle and very much not becoming fireproof in the process.
- A tanuki turning into something valuable and then running off after being sold is something with story precedent. They eventually backstabbed their partner to short-sightedly not split one of the takes.
- Playing a tanuki, it's generally good to lean into The Bit. If a tanuki character turns into a platinum coin to be used as payment for goods, the shopkeeper should bite it, prompting a shout of pain.
A few points from a rules standpoint:
- It is a simple tool or object, with the examples given being a teakettle, an umbrella, or a crowbar. As soon as you're applying special materials, that's no longer simple.
- You can "function as that object for allies to use". You can't function as a rock for the purposes of hardness against an enemy's attack, and the Change Shape rule says you don't get any special abilities of what you turn into.
- Any sufficiently valuable object is going to be examined if it's being used to pay for something, so the Deception check/DC is going to be relevant. Moreover, Teakettle Form lacks the text of Statue Form spelling out that you can convincingly disguise yourself as an object using it. I wouldn't normally use "lack of text used elsewhere" as evidence, but if a player were being a rules lawyer about it, it's something I'd pull out.
- "Too good to be true" rule definitely applies, even setting everything else aside.
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But, for actual guidance...
- Turning into an object doesn't grant resistances or hardness. You can be used as a tool, even when it seems like that would require resistances or hardness. Non-mechanically, it might not be comfortable.
- Similarly, turning into an object doesn't grant any special material properties, nor are you actually that object. A transformed tanuki is a mundane weapon at best.
- Turning into something valuable to be sold runs the same risk as any counterfeiting. While it's a self-retrieving and reusable scam, that means it's also exposed sooner than a truly good forgery, and with the added risk that being locked in a vault or put in a spacious pouch could mean running out of air.
- While still a bit subjective, anything turned into still needs to be large enough to count as "an object". Grains of sand, motes of dust, etc., aren't something the game treats as objects.
- Finally, as a bit of a general point of consideration, this is a setting where tanuki aren't commonly used as elite infiltration specialists. There's probably a reason for that.
You can "function as that object for allies to use". You can't function as a rock for the purposes of hardness against an enemy's attack, and the Change Shape rule says you don't get any special abilities of what you turn into.
I'm not sure why people seem to think this would be some kind of exploit: it takes an action to change into it and you can only speak and crawl in that form. That means if you spent 2 actions and a reaction to ready a change for 5 hardness, you'd then have to spend another action to actually DO anything, meaning 3 actions and a reaction for 5 hardness to an attack... Ok, sure.
Change Shape rule says you don't get any special abilities of what you turn into.
Special abilities, sure doesn't get them. However: "The monster doesn't gain any special abilities of the new shape, only its physical form. For example, in each shape, it replaces its normal Speeds and Strikes, and might potentially change its senses or size." it's physical form IS gained and things about it's physical shape and makeup are gained, like speeds and Strikes. So it's not quite as simple as you put it. hardness isn't a special ability.
Special Abilities
Source Player Core pg. 41
"Any other entries in the sidebar represent abilities, senses, and other qualities all members of the ancestry manifest. These are omitted for ancestries with no special rules."
Special Abilities for items means magic abilities [GM Core pg. 130] so Hardness isn't included [unless it's adding it magically]. As for as I know, those are the only 2 places mentioning Special Abilities.
I wouldn't worry about players wanting to turn their tanuki into an arrow and shoot it over a wall, or turn into a cannonball to be shot through the wall.
Just remind them that ammunition is destroyed upon use. >XD
Just remind them that ammunition is destroyed upon use. >XD
lol That's why you go for a javelin or chakri. Or a grappling arrow/bolt that is specifically not destroyed. Or a dagger, dart, shuriken, or starknife with a blade launcher.