Question: Wild Shape and Hit Points?

I was thinking of starting a druid character who eventually would take the Shifter PrC. How does using the wild shape ability affect hit points? I know that you gain the Strength, Dex, and Con of the new shape and also heal hit points as if you rested a full day. But what of the following.

I am a druid with a low Con modifier (thus low HP). I shape change during battle into a creature with a good COn modifier (a polar bear). Now that my Con modifier has increased, do I temperaly gain hit points to reflect that? I would think so.

Ok say that I do get the hit points. How are they treated if I take damage, then revert back to normal form?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Relevant information (bold mine)

Wild Shape (Su): At 5th level, a druid gains the ability to turn herself into any Small or Medium animal and back again once per day. Her options for new forms include all creatures with the animal type. This ability functions like the polymorph spell

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Polymorph: This spell functions like alter self

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Alter self: You retain your own ability scores. Your class and level, hit points, alignment, base attack bonus, and base save bonuses all remain the same

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Slim

Magic Slim said:

Relevant information (bold mine)

Slim

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Except it could be argued that since alter self doesn't change constitution, hitpoints were included for that reason. Since polymorph DOES change constitution, hitpoints should change. After all, there's no game term for "hitpoints excluding those gained from constitution" unlike, say, base save bonus or base attack bonus.

That's a valid point, Saeviomagy...

I must say that WotC did a really poor job on some spells... In 3.0, it was clearly stated that your HP didn't change when you polymorphed into a form that has a diffrent Con rating than you do...

Of course, I'm only going by the SRD, so the PHB might contain more info...

LOL just noticed:

Polymorph Spell (SRD) said:

The subject’s creature type and subtype (if any) change to match the new form.

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Abilities and Conditions.rtf (SRD) said:

Since creatures do not change types

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Slim

I had the same question when 3.5 came out, and I do believe that someone asked CustServ, and they said that YES, HP do change.

I'll probably keep it the no change, though, until this confusion is cleared up.

Magic Slim said:

LOL just noticed:

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You'll find the same kind of errors all over. My favorite example is animate dead.

youspoonybard said:

I had the same question when 3.5 came out, and I do believe that someone asked CustServ, and they said that YES, HP do change.

I'll probably keep it the no change, though, until this confusion is cleared up.

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Don't trust WotC CustServ. Ever.

In my experience (seriously!) flipping a coin is more accurate.

CRGreathouse said:

Don't trust WotC CustServ. Ever.

In my experience (seriously!) flipping a coin is more accurate.

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Amusingly, in the last week or two I've seen three four-page debates get sent off to CustServ and the Sage for resolution.

In all three cases, the Sage said "No", and CustServ said "Yes".

As it happens, I'm arguing for "Yes" in all three cases, based on the text of the rules.

I hate it when CustServ agrees with me - it always gives me a moment of doubt in my interpretation...

-Hyp.