Would the spell "Alter Self" give those using it the ability to reproduce as what they've changed into?

[a-d]

Question
Would the spell "Alter Self" give those using it the ability to reproduce as what they've changed into?

Would it allow a fe/male who wanted to be a fe/male to become one and create children?

Assuming the time limit issue was handled, would the required physical organs necessary be considered extraordinary, supernatural, or standard?

If it does, would it also allow those of different races to change into a compatible partners for each other to have children? Despite not having the others extraordinary or supernatural abilities?

Questions
Would the spell "Alter Self" allow a fe/male who wanted to be a fe/male to become one and create children?

Would the spell allow those of different races to create children with each other?

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

IMO, it should not. There was an old rule, now seemingly forgotten, that said anything that left a polymorphed creature turned back. So if a creature had black blood and turned into a human, it would bleed black (or red that swiftly turned to black). That would immediately put an end to reproduction that wasn't normally allowed. However dragons were allowed to break the rule, and then all of a sudden strange combos popped up all over the place.

In theory a caster could make a version of the spell that could do that, but they'd need to learn about sperm and eggs, which would probably require inventing the microscope and/or performing a series of divinations. The experimentation alone would be difficult.

In 2e there was a series of spells (more like rituals) that allowed crossbreeding, and was supposedly responsible for the creation of owlbears and other such creatures. Such spells were more powerful than Alter Self, but alas I don't recall either the names or the exact mechanics.

Most PCs are (demi)humans, and are already interfertile with other (demi)humans. So really it seems like an attempt to get (demi)humans to breed with things that are substantially different. In real-life species that aren't connected to each other not only cannot breed at all, but will not be even remotely attracted to each other. D&D already includes rules for creatures such as orcs and humans who aren't likely to be attracted to each other but can still interbreed, which isn't terribly surprising because, appearance aside, humans and orcs are actually very similar.

Unless wizards learn about DNA and why mules can't reproduce, or why goat/sheep crosses always miscarry, I don't see any such attempts working. (Indeed, even wizards who could use those 2e spells probably have no real idea why it works. Modern-day embryology often answers questions with "I don't know".)

 

[frankthedm]

Unless wizards learn about DNA a

There's no guarantee DNA has anything to do with reproduction in a D&D campaign. Offspring in a magical world can just as likely be from a fusion of the life forces of comparable parents.

 

[Starfox]

Isn't everything inter-fertile in a fantasy setting anyway?

Basically, you can play this as you like. But I see no reason why this should not work. Only problem is keeping the spell going for the period of the pregnancy - and personal issues of course.

 

[Jackinthegreen]

If this is a player asking the questions, I'd probably point you to asking your DM.

If this is a DM asking about how to rule on this, I'd say take a look at whether it could make your campaign more interesting. How far along this do you want to go with questions like the morality of it and the consequences? Is it acceptable to introduce things "after the fact" so to speak? For example, if you had a human Alter Self into an elf and then get together with an elf that's part of a sect that dislikes humans, would the scenario of the elves learning that the person is actually human be an acceptable subject for the campaign/the table? If that (or similar scenarios) aren't viewed as something appropriate for the table then I'd probably not recommend allowing Alter Self to do that in the first place.

As odd as it sounds, the Book of Erotic Fantasy has some thoughts about roleplaying with the considerations of more mature themes, although I don't recall if it has anything to say on the potential of deceiving one's partner. It's not the best book (dang those photoshopped images are bad) but it will bring up some good points. It also has an optional pregnancy table and some notes on "crossbreeding."

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I personally wouldn't allow it as DM -- I think much more powerful magic should be required to reproduce a changed lifeform. I'm thinking shapechange, personally.

No cranking out perfect spy infiltrators or armies for the price of an alter self spell.

 

[Celebrim]

I don't personally feel alter self involves significant enough transformation to accomplish interspecies breeding. Although, the limits of how widely things can interbreed isn't established in a fantasy setting.

By fantasy convention, if you are polymorphed into something while pregnant, your baby gets transformed along with you and reverts when spell duration ends.

However, fantasy is much less open about discussing conception while polymorphed. Presumably, hybrids would be possible though the viability is uncertain. My guess is that even if they survive, if the species aren't normally compatible, you'd end up with monsters - not children.

But 'alter self' is largely superficial alteration of form. It doesn't get the job done.

 

[Starfox]

However you do, this should never be used as an excuse for a DM "gotcha" of any kind. Sticking a pc with sticky issues of polymorph reversion abortion, or in general any kind of pregnancy issues in RPGs is just not a good idea, in my not-so-humble opinion. Even unplanned fatherhood, tough a staple of stories such as Arthur/Mordred, is a too strong a subject for a RPG.

Basically, I reserve PC parenthood for when the player takes the initiative with it.

On a more technical note, it is certainly possible to cross-breed most anything in fantasy (see the owlbear), but no-where are there rules for how to actually do this - the vibe I get from the rules is that it is more like magical gene splicing. I prefer to take a not from Piers Anthony's Xanth and say that most everything is interfertile in fantasyland, at least with the help of a magical pool.

 

[Ragmon]

Check out Book of Erotic Fantasy. Its has all the answers for your sexually active characters.

 

[Warbringer]

Why not, but your offspring cannot gain any access to any of the abilities that the altered party did not have. In the genetic argument you simply don't have those traits.


You do not gain any extraordinary special attacks or special qualities not noted above under physical qualities, such as darkvision, low-light vision, blindsense, blindsight, fast healing, regeneration, scent, and so forth.

You do not gain any supernatural special attacks, special qualities, or spell-like abilities of the new form. Your creature type and subtype (if any) remain the same regardless of your new form. You cannot take the form of any creature with a template, even if that template doesn’t change the creature type or subtype.