D&D 3E/3.5 3.5 Alter Self question

[Innocent Bystander]

I'm playing my first magic user in a 3.5 campaign and was looking at the Alter Self spell. In 3.0 you could use it to change features (add wings etc), but in 3.5, it looks like you have to pick an alternate form completely (5hd or less), ie. change into a gargoyle. Am I reading that correctly? If so, what kinds of things can a human spell caster change into, and specifically, which, if any, grant wings for flying or burrowing abilities or any other movement types?

 

[Starbuck_II]

I'm playing my first magic user in a 3.5 campaign and was looking at the Alter Self spell. In 3.0 you could use it to change features (add wings etc), but in 3.5, it looks like you have to pick an alternate form completely (5hd or less), ie. change into a gargoyle. Am I reading that correctly? If so, what kinds of things can a human spell caster change into, and specifically, which, if any, grant wings for flying or burrowing abilities or any other movement types?

Winged Elves from FR can fly.
Raptoreans can Glide (fly if high enough level)
Troglydtyes add +6 Natural armor
Aquatic Elves have swim speed of 40.
Kureshim add 1 psionic feat temporarily (as long as Alter Selfed)

There are no humaniods that burrow to my knowledge.

 

[Corsair]

Of course this all changes if you're playing an outsider (such as an elf with otherworldly) or a dragonwrought kobold.

 

[krupintupple]

as an aside, but perhaps tangental question: anyone have the latest errata on polymoph and how it's supposed to work?

is PHB2 the latest, with the polymorph school subset?

 

[Starbuck_II]

as an aside, but perhaps tangental question: anyone have the latest errata on polymoph and how it's supposed to work?

is PHB2 the latest, with the polymorph school subset?

Well, the first question is easdy. There was no errata to polymorph.

There was was some errata to monsters that used Polymorph (they use Alternate Form just like the Wild Shape errata).

WotC will never errata polymorph:
Instead they created the Subschool spells (note that the subschool rules do not affect the old spells since they say they don't) and said, "please use these instead, k thxs".

 

[Innocent Bystander]

Thanks for the response. The spell really got nerfed in 3.5.

 

[Corsair]

I'm not so sure about that, IB. It is now a major buff for warrior mages. Because you turn into a creature with Natural Armor, it can still be increased later by things like Dragonskin.

 

[Innocent Bystander]

You could be right, I just always looked at Alter Self as a utility spell. Need an excellent disguise, easy enough. Need wings to fly, done. Need gills to breathe under water, will do. Need claws for digging, no problem.