Alter Self - suggested uses

[LokiDR]

I'm not sure what you are saying here, unless you are getting the spells mixed up. From the Alter Self description, several posts above, "The character can alter the character's appearance and form-including clothing and equipment-to appear taller or shorter, thin, fat, or in between" (emphasis added).

Your reasoning that Alter Self could allow a change into a dog is a stretch, maybe with multiple castings, as you have said. Still, the description says "to appear tall, shorter, thin, fat, or in between." I don't find "dog-shaped" to be in between any of those.

Still, I am finally learning what a versatile spell this can be. And if I have not said so before, I am not looking to power-game, but I do want to get the most use possible out of the spell. It fits the character, and this is my first time playing a sorcerer. Starting at 4th level, he gets only one 2d level spell known, so I want to be able to use it as often as possible.

You know, I completely missed that line. Thanks, this spell is even better than I thought. And I do see disguise as a dog to be perfectly reasonable. It is use of the spell for disguise, same as polymorph. Polymorph gives you so much more though that it really does deserve it's higher level spot.

Just as an example, let's compare Alter Self to my four favorite uses of polymorph: healing, disguise attack form, and defensive form.
*Healing: no contest, Alter Self doesn't, Poly does.
*Disguise: seems pretty similar to me. If I want to sneak into a drow city, Alter Self would only have the problem of duration (a significant problem, mind you).
*Attack form: lets take a common one - fire giant.
31 str, don't even try it with Alter Self
+8 natural armor, not a chance with Alter Self
21 con, not Alter
Reach, this is argueable, but I would probably say no.
Size penalty, Alter only goes up to 50% larger than you currently are, and I would probably say that doesn't change size class. Alter self is actually better than Poly.
*Defensive form: again, a favorite of mine is the Booggie from MMII (a small fey)
21 dex, not Alter
+n natural armor, not Alter
size class small, I might let that go, since 50% of your current size is more or less the definition of the next size down.

In almost all cases, I would rather have Poly. This is how I know that Poly is higher level spell.

 

[rkanodia]

Hmm. How about having four arms? Of course, you'll have to convince the DM to let you take Multidexterity and Multi-weapon fighting...

 

[LokiDR]

Would you allow reach?
Size change up with reach?
Size change down?
Change the size of your weapon for more damage?

Thrikeen sorcerer could be a combat monster. There is a third level spell out of Savage Species called Giralialian's Blessing that gives you more arms. You should be sure you aren't making the 2nd level Alter Self better than third level Giralialian's Blessing. The Savage Species spell is same duration, gives more arms based on level, and is range:touch.