Destil
Explorer
Alter self is some horridly over-complex pollymorph look-alike in 3.5. More spells with the problems of pollymorph is the last thing I need at my table... and the 3.0 version was so elegant too. How does this look as a replacment?
Alter Self
Transmutation
Level: Sor/Wiz 2, Brd 2, Assiassian 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Self
Duration: 1 hour / level or 10 min / level(see text)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You can alter your appearance and form-including clothing and equipment-to appear taller or shorter, thin, fat, or in between. Your assumed form must be corporeal. Your body can undergo a limited physical transmutation, including adding or subtracting one or two limbs, and your weight can be changed up to one-half. You gain the shapechanger subtype for the duration of the spell. If these are your only changes this spell lasts one hour per caster level. If you use this spell to create a disguise, you gain a +6 enhancement bonus on your Disguise check.
In addition, you can add one of the following features to your new form:
These extra features are only noticable as 'different' if you use them to grant an ability your new form does not naturally have, changing to a dwarf with the darkvision trait will result in normal dwarven eyes. Once your new form is chosen, it remains for the duration of the spell. If you are slain, you automatically return to your normal form.
Aside from the changes listed above your attack rolls, natural armor bonus, and saves do not change. The spell does not confer special abilities, attack forms, defenses, ability scores, or mannerisms of the chosen form unless you choose to replicate them through the options listed above. For instance you could assume the form of a winged half-celetial elf, but if you do not choose the wings option your wings would be nonfunctional and not allow flight.
Alter Self
Transmutation
Level: Sor/Wiz 2, Brd 2, Assiassian 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Self
Duration: 1 hour / level or 10 min / level(see text)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
You can alter your appearance and form-including clothing and equipment-to appear taller or shorter, thin, fat, or in between. Your assumed form must be corporeal. Your body can undergo a limited physical transmutation, including adding or subtracting one or two limbs, and your weight can be changed up to one-half. You gain the shapechanger subtype for the duration of the spell. If these are your only changes this spell lasts one hour per caster level. If you use this spell to create a disguise, you gain a +6 enhancement bonus on your Disguise check.
In addition, you can add one of the following features to your new form:
- Wings, allowing you to fly at a speed of 30 feet with poor maneuverability. If you already have a fly speed it instead gains a 20' enhancement bonus.
- Fins or webbed fingers, granting a swim speed of 20'. If you already have a swim speed it instead gains a 20' enhancement bonus.
- Gills, allowing you to breathe underwater.
- A thick hide, granting you a +2 natural armor bonus.
- Owl-like eyes, granting darkvision with a range of 30'
- Eagle-like eyes, granting a +2 bonus to spot and low light vision.
- Tusks, horns or a similar natural weapon, granting you a natural attack that deals 1d8 damage.
- Claws, tallons or a similar pair of natural weapons, granting you two claw attacks that each deal 1d4 damage.
- Chameleon-like skin that changes color to match your enviroment, granting a +4 enhancement bonus to Hide checks.
- A sturdy, lithe or heavy build, granting a +2 enhancement bonus to Str, Dex or Con respectivly.
- An oversized nose or nostrals, granting you lesser scent (as scent but at half all distances).
These extra features are only noticable as 'different' if you use them to grant an ability your new form does not naturally have, changing to a dwarf with the darkvision trait will result in normal dwarven eyes. Once your new form is chosen, it remains for the duration of the spell. If you are slain, you automatically return to your normal form.
Aside from the changes listed above your attack rolls, natural armor bonus, and saves do not change. The spell does not confer special abilities, attack forms, defenses, ability scores, or mannerisms of the chosen form unless you choose to replicate them through the options listed above. For instance you could assume the form of a winged half-celetial elf, but if you do not choose the wings option your wings would be nonfunctional and not allow flight.
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