Can a Lich with Druid levels Shapeshift?

[Hypersmurf]

(Especially since some Undead already have Alternate Form, such as a vampire being able to change into a bat or wolf.)

For what it's worth, when I asked CustServ how to handle the contradiction between Alternate Form and the Undead Type (Undead Type says no Con score; Alternate Form says take on the Con of the form you're shifting to, and also says retain your Type), they said that the no Con score takes precedence... so a vampire who alternate-forms into a wolf has no Con score, not the wolf's Con score. Presumably, an undead druid would use the same logic.

-Hyp.

 

[Murrdox]

Oh boy, now I'm even more confused.

I don't have the Libris Mortis book.

What is "Alternate Form"? Is there a book published which updates this that I'm not aware of, or is this simply in the 3.5 Errata that I haven't read?

And, as Hypersmurf says... How does a Vampire shift into the form of a Wolf with no CON score? Something with no CON score is by definition... dead. How would you roll hit points for the new form if it had no CON score, yet it wasn't undead?

 

[javcs]

Oh boy, now I'm even more confused.

I don't have the Libris Mortis book.

What is "Alternate Form"? Is there a book published which updates this that I'm not aware of, or is this simply in the 3.5 Errata that I haven't read?

And, as Hypersmurf says... How does a Vampire shift into the form of a Wolf with no CON score? Something with no CON score is by definition... dead. How would you roll hit points for the new form if it had no CON score, yet it wasn't undead?

Alternate Form is a special ability possessed by various creatures, including vampires.
Wildshape became based off of Alternate Form (as opposed to polymorph) with the PHBII/DMGII

You don't alter hit points.

 

[amethal]

For what it's worth, when I asked CustServ how to handle the contradiction between Alternate Form and the Undead Type (Undead Type says no Con score; Alternate Form says take on the Con of the form you're shifting to, and also says retain your Type), they said that the no Con score takes precedence... so a vampire who alternate-forms into a wolf has no Con score, not the wolf's Con score. Presumably, an undead druid would use the same logic.

-Hyp.

That seems a very sensible way of doing it.

I don't say this very often, but here goes :- "Well done CustServ"!

 

[Hypersmurf]

And, as Hypersmurf says... How does a Vampire shift into the form of a Wolf with no CON score? Something with no CON score is by definition... dead. How would you roll hit points for the new form if it had no CON score, yet it wasn't undead?

Neither Alternate Form nor Wildshape (based off Alternate Form) alter your Type... so the wolf that the vampire (or the lich druid) changes into is Undead, not Animal.

In the same way, a wolf that a human druid wildshapes into is Humanoid, not Animal. He's subject to Charm Person or Enlarge Person; he's not subject to Charm Animal or Animal Growth. The vampire (or lich) is subject to Disrupt Undead even when he's a wolf.

-Hyp.

 

[sukael]

What is "Alternate Form"? Is there a book published which updates this that I'm not aware of, or is this simply in the 3.5 Errata that I haven't read?

Look at the newest PHB errata here or check out the ability-as-adjusted here.

 

[Murrdox]

Oh, these "Alternate Form" rules are laid out in the PHBII and DMGII? I don't have either of those books yet. I'm still working off the PHB and DMG 3.5.

I might have to go book shopping.

So... according to this Alternate Form type of transformation, it sounds like the Lich would indeed Wildshape into an undead animal. Would the animal retain the Lich's abilities, such as the paralyzing touch?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Oh, these "Alternate Form" rules are laid out in the PHBII and DMGII? I don't have either of those books yet. I'm still working off the PHB and DMG 3.5.

Alternate Form is in the Monster Manual. But you need to check the errata on the WotC site.

-Hyp.

 

[Gerion of Mercadia]

Does this change from polymorph to alternate form now make Corrupted Wild Shape from LM useless/moot?

 

[javcs]

Does this change from polymorph to alternate form now make Corrupted Wild Shape from LM useless/moot?

Pretty much.