Can I do this with alter self?

[Pielorinho]

As always, it's worth checking out Rich Burlew's rules for shapeshifting: Polymorph rules. Most significantly, you can never gain a bonus that's bigger than your class level through the use of a shapeshifting spell.

Daniel

 

[Infiniti2000]

Yep, Broken FR as usual. A munchkin's wet dream. Nothing new.

I'm not sure it's broken FR as much as "Hey, give the players full access to all of the monster manuals." Having a chart for all those abilities...ugh. Makes me want to puke.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

I'm not sure it's broken FR as much as "Hey, give the players full access to all of the monster manuals." Having a chart for all those abilities...ugh. Makes me want to puke.

I agree. Simple solution (for this problem anyway): don't allow players to turn into creatures they've never seen before or that do not exist in your world. None of the monsters in the above list exist in my campaign, I don't think I even own any of the books that they come from. I can't recall the last time a troglydite was in one of my games, so they probably don't exist either.

 

[interwyrm]

Complex solution, rework all polymorph type spells so that they can give you a single bonus to str, dex, con, natural armor, a skill, or movement type (your judgement), and make all benefits dependant on level. At 3rd level a wizard can 'look' like a troglodyte, and maybe even smell like one, but his skin won't be quite has hard.

Also, natural attacks should be included.

 

[Mistwell]

Yep, Broken FR as usual. A munchkin's wet dream. Nothing new.

It's one thing to say that in your opinion forgotten realms tends to be more high-powered than you prefer. It's quite another to call the entire branch of D&D broken and a munchin's wet dream.

I like the realms. A lot of people like the realms. In my opinion it's a well supported section of D&D that has some of the best author's, artists, history, and game creators working on it.

Nor am I a munchkin. Nor do I think the list I use is munchkin-like (that would really depend on how you use it). It might not be your thing, but I don't think it's appropriate to go calling people names because it's not your thing.

This whole thread seems to have turned from some player asking what the spell can do under the rules, into a complaint session and then a discussion of possible house-rules fix for a perceived problem which the guy who created the thread doesn't even seem to be asking about.

 

[Mistwell]

(They're from Serpent Kingdoms.)

And here I have Serpent Kingdoms and didn't even realize the connection.

 

[Mistwell]

I'm not sure it's broken FR as much as "Hey, give the players full access to all of the monster manuals." Having a chart for all those abilities...ugh. Makes me want to puke.

I agree your character should know about that creature before you can turn into it, either by encountering it or at least having knowledge about it with a relatively high knowledge check or bardic lore check or divination spell or whatever. But that you would complain that I actually made and keep a chart? That I don't get. If I don't actually write it down, that just makes the DMs job a LOT more difficult when I say "I alter myself into that Tren that we encountered with all those Yuan Ti last session. So, now what happens to my character?" That's just cruel to your DM if you don't try and write it down so you can make the adjustments yourself while playing.

 

[Pielorinho]

This whole thread seems to have turned from some player asking what the spell can do under the rules, into a complaint session and then a discussion of possible house-rules fix for a perceived problem which the guy who created the thread doesn't even seem to be asking about.

Moderator's Note:

Mistwell is right. Please be careful about mocking other folks' playing style: that never ends well.

However, if this is something you perceive as a problem and you want to suggest ways to fix it, that's fine. Just make sure that in doing so you don't heap contempt on how other folks like to play.

Thanks!
Daniel

 

[Infiniti2000]

I agree your character should know about that creature before you can turn into it, either by encountering it or at least having knowledge about it with a relatively high knowledge check or bardic lore check or divination spell or whatever. But that you would complain that I actually made and keep a chart? That I don't get. If I don't actually write it down, that just makes the DMs job a LOT more difficult when I say "I alter myself into that Tren that we encountered with all those Yuan Ti last session. So, now what happens to my character?" That's just cruel to your DM if you don't try and write it down so you can make the adjustments yourself while playing.

It wasn't you. My player also keeps a careful record of monsters he's met. However, your posting such a chart to other (potential) players short-circuits that. More importantly, and apparently not in your case, I've seen many other players ask for such charts because they didn't have or weren't granted access to the various monster manuals. That's what I don't like. Something like this, and tell me if you haven't seen it yourself:

"I'm creating a sorcerer and I need a table of all the salient abilities of monsters. So, when I need high natural armor, I can do this, and when I need flying I can do that, etc."

 

[Iku Rex]

I've seen many other players ask for such charts because they didn't have or weren't granted access to the various monster manuals.

You think a DM will disallow entire books, yet accept stats the player "got from some guy on the Internet" for a monster in said books? Or are you saying that character power should depend on which books the player has bought? I'm really not getting your point here.