Does an Imp get any benefit from his alternate form?

[Noumenon]

So he's a boar. He has worse initiative, lower AC, he doesn't get Scent, even if it gives him a surprise round he'd have to use it up transforming to his regular form. What good is it? Unless he prefers looking like a boar to being invisible, I'd just go around invisible all the time.

 

[Vegepygmy]

I don't think the imp's alternate form is intended to be a "combat powerup." It's (1) something that imps in folklore could do and (2) probably intended by the game's designers to be used as more of a disguise.

 

[Starbuck_II]

Unless creatures have true seeing, you look like the creature. It is mosrly for disguises.

You choose a form that is useful. Why would you ever choose a boar if they are weaker.

That has more issues with the Imp choosing Boar than the Imp's ability. Now, a spider can shoot webs (which can be occassionally useful). You can entangle with webs up to 1 size larger with a ranged touch attack.

Rat, boar, and raven are disguise purposes only. Imps can fly better than ravens so that leaves disguise.

After all, what is more noticable as a danger a raven or a imp.

 

[Noumenon]

I was just wondering why the module I'm running had the imp starting in boar form. Tell you the truth I think it might have been to trick a druid into wasting a speak with animals.

 

[Herzog]

Don't have the details on Imps, but how about this:

They make their knowledge Nature checks.
They 'know' how to handle a Boar

Then, when they have forgone buffing up (not necessary for a boar) and are attacking, they realise this boar seems to have some immunities, resistances, etc? (assuming the Imp has those, of course)

Not only a disguise for out of combat, but also a way to throw off your 'knowledgeable' opponents.

(Unless you allow them to make an knowledge Arcana (or whatever) roll to let them realise some creatures can disguise/transform themselves as/to boars)

 

[Noumenon]

I thought of another real use for it: while in disguise, he can use his Detect Magic/Detect Good abilities to size up the party. Although again, that would be even easier while invisible.

 

[Jack Simth]

A wizard using Permanency on Detect Invisibility isn't particularly uncommon. True Seeing doesn't even have the option. That'd be one use.

Mostly, though, I'm thinking it's so that when you've got Improved Familiar (Imp), you can pretend to have a normal familiar.

 

[Starbuck_II]

Don't have the details on Imps, but how about this:

They make their knowledge Nature checks.
They 'know' how to handle a Boar

Then, when they have forgone buffing up (not necessary for a boar) and are attacking, they realise this boar seems to have some immunities, resistances, etc? (assuming the Imp has those, of course)

Not only a disguise for out of combat, but also a way to throw off your 'knowledgeable' opponents.

(Unless you allow them to make an knowledge Arcana (or whatever) roll to let them realise some creatures can disguise/transform themselves as/to boars)

Alternate Form removes some of your immunities/resistances. If you have regeneration/fast heal: don't change forms. You'll lose them.

Vampires are easier to kill if they change forms as well.

 

[Vegepygmy]

Alternate Form removes some of your immunities/resistances. If you have regeneration/fast heal: don't change forms. You'll lose them.

According to the Rules Compendium (which is, I believe, the final word): "The creature retains the special qualities of its natural form." This was also the rule according to the 3.5 Monster Manual errata. IIRC there was some mucking up of the polymorph rules in the PHB2, but as I said, the Rules Compendium seems pretty clear that you do not lose immunities / resistances / regeneration / fast healing.

 

[Noumenon]

I found it so much of a pain in the butt to figure out Alternate Form from the SRD that I made a table of what you gain, lose, and retain/don't gain here.

Edit: I just wanted to warn anyone finding this thread via Google that the rest of this thread is an argument about the authority of Rules Compendium errata and really nothing to do with the Alternate Form ability. Just to save you some reading there.