Greater Metamorphosis vs Shapechange

wujenta

First Post
Hi, I noticed that greater metamorphosis functions as shapechange but you can transform into things up to 50 HD, but it cost you 200px, while Shapechange still has the 25HD cap. Is this an errata, or now the psionics are tha masters of changing forms?

From the SRD:

Metamorphosis, Greater
Psychometabolism
Level: Egoist 9
Display: Material and visual
Manifesting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 min./level (D) for a creature; 1 hour/level (D) for an object
Power Points: 17, XP
As metamorphosis, except that this power enables you to assume the form of any single nonunique object or creature (of any type) from Fine to Colossal size. The assumed form cannot have more Hit Dice than twice your manifester level (to a maximum of 50 HD). Unlike metamorphosis, this power allows incorporeal, ectoplasmic, or gaseous forms to be assumed.
You gain all extraordinary and supernatural abilities (both special attacks and special qualities) of the assumed form, but you lose your own supernatural abilities. You also gain the type of the new form (for example, dragon or magical beast) in place of your own. The new form does not disorient you. Parts of your body or pieces of equipment that are separated from you do not revert to their original form.
You can become just about anything you are familiar with. You can change form once each round as a swift action.
The change takes place either immediately before your regular action or immediately after it, but not during the action.
If you use this power to create a disguise, you get a +10 bonus on your Disguise check.
As an inanimate object, you lose all mobility; however, you retain your ability to manifest powers normally.
XP Cost: 200 XP.


and from SRD too:

Shapechange
Transmutation
Level: Animal 9, Drd 9, Sor/Wiz 9
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 10 min./level (D)
This spell functions like polymorph, except that it enables you to assume the form of any single nonunique creature (of any type) from Fine to Colossal size. The assumed form cannot have more than your caster level in Hit Dice (to a maximum of 25 HD). Unlike polymorph, this spell allows incorporeal or gaseous forms to be assumed.
You gain all extraordinary and supernatural abilities (both attacks and qualities) of the assumed form, but you lose your own supernatural abilities. You also gain the type of the new form in place of your own. The new form does not disorient you. Parts of your body or pieces of equipment that are separated from you do not revert to their original forms.
You can become just about anything you are familiar with. You can change form once each round as a free action. The change takes place either immediately before your regular action or immediately after it, but not during the action. If you use this spell to create a disguise, you get a +10 bonus on your Disguise check.
Focus: A jade circlet worth no less than 1,500 gp, which you must place on your head when casting the spell. (The focus melds into your new form when you change shape.)
 

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wujenta said:
Hi, I noticed that greater metamorphosis functions as shapechange but you can transform into things up to 50 HD, but it cost you 200px, while Shapechange still has the 25HD cap. Is this an errata, or now the psionics are tha masters of changing forms?

That just means, that the psionic writers have not read the errata. ;)

Bye
Thanee
 

It seems likely that the XPH writers made an error.

The xp cost is in place of an expensive material component/focus from equivalent arcane spells.
 

Also, just clarity. It means Egoists most specifically are. For non-egoist psions, they need to be use Epic Expanded Knowledge to get ahold of that power.

But as said, it looks/reads alot like they just didn't account for the Shapechange errata.

The 200xp cost is supposed to be a mirror to the 1,500 gp Jade circlet Focus component [yea it costs you more over time than the normal 5x multiplier].
 

That does seem out of balance. Personally I think any spell that allows twice the caster levels in HD of any one thing (like shapechange options or Gate) is overbalanced and will get erratted at some point. Honestly, 50HD? What are they thinking?
 


Scion said:
But with that exp cost I would never touch it.

XP costs aren't that bad, really.

Especially if you use the standard 3.5 experience system (where lower levels gain more than higher levels for the same CR), it's a very minor problem.

Bye
Thanee
 

Being behind by a level, which is the only way to gain extra exp, is a huge cost. Not one that I would like to pay, it is like having a perpetual LA for no reason.

Except in this case it would be needed to use a class ability a few times here and there. Nah, I will stay away from exp costs, they are just too extreme. Very, very bad.
 

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