how do you implement wild shape?

[GlassJaw]

The rules for wild shape, polymorph, alter self, alternate form, etc have become an absolute mess in 3.5. I was just looking at the most recent 3.5 FAQ and there are 2+ pages alone on the polymorph spell.

After sifting through the SRD, FAQ, and errata, I discovered this:

If an elf druid (who has low-light vision) wild shapes into a cat (which also has low-light vision), he loses his low-light vision.

Don't believe me? Look it up. Seriously.

So has anyone house-ruled wild shape to work more sensibly and be easier to understand?

 

[XCorvis]

According to the Rules of the Game column on Polymorphing (May 06), the elf keeps his low-light vision but doesn't get the vision of the cat. It's a special quality so it stays.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20060502a
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20060509a
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20060516a
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20060523a

I like that column because it spells things out pretty clearly. Unfortunately, I'm no longer sure if that's the latest version of polymorph. I hope it is...

 

[GlassJaw]

Those links were helpful Corvis. I think I was actually getting confused with the Alter Self spell, which polymorph is based on. In that case, you do lose your special qualities. This is from the latest 3.5 FAQ dated 10/18/06.

The only thing I still don't like is that you don't gain the special qualities of the creature you are wild shaping into (like low-light vision from a cat) but I guess the rationale is that you are merely assuming the form of the animal rather than assuming its mental or physiological abilities.

I think I got it now.

 

[Crothian]

I do limit the creautres to something the druid has interacted with. I don't like PCs just going through monster book after monster book looking for the most powerful options.

 

[el-remmen]

I do limit the creautres to something the druid has interacted with. I don't like PCs just going through monster book after monster book looking for the most powerful options.

I thought that went without saying, same goes for any changing spell and illusions, as far as I am concerned.

 

[XCorvis]

I think I got it now.

Cool. Me, I hate the shapeshifters. People seem to fixate on them as cool (true enough), but they're a huge pain to deal with. I'd like to use the PHBII druid, but it needs work too. For now I stick with reminding people that shapeshifting is really a utility ability, not a combat ability.

 

[Li Shenron]

I use the 3.0 version plus the extra guidelines in Masters of the Wild.

In any case I would freely overrule any nonsense like the low-light vision problem.