Natural Spell Question

[Theroc]

The SRD reads it as the following
"Natural Spell [General] Prerequisites

Wis 13, wild shape ability.
Benefit

You can complete the verbal and somatic components of spells while in a wild shape. You substitute various noises and gestures for the normal verbal and somatic components of a spell.
You can also use any material components or focuses you possess, even if such items are melded within your current form. This feat does not permit the use of magic items while you are in a form that could not ordinarily use them, and you do not gain the ability to speak while in a wild shape."



It seems to be worded in the same way in the PHB, so I am assuming by RAW that Natural Spell would not apply to a Lycanthropes Alternate shapes, even if that Lycanthrope possesses the prerequisites and is a Druid?

 

[Thanee]

Yep, as written it only works with wildshape and no other form altering abilities.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Deset Gled]

As Thanee said, Wild Shape only.

Personally, I find this feat to be a little too powerful. I would prefer the feat to be designed as a Metamagic feat with zero spell level adjustment (instead of a General feat). This means that the caster has to decide at the time of preparation if the spell will be cast while they are transformed or not. With this modification, I would happily accept it for all alternate forms, not just Wild Shape.

 

[Theroc]

As Thanee said, Wild Shape only.

Personally, I find this feat to be a little too powerful. I would prefer the feat to be designed as a Metamagic feat with zero spell level adjustment (instead of a General feat). This means that the caster has to decide at the time of preparation if the spell will be cast while they are transformed or not. With this modification, I would happily accept it for all alternate forms, not just Wild Shape.

What about the spontaneously cast "Summon Nature's Ally (X)"? Wouldn't that be usable in the metamagicked form either way in that case?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Well, applying metamagic to spontaneous spells makes them take a full round action to cast, even if it doesn't modify the level. But yes, either form could.

I've yet to see summoning even be that powerful an option, so whatever. Then again, I tend to run high powered games. When all the PCs have 34 point buy and generous amounts of gear, etc... monsters from the MM that you summon become a little less powerful relative to them.

EDIT: I forgot, summoning is already a 1 round casting time. Which means using it with a metamagic version of Natural Spell would extend the casting time to TWO rounds. I'd say that's far more than enough of a penalty to make doing that in combat unappetizing.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#metamagicFeats

"Casting a 1-action metamagic spell spontaneously is a full-round action, and a spell with a longer casting time takes an extra full-round action to cast."*

*I would assume that when it says an full round action, it means in the case of summoning, that the spell would complete at the end of the second round (after consuming your actions for the round), instead of making you wait for your next turn to come up (the difference between a "full round" and "1 round").

 

[Drowbane]

For what its worth, you can also use Natural Spell with the Spell Compendium Spell "Aspect of Wolf"... but only cause the spell says so.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

All of the aspect spells, in fact, specifically allow it, iirc.