New Feat Notion

[Hatchling Dragon]

I can't realy call it an idea, it's not that well developed, yet. That's where I'm hoping you (the readers) could help.

Description: This feat represents the time spent by a caster in mastering the variations in casting spells while wearing alternate shapes, forms with the potential for at least some of a spell's required gestures and/or words.

Feat Name (tenative): Polymorphic Casting

Requirements: Caster able to assume alternate forms. 'Full' Polymorphing required, Alter Self and the like not sufficient. Shape must have 'potential' for the desired component (subject to DM approval).

Benefit: Able to include the appropriate 'components' in casting while in a Polymorphed shape. Examples: Somatic Component available in Monkey or shapes with similarly developed hands; Spoken component when in Parrot or similar 'speaking animal' shapes.


So, what's the verdict? Does anyone else see a nitch for this Feat? The idea came to me as a way for Spellcasters to get more spellcasting ability while in alternate shapes, as the fewer Metamagic Feats (ie: Still/Silent) that you have to use the more magic you have available. Specificaly the idea was for the shapes of Parrots, who can speak but not for spells according to the rules, and Monkey-like apes, who are also barred from spellcasting because they may have the manual dexterity but don't have the training to use it. I figured that any caster would eventually, with many hours of practice and determination, be able to adapt his already known formule and rituals to the various alternate shapes.

Refinements and even a new name suggestions are always appreciated.

Hatchling Dragon

 

[James McMurray]

I believe Masters of the Wild has a feat similar to that. In fact, I think it even lets you get around not having hands for somatics, or a speaking voice for verbals.

 

[kreynolds]

I believe Masters of the Wild has a feat similar to that. In fact, I think it even lets you get around not having hands for somatics, or a speaking voice for verbals.

Yup. Page 24. Used for Wildshape.

 

[Hatchling Dragon]

Dangit!

Well that's what I get for only having Tome and Blood I guess. I knew that was too usefull sounding a Feat to go unused for long.

Since it's in Masters of the Wild is it only for use if you are a Druid and can Wildshape, or will it work with any metheod of shape changing?

I suppose of all the classes in 3e (Core Rules) the Druid would have the most opportunity/time in alternate forms.

Hatchling Dragon

 

[Ventifus]

Benefit: Able to include the appropriate 'components' in casting while in a Polymorphed shape. Examples: Somatic Component available in Monkey or shapes with similarly developed hands; Spoken component when in Parrot or similar 'speaking animal' shapes.

Uh, shouldn't this be labelled "Normal:", as you can already do that.

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Dangit!

Since it's in Masters of the Wild is it only for use if you are a Druid and can Wildshape, or will it work with any metheod of shape changing?

Only if you can wildshape.

 

[Hatchling Dragon]

Uh, shouldn't this be labelled "Normal:", as you can already do that.

If I'm not totaly misremembering the text it states (somewhere) that you can't actually use the V component while Polymorphed into a Parrot, nor can you use S while in the shape of a Monkey/Chimp. Something about it being different enough in how it works for you to be too unfamiliar with it for the sake of casting. Thus the point of my (Supposedly) new feat. If a stupid bird can learn to mimic human speech you (as a Wiz/Sor) could, in theory, practice enough in alternate shapes to get used to it, and thus avoid the 'wasting' of spell slots on Metamagic Feats, and therefore have access to higher level spells while still disguised.

Originally posted by kreynolds
Only if you can wildshape.

Well then, maybe this isn't a total loss, as with the Feat as I proposed it you can still gain a benefit, if you're a non-Druid.

Hatchling Dragon

 

[Ventifus]

Polymorph Other: The subject can cast spells for which it has components. It needs a humanlike voice for verbal components and humanlike hands for somatic components.

The advantage of the feat in Masters of the Wild is that you don't have to have humanlike voice/hands to cast spells. You'd probably be better off either expanding the abilities that satisfy the prereqs on Wild Spell or just be a Psion instead

 

[smetzger]

There is also a similare feat in the netBook of Feats:

WILDCASTING [Special, Druid only]
COPYRIGHT 2002, Rick Coen
You have the ability to manipulate the forces of magic while wild shaping.
Prerequisite: The supernatural ability to shapeshift
Benefit: Each time this feat is chosen, an animal form must be selected. You may cast your druidic spells normally when wildshaped into this selected animal form (and *only* into this form). The animal form must still make noise and/or movements if required by the spell; any required material components or focuses must be present at the time of casting, or in your possession (i.e. transformed when you shapeshifted).
Normal: You may not cast spells in animal form without exceptional circumstances, or the use of Metamagic Feats, such as Still Spell and Silent Spell.
Special: This feat may be taken multiple times; each time, a new animal form must be selected.
Notes: The prerequisite includes the druidic ability of wildshape, as well as those creatures that can change their shape naturally (lycanthropes, etc.). It does not include any form of polymorph or shapeshift spell.
Balance: 4.16 (Purp 4.80, Pow 4.00, Port 4.40, Comp 4.20, Rule 3.40)

 

[kreynolds]

There is also a similare feat in the netBook of Feats:

WILDCASTING [Special, Druid only]
COPYRIGHT 2002, Rick Coen
You have the ability to manipulate the forces of magic while wild shaping.
Prerequisite: The supernatural ability to shapeshift
Benefit: Each time this feat is chosen, an animal form must be selected. You may cast your druidic spells normally when wildshaped into this selected animal form (and *only* into this form). The animal form must still make noise and/or movements if required by the spell; any required material components or focuses must be present at the time of casting, or in your possession (i.e. transformed when you shapeshifted).
Normal: You may not cast spells in animal form without exceptional circumstances, or the use of Metamagic Feats, such as Still Spell and Silent Spell.
Special: This feat may be taken multiple times; each time, a new animal form must be selected.
Notes: The prerequisite includes the druidic ability of wildshape, as well as those creatures that can change their shape naturally (lycanthropes, etc.). It does not include any form of polymorph or shapeshift spell.
Balance: 4.16 (Purp 4.80, Pow 4.00, Port 4.40, Comp 4.20, Rule 3.40)

Yuck. That's vastly underpowered compared to the feat in MotW.