polymorph/shapechange/shifter/wildshape questions?

[skymage]

first of all when ever i refer to us or we i'm refering to me and people i game with

1. supose i have a spell casting shapechanger who wants more shapes can i use scry to study a creature in order to assume it's shape?
all i need is a description then a scry check 15 (20 if it's on another plane) maybe less depending on the situation with a posible bonus if i have the likeness or peice of the creature then.

2. if i can scry and learn how long do i have to study it for?
scry last for one min/level so if i have a 10/10 sorcerer/shifter he can scry for 10 mins is that enough does it have to be longer. do i have to witness a fight.

3. can a crystal ball be used to observe the creature for as long as you need to? or is there a limit to the crystal ball that i have not seen.

4. what about a staff or scroll of summon monster?
you don't have to be level 17 to use a staff just summon what you want and order it to attack you and you have been in combat with it.

5. how many shapes does a shifter/druid get?
is it all that they know. we've been playing it one shape per level with a lot of flexibility in how you "know a shape" allowing research or a knowledge check to chose a form never "seen before" after all wizards must catalog dead bodies and record abilities and how they work. from what i've read on the boards it seems as long as it's in the limits of the abiliity they can become it.

6. is there a duration for wildshape/greaterwildshape?
so far we have found no evidence that there is a duration for wildshape or greater wildshape and as such there is none in our game.

7. other then the ways i thought of wether is there any other way to learn about a monster then to have to fight it.

any help would be usefull. if there is a definet answer to a question please post where i can read it i have access to just about every book you can think of we buy at least one copy of just about any book that comes out.

thanks in advance

 

[Stalker0]

I'd say in order to shape into an animal you'd have to get a good look at its abilities. While this doesn't necessarily mean combat, that's the easiest way.

I think scrying should be a reasonable way to do it, after all if being in combat for a few rounds make it an eligible target than 10 min of watching in combat should be plenty.

 

[nharwell]

first of all when ever i refer to us or we i'm refering to me and people i game with

1. supose i have a spell casting shapechanger who wants more shapes can i use scry to study a creature in order to assume it's shape?
all i need is a description then a scry check 15 (20 if it's on another plane) maybe less depending on the situation with a posible bonus if i have the likeness or peice of the creature then.

2. if i can scry and learn how long do i have to study it for?
scry last for one min/level so if i have a 10/10 sorcerer/shifter he can scry for 10 mins is that enough does it have to be longer. do i have to witness a fight.

From the DND Master of the Wild FAQ:

Q: Both the wildshape and greater wildshape powers
require you to be familiar with the form you assume. Just
how familiar is isfamiliarle for the purposes of shifting?
Would fighting a creature qualify? Would just seeing it
once work, or does familiarity require active study?

A: Any encounter in which you fight or have a similar
complex interaction with the creature would qualify, as
would studying the creature for a day.

3. can a crystal ball be used to observe the creature for as long as you need to? or is there a limit to the crystal ball that i have not seen.

To the best of my knowledge, a Crystal Ball can be used at will with no set duration. I think it's reasonable, however, for the DM to set some type of time limit...

4. what about a staff or scroll of summon monster?
you don't have to be level 17 to use a staff just summon what you want and order it to attack you and you have been in combat with it.

Yes, I suppose this would work, but typically you can only summon outsiders, greatly limiting it's utility for shape "choice." On the other hand, I guess a Druid could use Summon Nature's ally to do this for any animal...

5. how many shapes does a shifter/druid get?
is it all that they know. we've been playing it one shape per level with a lot of flexibility in how you "know a shape" allowing research or a knowledge check to chose a form never "seen before" after all wizards must catalog dead bodies and record abilities and how they work. from what i've read on the boards it seems as long as it's in the limits of the abiliity they can become it.

From the general DND FAQ:

Q: Does a druid who can use the wild shape power need to
preselect a shape like a wizard prepares spells?

A: No, pick a shape each time the power is used.

6. is there a duration for wildshape/greaterwildshape?
so far we have found no evidence that there is a duration for wildshape or greater wildshape and as such there is none in our game.

There is no duration -- Wildshape is no longer based on polymorph.

7. other then the ways i thought of wether is there any other way to learn about a monster then to have to fight it.

See the FAQ entry I posted above for questions 1 & 2.

 

[skymage]

anyone else have an opinion on the scry thing. i mean lot's of creatures have been catagloged and all it takes is a name or a description.

even if it's just an opinion on how scry works i'd like to hear it.

 

[Sejs]

Sure, I'd let scrying work to study a creature, much the same way a shifter can study a creature to learn it's shape. Complex interaction (fight, etc) or a day studying it. Scrying on a creature would count as study.


The Scrying spell lasts 1 minute / level. If you want to commit enough spells / metamagic feats or whathave you to make it last a -day-, then by all means. Just make sure all those scry checks pass.

 

[skymage]

what about the use of a crystal ball?

would all 24 hours have to be in a row?

once i make one check then shouldn't the next one be easier? i am studying and becomeing familar with it after all.

if the one i'm studying dies do i have to start over or just find
another creature to study?

these are the types of things that i really need answered. the people i play with do it very democratically (dm can veto anything he finds unreasonable) and the more opinions the better. so anything as long as it's on topic even if it's agreeing with somthing already said would help.

 

[Coredump]

I think scrying would not work. Scrying lets you observe a 'known' subject. Not one type of being. If I tell you the definition of a King, and what a King does; that doesn't mean you can just scry a random King.

Likewise, I can't just tell you about a Dire Ape and you can scry one. (IMO) I could tell you about a specific king, or a specific Ape; but I am not sure how to tell you about a specific Ape.


ie. You can't cast Scry and say 'show me a shopkeeper' or 'show me a sailor'; so why could you say 'show me a mountain goat'?

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