shapechange into dragons

[paranoid]

When you shapechange into, say, a red dragon, what determines the age category? Assuming you are familiar with red dragons in general and (for 3.5) your HD permits,

1. you can shapechange into a red dragon of any age category.

2. you can only shapechange into a red dragon of an age category you are familiar with.

3. you can only shapechange into a wyrmling red dragon, because that's the base creature. Every other age category is listed under "advancement", and you cannot shapechange into advanced creatures.

4. you can only shapechange into a red dragon of the age category your own age permits. 28-year old human -> 28-year old (juvenile) red dragon

which one is it?

-p.

 

[Kemrain]

The person in my group taking Shifter levels tells me you take the highest HD form you can, though you are capable of taking lower. If you qualify, HD-wise, for them all, you get your pick.

I think...

If he's right...

- Kemrain the Second Hand Informant

 

[kpdezend]

that is how we are doing it...

The person in my group taking Shifter levels tells me you take the highest HD form you can, though you are capable of taking lower. If you qualify, HD-wise, for them all, you get your pick.

I think...

If he's right...

- Kemrain the Second Hand Informant

You can transform into a creature of hit dice equal (or less) to yours. So you have to be Epic level if you want to turn into a Great Wurm.

I'm playing a soon-to-be shifter, and that is how we are doing it.

- Kent -

 

[jgsugden]

The 3.5 PHB errata is on the wizards site. It now limits Shapechange to equal or less hit dice and a maximum of 25 total HD.

As for the 'base creature' of a dragon, there are no firm rules to tell you what age of the dragon would be the base creature. Most DMs have not even considered the idea that you can't choose any of the dragon ages. In my game, I considered a rule that you could only change into adult dragons, but it didn't seem worth it. The player could just select a different creature with similar abilities, so providing the limitation did not seem worth the time.

 

[FrankTrollman]

The rules for every other creature seems to imply that turning into a troll would turn you into an adult troll if you were already an adult. And thus, you'd have to turn into an adult dragon as well.

But the Sage specifically said you could turn into a Great Wyrm dragon with Shapechange even if you weren't super-venerable yourself.

-Frank

 

[paranoid]

The rules for every other creature seems to imply that turning into a troll would turn you into an adult troll if you were already an adult. And thus, you'd have to turn into an adult dragon as well.

But the Sage specifically said you could turn into a Great Wyrm dragon with Shapechange even if you weren't super-venerable yourself.

That's what I meant. It's a kind of contradiction, isn't it?
Personally, I'll probably go with just the HD limit, but I think the issue is far from clear.

thanks for your thoughts,

-p.