Skipism in Polymorph article 2?

[heirodule]

What's his basis for saying this?

When you share an alter self spell with a familiar or companion, the familiar or companion assumes a form of the same type as its own. While an animal becomes a magical beast upon becoming a familiar, such a creature must assume the form of an animal when sharing an alter self spell. For example, a cat familiar is a magical beast; when it shares an alter self spell, it assumes the form of an animal, such as a dog, a bird or a bat, not the form of a magical beast.

I see no basis in the rules for this decision.

 

[mikebr99]

What's his basis for saying this?


I see no basis in the rules for this decision.

It's covered by this...

Share Spells: At the master’s option, he may have any spell (but not any spell-like ability) he casts on himself also affect his familiar. The familiar must be within 5 feet at the time of casting to receive the benefit. If the spell or effect has a duration other than instantaneous, it stops affecting the familiar if it moves farther than 5 feet away and will not affect the familiar again even if it returns to the master before the duration expires. Additionally, the master may cast a spell with a target of "You" on his familiar (as a touch range spell) instead of on himself. A master and his familiar can share spells even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the familiar’s type (magical beast).

Mike​

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[Plane Sailing]

I think this is the specific element he's questioning

For example, a cat familiar is a magical beast; when it shares an alter self spell, it assumes the form of an animal

 

[mikebr99]

I think this is the specific element he's questioning

Well, sure... THAT'S out in left field.

Maybe WoTC are realizing that companions/familiars should just stay animals, and have the augmented sub-type? And they'll be adding this to errata later?

They've already changed their collective mind on companions...

Why wont Skip just come out and say that you get a new current hp total when your CON changes from Polymorphing... and be done with it?


Mike

 

[Li Shenron]

Why wont Skip just come out and say that you get a new current hp total when your CON changes from Polymorphing... and be done with it?

Wait for part 3 and you'll know

 

[Joshua Randall]

It strikes me that rather that write thousands of words explaining this, you could make a simple chart with different characteristics and abilities down the left side, and alter self / polymorph / shapechange / wild shape across the top. Then simply cross reference each and write in 'yes' or 'no' as appropriate. Maybe when Skip's article series is complete I will throw something together in this vein.

 

[the Jester]

It strikes me that rather that write thousands of words explaining this, you could make a simple chart with different characteristics and abilities down the left side, and alter self / polymorph / shapechange / wild shape across the top. Then simply cross reference each and write in 'yes' or 'no' as appropriate. Maybe when Skip's article series is complete I will throw something together in this vein.

Oooh, good idea! Please post it if/when you do!

 

[Hypersmurf]

Maybe WoTC are realizing that companions/familiars should just stay animals, and have the augmented sub-type? And they'll be adding this to errata later?

Well, as written - "... but it is treated as a magical beast instead of an animal for the purpose of any effect that depends on its type" - I'd say Alter Self is certainly an 'effect that depends on its type'!

Still, on the bright side, at least he gave us a worked example.

It's always nice to have a worked example.

... well, unless he says "He loses his half-elf racial skill bonuses", but leaves them in for the lizardfolk-form stat block. Which sort of defeats the purpose of a worked example.

-Hyp.

 

[Greatwyrm]

I know eratta is pretty much unavoidable. At the same time, you'd think after 30 years of D&D, we'd have a working set of rules for polymorph now.

 

[Urbanmech]

I really wish Skip wouldn't contradict himself in an article. At one point he says that you gain the racial skill bonuses of the form you take and get to keep your own. But then in his example he says that the half-elf looses his racial skill bonuses but gains those of the lizard folk. Which way is right?