Spell: Alter Self

[The Souljourner]

I used it as a bard with a hat of diguise, it was great! Get all the benefits without the ugly downside (looking like a troglodyte is not good for a bard's image).

-The Souljourner

 

[crater]

As a DM I'd consider limiting it to forms the caster is personally familiar with (i.e., has come into contact with).

I would assume that that is an inbuilt limitation. How does the spellcaster know what to turn into and what it can do unless he is familiar with it already?

 

[Darklone]

Incidentally, at high levels this spell can be useful too.

It DOES NOT cause any penalites or bonuses when changing size. So if you're affected by righteous might or enlarge person, you can alter form to....yourself and appear to be the same size as normal, while still benefitting from the dr, str and con improvements of righteous might.....

Makes such an effect unknown to the enemy.....useful if you're enemy likes to dispell all your buffs.

I don't think that works? Size changes? Hmm.

Could you appear as yourself or just an average human?

 

[mikebr99]

I don't think that works? Size changes? Hmm.

Could you appear as yourself or just an average human?

It works... partially the way he suggested. If you had RM'd yourself, you could then go back one size cat. and look like yourself again.

You assume the form of a creature of the same type as your normal form. The new form must be within one size category of your normal size. The maximum HD of an assumed form is equal to your caster level, to a maximum of 5 HD at 5th level. You can change into a member of your own kind or even into yourself.
​

​

But... if your enemy is accustomed to throwing area dispels at you, it is still going to target your higher level spells 1st, so RM may go before alter self.​

And, alter self doesn't alter the size of your weapons... so that big mace you were carrying during RM doesn't resize back down. ​

Mike​

 

[PaulGreystoke]

"You acquire the physical qualities of the new form while retaining your own mind. Physical qualities include.... racial skill bonuses, racial bonus feats..."

So if my druid (a Gnome) transforms into a half-Elf, she gets the +1 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks plus the +2 racial bonus on Diplomacy and Gather Information checks. Correct? So what happens if she transforms into a human? Does she get 4 + 1/lvl more skill points to put wherever she chooses? And what about that 1st level bonus feat?

Yes on the racial bonuses for the Half-Elf. No on the Human bonus skill points & feat. (I believe that this latter was clarified in the FAQ a while back.) And of course the character would lose its Gnome racial bonuses on Listen & Craft(Alchemy).