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Player > Spells > Polymorphing Rules
The following forms, which can be used for polymorph and mass polymorph, already have special abilities selected, although calculations for save DCs and natural weapon values have not been assigned, as they may vary depending on the specific creature form. Those forms that have special abilities from only the creature they are based on have one additional special ability listed.
KALO FORM
Medium
Senses low-light vision
DEFENSE
Resistances cold 5
OFFENSE
Speed swim 40 ft.
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Stealthy Swimmer (Ex) See page 69 of the Alien Archive.
JUVENILE MOUNTAIN EEL FORM
Medium
Senses low-light vision
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite
Offensive Abilities trample
MARAQUOI FORM
Medium
Senses low-light vision
OFFENSE
Speed climb 20 ft.
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Prehensile Tail (Ex) See page 75 of the Alien Archive.
BARATHU FORM
Medium
Senses darkvision 60 ft.
OFFENSE
Speed fly 20 ft. (Ex, clumsy)
Melee slam
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Early Stage Adaptation (Su) See page 20 of the Alien Archive.
GRAY
Small
Senses darkvision 60 ft.
DEFENSE
Defensive Abilities phase (Alien Archive 57)
OFFENSE
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 2nd, gray magic racial trait)
1/day—mind thrust (1st level)
At will—daze, telepathic message
CREST-EATER FORM
Large
Senses blindsense (scent) 30 ft.,
low-light vision
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite
DRAGONKIN FORM
Large
DEFENSE
Resistances fire 15
OFFENSE
Speed fly 30 ft. (Ex, clumsy)
Melee bite
Offensive Abilities breath weapon (fire, cone)
BLUE DRAGON FORM
Large
DEFENSE
DR 5/—; Resistances electricity 20
OFFENSE
Speed fly 40 ft. (Ex, average)
Melee bite
Offensive Abilities breath weapon (electricity, line)
FIRE ELEMENTAL FORM
Large
Senses darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision
DEFENSE
DR 5/—; Immunities fire
Weaknesses vulnerable to cold
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft.
Melee slam
Possibly one of the mightiest forms of transmutation magic,
polymorphing allows you to change your shape (or the
shape of a foe or ally) to that of another creature. You might
polymorph into a different creature because you want to
gain a measure of its power, or use a new shape to disguise
yourself or just to place a foe at a disadvantage. All the
galaxy’s creatures can serve as templates and starting points
for a polymorphing spellcaster, but they aren’t the limit. Only
your imagination and preparation limit the extent of your
shapechanging powers.
The practice of polymorphing magic is common among
those who revere Oras, as well as among the xenodruids who
follow the Green Faith and the Xenowardens. Technomancers
interested in biotech and life sciences also venture into the
realm of shapechanging. Dreamers among Desna’s magicinclined
followers likewise use polymorphing in order to
create new shapes previously seen only in the mind’s eye for
themselves and others.
Polymorph is a descriptor (Core Rulebook 269) that applies
to transmutation spells and effects that allow you to change
the physical shape of yourself or another creature. A spell or
effect with the polymorph descriptor has the following general
parameters, unless the spell or effect specifies otherwise. As a
rule, a polymorph spell or effect doesn’t change any attribute
about its target unless it says it does.
A polymorph form has the shape and appearance of
one base creature within limitations. A form grants other
capabilities with limitations set by the version of polymorph
spell you cast. A polymorph spell can rarely give the target all
the capabilities of another creature. It can impart only traits
of a physical nature, including changes in movement types,
natural weapons, resistances, senses, and some other features.
When the target takes the form of a specific individual, its
capabilities are likely to be similar, but the magic can’t always
grant the full extent of a creature’s power.
When you change your own or another creature’s form using a
spell with the polymorph descriptor, the target’s original form
(referred to as its true form) is used to determine anything
that is not explicitly changed by the spell.
When you learn a spell with the polymorph descriptor, you
design a number of specific forms (as determined by the spell)
known as polymorph forms. Each of these could be based
on an extant creature, or they might be a product purely of
your imagination. You can thereafter cast the spell to change
yourself or another creature into one of your predetermined
forms. These forms might be specific to you, each having a
unique look that remains the same from one casting to the
next (potentially even mimicking a specific individual), or they
might be generic (so you use that form when you change into
a creature, but the target’s appearance is different each time
within the norms for that creature). You cannot, however,
transform a target to have multiple forms at one time (so
you couldn’t, for example, transform a single creature into a
creature with the swarm subtype).
Only one spell or effect with the polymorph descriptor can affect a creature at a time. If you’re the willing target of a polymorph effect while you’re polymorphed, the new effect changes your form and ends the older effect. While you are polymorphed, if you fail the saving throw against a polymorph effect for which you are an unwilling target, the new effect changes your form and ends the older effect. The same rules apply to a shapechanger currently in a shape provided by the change shape ability. A shapechanger can end a polymorph effect on itself by using its change shape ability to transform into another form allowed by that ability.
When a polymorph form is that of another creature, the target
appears to be that creature. You decide at the time of designing
a polymorph form if its appearance is generic (allowing the
target to look like any general example of that type of creature,
but never a specific creature) or specific (causing the target to
always look like one specific individual that does not change
between castings).
As a disguise, this change in appearance is perfect, granting
the target a +10 bonus to Disguise checks (either to appear to
be a typical version of a generic form or a specific individual
when using a unique form). In addition, the DC of the target’s
Disguise checks isn’t modified due to altering major features
or disguising itself as a different race or creature type. The DC
increase for disguising itself as a different size applies only if
an observer knows its size is incongruous with the form (see
Size on page 143). The GM can alter or eliminate the bonus to
Disguise checks based on the target’s behavior, such as talking
in animal form or other conduct outside the norm for a shape.
If the polymorph form granted by a spell is of the same
creature type as the target’s true form, the armor, weapons,
and other equipment the target had at the time of casting
remain visible and accessible and are changed by the magic
to be usable in the new form. If any item is out of the target’s
possession for more than 1 round, it reverts to its normal form.
If the polymorph form is of a different creature type than the
target’s true form, the spell causes the target’s armor (including
any armor upgrades and the abilities of powered armor) to
continue to function and be able to be activated by the target
regardless of the character’s form. However, the armor isn’t
visible in polymorph form, and it can’t be targeted or accessed
(such as to change batteries) by either the target or other
creatures. All other equipment is unavailable in a polymorph
form of a different type and cannot be used, activated, targeted,
or modified by either the target or other creatures.
When you design a polymorph form, you can give it a natural attack. A creature in this form has an attack bonus for the natural attack equal to 1-1/2 times its character level or Challenge Rating (CR), to a maximum of three times the level of spell that grants the form. No ability modifiers, class features, feats, items, racial abilities, or spells modify this attack bonus (though it is affected normally by penalties). The natural attack deals damage equal to the standard melee damage for an expert NPC of a CR equal to the creature’s level or CR (using the array on page 130 of the Alien Archive), to a maximum character level or CR equal to three times the level of spell that grants the form. No equipment modifies this damage except for Strength bonuses from personal upgrades (though it is affected normally by penalties).
Each version of a polymorph spell has a maximum CR. When
you design a polymorph form, the target can gain the same
maximum number of special abilities as an expert NPC of a CR
equal to the spell’s maximum CR (using the array on page 130
of the Alien Archive). Alternatively, if you base your form on
a specific creature (which must be of a CR no higher than the
spell’s maximum CR), you can select only abilities that the
base form has, but you can select one ability more than the
normal maximum.
All of these are in addition to any abilities gained from
the polymorph form’s type or subtype (which are limited—
see Type and Subtype on page 144), and they must be
selected from the following list: amphibious, breath weapon,
breathing, compression, defensive abilities, limited telepathy,
racial traits, senses, and trample.
Breath Weapon: A breath weapon deals damage of one
energy type of your choice, deals 1d4 damage of that type per
character level or CR of the polymorphed target (to a maximum
equal to the polymorph effect’s maximum CR), must be a line or
cone (following the guidelines for the breath weapon universal
creature rule on page 152 of the Alien Archive), can be used only
once every 4 rounds, and does one less d4 of damage each time
it is used. When the damage reaches 0d4, the breath weapon
no longer functions. A target can attempt a Reflex save (DC =
10 + half the polymorphed creature’s character level or CR or 10
+ half the maximum CR of the polymorph effect, whichever is
lower) to reduce the damage by half.
Breathing: When selecting breathing as a special ability,
you can select one environment in which you are aware that
living creatures can natively exist, and grant your polymorph
form the ability to breathe in that specific environment. This
can be underwater, in a specific toxic environment, or even in
the void of space if you have first-hand knowledge of living
creatures that successfully operate in a vacuum without
needing to breathe. The target retains the ability to breathe
as it normally does in addition to this benefit. Breathing can
be an unimportant feature if the target retains its armor’s
environmental protections (see Equipment above).
Defensive Abilities: The limits of which defensive abilities
you can select are outlined in each polymorph spell. You can
select only one of the defensive options listed for the level at
which you cast the spell, and it counts toward the maximum
number of special abilities the form can grant.
Movement: Each polymorph spell or ability details what
changes to movement, if any, your polymorph form can
grant. Your polymorph form can grant one form of movement
without it counting against its maximum number of special
abilities, but any additional forms of movement must be
selected as special abilities.
Racial Traits: When selecting a racial trait for a polymorph
form, you can select any one player character racial trait of a
race that grants such rules and that does not refer to or require
any equipment, armor, armor upgrade, or drone upgrade
to function. For example, you could select the exceptional
vision trait of an android (gaining both low-light vision and
darkvision), but not the upgrade slot ability (since it refers to
armor upgrades). Additionally, the target can never gain racial
ability adjustments, racial Hit Points, feats, or skill ranks from
a polymorph spell’s effects. Each level of the polymorph spell
has specific restrictions regarding spell-like abilities.
Senses: The limits of what senses you can select are
outlined in each polymorph spell. Each of the sense options a
given polymorph spell can grant the target counts as a single
special ability that counts toward the maximum number of
special abilities a polymorph form can grant.
Other Abilities: If you’re designing a polymorph form based
on a specific creature, the GM may allow you to select one of
that creature’s special abilities or traits so long as the creature
has a CR no higher than the spell’s maximum CR. If a
polymorph spell grants a trait that uses a base creature’s
CR for a calculation, instead use the spell’s maximum
CR or the polymorphed creature’s character level
or CR, whichever is lower.
Some abilities should not be permitted by a GM.
The target can’t gain an aura from a polymorph
form. An ability can’t be gained if it requires more
time to use than the polymorph spell’s duration. The target
can’t gain any ability that makes it part of a communal mind
or body, such as the barathu combine ability or the swarm mind
ability that swarms have. In addition, the target can’t gain any
special ability that allows it to summon or otherwise spawn
other creatures. Because of how polymorph effects interact
(per the Multiple Effects section on page 142), a polymorph
spell can’t grant the target the change shape special ability,
since the polymorph spell that granted the ability would end
when the target used it. If an ability is supernatural or could
harm the target in its use, the GM should be very cautious
before allowing access to it in a polymorph form.
The weird magic of polymorph spells might grant the
target the ability to cause other effects that should last
longer than its transformation. If an effect the target creates
while in a polymorph form has an ongoing duration when the
target returns to normal form, the effect ends unless the GM
decides otherwise. However, changes the target made that
are not ongoing effects, such as the death of enemies the
target fought, are permanent.
Some polymorph spells allow you to design a polymorph form
of a specific size. If you change the target’s size, it gains the
space and reach of the new size. Decide if the new form is tall
or long and then use the space and reach rules from Table 8-1:
Creature Size on page 256 of the Core Rulebook. If you try
to polymorph the target into a size that the physical space
it’s in can’t accommodate, the spell begins to take hold but
then fails. You should also select a weight within the range
indicated for that size on that table.
A target of a polymorph spell gains a minor bonus based
on the size its new form provides, regardless of the target’s
original size. Table 1 below shows these bonuses, which are
enhancement bonuses to ability checks and skill checks
based on the indicated ability score.
SIZE | BONUS |
---|---|
Diminutive | Dex +3 |
Tiny | Dex +2 |
Small | Dex +1 |
Medium | Str +1 |
Large | Str +2 |
Huge | Str +3 |
Polymorph spells allow their target to appear to be a creature
of a different type and subtype and grant the target some
benefits related to the base creature’s capabilities. Despite
these changes, the target’s type and subtype remain the same.
More powerful spells grant the target extra benefits based
on the chosen type or subtype, as noted in the spell description.
Those benefits follow. Taking the appearance of a type or subtype
not listed below doesn’t grant the target any related abilities.
Changing a target that isn’t a construct into a constructed form grants it a +2 enhancement bonus to saving throws against disease, mind-affecting effects, necromancy effects, paralysis, poison, sleep, and stunning.
Changing a target that doesn’t have the elemental subtype into an elemental form grants it a +2 enhancement bonus to saving throws against paralysis, poison, sleep, and stunning. The target is unflankable while in elemental form. A fire elemental form is immune to fire, vulnerable to cold, and cannot grant cold resistance.
Changing a target that isn’t a plant into a plant form grants it a +2 enhancement bonus to saving throws against mindaffecting effects, paralysis, poison, sleep, and stunning.
Changing a target that isn’t undead into an undead form grants it a +2 enhancement bonus to saving throws against mind-affecting effects, necromancy effects, paralysis, poison, sleep, and stunning.
Changing a target that isn’t a vermin into a vermin form grants it a +4 enhancement bonus to saving throws against mind-affecting effects.
The target keeps its modifier to initiative. A polymorph form never changes this modifier.
A polymorph spell can alter the target’s speed and movement types, as noted in the spell description. If the spell doesn’t, the target retains its normal speed and movement types.
The target retains its speech capabilities while polymorphed unless you decide against that. The languages it speaks and understands don’t change with its shape.
While a polymorph form might grant the target enhancement bonuses to skill and ability checks based on its Strength and Dexterity, as detailed in Size on page 143, it never alters the target’s ability scores or ability modifiers.
The target retains its normal Hit Points and Stamina Points in your new form. A new form can’t grant it Hit Points or Stamina Points. Further, a form can provide no means for the target to regain Hit Points or Stamina Points or cause others to do so.
The target retains its normal Resolve Points. A new form can neither grant the target Resolve Points nor allow it special methods of regaining or granting others Resolve Points.
The target’s features from classes, themes, and so on still work in its new form. However, its form could limit the usage of features it has. Rely on common sense and GM guidance in such situations. Additionally, the target can’t gain class features, theme features, class grafts, and similar mechanical elements from a polymorph form. For instance, you can’t polymorph a target into an Aeon Guard to grant a target the benefits of that creature’s class graft, but you can transform a target to look like an Azlanti human.
When in a polymorph form, the target retains its skills and its ranks in them. A form might grant the target modifiers to its skills or new ways to use them, but a form can’t grant the target new skills or skill ranks.
The target can still cast spells while polymorphed. However, as with equipment, it might not be able to access or employ special materials to cast some spells. The GM may decide that while the target is polymorphed, its form prevents it from properly manipulating the materials required to cast a spell, such as the materials worth 1,000 credits per CR of an undead created with animate undead. In any case, a new form can’t grant the target the ability to cast spells. It can grant spell-like abilities, but only if those from a racial trait, and only one racial trait can be assigned to any given polymorphed form.
The primary polymorph spell is polymorph, which allows you to change your own shape or shapeshift willing targets. As you master polymorphing, you might also learn mass polymorph (see page 146), which enables you to transmute multiple willing targets into new forms. For polymorph spells that diminish your foes, see Baleful Polymorph on page 147.
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