Aberration Wild Shape [Archive] - Wizards Community

Aberration Wild Shape [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
tos_shai_hulud
04-24-07, 01:34 PM Lords of Madness has a feat that allows a druid to wild shape into Aberrations, following the same restrictions as normal Wild Shape. This yields some rather intriguing and humorous propositions. For instance, what happens when a druid wild shapes into a mimic? Obviously the easiest solution as a DM is to say that a druid could not wild shape into a mimic. But, it might have some interesting repercussions. A mimic possesses Mimic Shape as a supernatural Special Quality. Since it is not an Extraordinary Special Attack, the druid does not get it. Also, the mimic has the shapechanger subtype, but the druid does not. What does this mean for the druid? What would he look like?

My thoughts:
If the druid wanted to be a large chest, she could, but she would not be able to use the mimic's Mimic shape to change into a table later on. So, what are the limitations on the mimic. Could the druid mimic himself? Go around town as himself, only adhesive?

Also, what happens if the druid loses his powers and becomes a Blighter (from the Complete Divine)? At 3rd level of Blighter, he gains undead wild shape (which works as a druid's wild shape, only the skeleton template is applied to any form chosen). Would the druid be able to choose an aberration form, then add the skeleton template to it? What would it mean for something like a Gibbering Mouther? Supposedly, the creature should keep all of its special attacks, but without flesh, some of the attacks don't make much sense. Zombies, perhaps, but not really skeletons.
tos_shai_hulud
04-24-07, 07:22 PM By the way, my example with the Gibbering Mouther was not well explained. The trouble that I see with it is how is a skeleton going to engulf?
Marcus Majarra
04-26-07, 02:22 PM For one, all shapechangers have a natural form (otherwise all shapechangers would be identical in that they have no inherent shape). When the druid with Aberration Wild Shape assumes the form of a shapechanger, it takes on the appearance of its natural form. Unless it has an extraordinary special attack that allows it to change shape, the druid will remain in this form until it reverts to its normal form.

Secondly, here's how you can deal with the Aberration Wild Shape feat in conjunction with the Blighter's undead wild shape ability:

1) The feat expands your wild shape ability, thus allowing the Blighter to assume the form of aberrations and skeletal animals (but not skeletal aberrations). This would be consistent with the Blighter's ability, which describes the skeleton template applying to an animal shape.

2) You allow the Blighter to assume the form of skeletal aberrations.

In both cases, keep in mind that the Complete Divine made important omissions in describing the effects of the skeleton template:

a) A skeleton retains none of the special attacks of the base creature. This means your skeletal gibbering mouther cannot engulf anything.

b) A skeleton loses all of the special qualities of the base creature, unless they improve its natural attacks. This is not even an issue, since wild shape doesn't grant special qualities anyway.
tos_shai_hulud
04-26-07, 02:32 PM In both cases, keep in mind that the Complete Divine made important omissions in describing the effects of the skeleton template:

a) A skeleton retains none of the special attacks of the base creature. This means your skeletal gibbering mouther cannot engulf anything.

b) A skeleton loses all of the special qualities of the base creature, unless they improve its natural attacks. This is not even an issue, since wild shape doesn't grant special qualities anyway.

Both of these are true for the Skeleton template, but the Undead Wild Shape does not mention that it applies the skeleton template. It just lists several effects that it does apply. Should I assume that means that it applies the skeleton template?
Marcus Majarra
04-26-07, 02:42 PM You're missing the first paragraph of the undead wild shape ability:

At 3rd level, the blighter gains a version of the wild shape ability. Undead wild shape functions like a druid's wild shape ability, except that the blighter adds the skeleton template to the animal form he chooses to transform into.

Look to the bolded text.
tos_shai_hulud
04-26-07, 03:03 PM Well I suppose that is a valid argument if you like going by what the book says :embarrass:

So, what sort of base natural form would you think a mimic would have?
Marcus Majarra
04-26-07, 03:59 PM Well, the mimic's an aberration, so that leaves plenty of room for imagination. The only constants are that:

1) It roughly occupies a volume of 150 cubic feet (i.e. 5 x 5 x 6 feet)
2) It weighs 4,500 pounds
3) It most likely has a mouth, since it can speak common
4) It has two arms with which it can slam and crush
5) It exudes an adhesive slime

Other hints include:

1) It has the alertness feat, along with darkvision. Odds are it has very effective perception organs (likely eyes and ears)
2) It has the Lightning Reflexes feat, and for its size, its Dexterity is very high (the average large humanoid would have Dex 8, the Mimic has 12). Its form is most lithe, if not mobile. Odds are that it doesn't have very effective mobility appendages.

At this point, you have to use your imagination. I envision a highly articulated, block-shaped creature with two mighty arms, aberrant eyes and ears, a mouth with either no teeth or small teeth, its body covered with glands that extrude a viscous fluid.
tos_shai_hulud
04-26-07, 04:02 PM Ok, thanks :). I like that.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
tos_shai_hulud 04-24-07, 01:34 PM	Lords of Madness has a feat that allows a druid to wild shape into Aberrations, following the same restrictions as normal Wild Shape. This yields some rather intriguing and humorous propositions. For instance, what happens when a druid wild shapes into a mimic? Obviously the easiest solution as a DM is to say that a druid could not wild shape into a mimic. But, it might have some interesting repercussions. A mimic possesses Mimic Shape as a supernatural Special Quality. Since it is not an Extraordinary Special Attack, the druid does not get it. Also, the mimic has the shapechanger subtype, but the druid does not. What does this mean for the druid? What would he look like? My thoughts: If the druid wanted to be a large chest, she could, but she would not be able to use the mimic's Mimic shape to change into a table later on. So, what are the limitations on the mimic. Could the druid mimic himself? Go around town as himself, only adhesive? Also, what happens if the druid loses his powers and becomes a Blighter (from the Complete Divine)? At 3rd level of Blighter, he gains undead wild shape (which works as a druid's wild shape, only the skeleton template is applied to any form chosen). Would the druid be able to choose an aberration form, then add the skeleton template to it? What would it mean for something like a Gibbering Mouther? Supposedly, the creature should keep all of its special attacks, but without flesh, some of the attacks don't make much sense. Zombies, perhaps, but not really skeletons.
tos_shai_hulud 04-24-07, 07:22 PM	By the way, my example with the Gibbering Mouther was not well explained. The trouble that I see with it is how is a skeleton going to engulf?
Marcus Majarra 04-26-07, 02:22 PM	For one, all shapechangers have a natural form (otherwise all shapechangers would be identical in that they have no inherent shape). When the druid with Aberration Wild Shape assumes the form of a shapechanger, it takes on the appearance of its natural form. Unless it has an extraordinary special attack that allows it to change shape, the druid will remain in this form until it reverts to its normal form. Secondly, here's how you can deal with the Aberration Wild Shape feat in conjunction with the Blighter's undead wild shape ability: 1) The feat expands your wild shape ability, thus allowing the Blighter to assume the form of aberrations and skeletal animals (but not skeletal aberrations). This would be consistent with the Blighter's ability, which describes the skeleton template applying to an animal shape. 2) You allow the Blighter to assume the form of skeletal aberrations. In both cases, keep in mind that the Complete Divine made important omissions in describing the effects of the skeleton template: a) A skeleton retains none of the special attacks of the base creature. This means your skeletal gibbering mouther cannot engulf anything. b) A skeleton loses all of the special qualities of the base creature, unless they improve its natural attacks. This is not even an issue, since wild shape doesn't grant special qualities anyway.
tos_shai_hulud 04-26-07, 02:32 PM	In both cases, keep in mind that the Complete Divine made important omissions in describing the effects of the skeleton template: a) A skeleton retains none of the special attacks of the base creature. This means your skeletal gibbering mouther cannot engulf anything. b) A skeleton loses all of the special qualities of the base creature, unless they improve its natural attacks. This is not even an issue, since wild shape doesn't grant special qualities anyway. Both of these are true for the Skeleton template, but the Undead Wild Shape does not mention that it applies the skeleton template. It just lists several effects that it does apply. Should I assume that means that it applies the skeleton template?
Marcus Majarra 04-26-07, 02:42 PM	You're missing the first paragraph of the undead wild shape ability: At 3rd level, the blighter gains a version of the wild shape ability. Undead wild shape functions like a druid's wild shape ability, except that the blighter adds the skeleton template to the animal form he chooses to transform into. Look to the bolded text.
tos_shai_hulud 04-26-07, 03:03 PM	Well I suppose that is a valid argument if you like going by what the book says :embarrass: So, what sort of base natural form would you think a mimic would have?
Marcus Majarra 04-26-07, 03:59 PM	Well, the mimic's an aberration, so that leaves plenty of room for imagination. The only constants are that: 1) It roughly occupies a volume of 150 cubic feet (i.e. 5 x 5 x 6 feet) 2) It weighs 4,500 pounds 3) It most likely has a mouth, since it can speak common 4) It has two arms with which it can slam and crush 5) It exudes an adhesive slime Other hints include: 1) It has the alertness feat, along with darkvision. Odds are it has very effective perception organs (likely eyes and ears) 2) It has the Lightning Reflexes feat, and for its size, its Dexterity is very high (the average large humanoid would have Dex 8, the Mimic has 12). Its form is most lithe, if not mobile. Odds are that it doesn't have very effective mobility appendages. At this point, you have to use your imagination. I envision a highly articulated, block-shaped creature with two mighty arms, aberrant eyes and ears, a mouth with either no teeth or small teeth, its body covered with glands that extrude a viscous fluid.
tos_shai_hulud 04-26-07, 04:02 PM	Ok, thanks :). I like that.