Alter Self...Who can fly?! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alter Self...Who can fly?! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
anevilpetingzoo
05-25-04, 07:57 PM When using Alter Self You assume the form of a creature of the same type as your normal form.

Ok great, and you can fly if your form had wings! Great! Ok now the question, what core humanoid form has wings? I can not find one in any of the 3 core books.

Anyone know?
cwslyclgh
05-25-04, 08:02 PM there are no core humaniods that can fly... that however does not stop a DM from creating one... nor does it mean that there are not non-core sources for flying humaniods (such as the Avariel, or winged elf from the FR setting).
anevilpetingzoo
05-25-04, 08:18 PM That is very stupid....A core spell that can not be used to its potential even though they mention how to use it.
Seeker95
05-25-04, 08:28 PM Part of the core rules is that every single DM in the game has guidelines for how to create new races, classes, and monsters.

Additionally, Forgotten Realms has at least one flying humanoid race -- the flying elf (avariel?). So it works in the largest, most heavily supported, single-most-widely-used campaign setting.

And, if you play an outsider, there are plenty of outsiders that can fly.

So it is not stupid. It is a spell that has different ranges of use for different character types, worlds and settings.
cwslyclgh
05-25-04, 08:30 PM it can be used to its potential by things that are not humaniods... for instance, outsiders or monstrous humaniods that have it as a spell like ability (or spell) can use it to gain wings and fly.

you have to think of all of its aplications in the core rules, not just the one that a player character will be using.
flyingmoose
05-26-04, 02:09 AM My DM just let the party sorc alter self into a version of himself with wings, flying at his base speed.

He did all sorts of things like that, growing gills, making himself thinner to escape bindings, changing his eye color, creating a small hole for a piercing...
cwslyclgh
05-26-04, 02:11 AM he is probably using the 3.0 version of alter self, where that is all legal.
cperkins
05-26-04, 11:15 AM In FR aarakocras are a flying humanoid race.
cwslyclgh
05-26-04, 11:20 AM aaracocras are monstrous humaniods, not humaniods.
cperkins
05-26-04, 11:45 AM Are you sure? You may want to check again. In my last FR game session I used alter self to take aarakocra form... and I think they are humanoids (not monstrous humanoids).
cwslyclgh
05-26-04, 11:55 AM I checked the facts before I posted my previous response (something I do not always do, but Monsters of Faerun happened to be sitting on my desk becasue I was looking something up in it earlier).
cperkins
05-26-04, 11:57 AM Oops... then I cheated last game! Unintentionally of course.
Lord Lorac Silvanos
05-26-04, 12:12 PM From Dictionary.com:
cheat
v. cheat·ed, cheat·ing, cheats

v. intr.
To act dishonestly; practice fraud.
To violate rules deliberately, as in a game: was accused of cheating at cards.
Informal. To be sexually unfaithful: cheat on a spouse.

Technically you did not cheat... you simply made a mistake :smirk:

From Dictionary.com:
mistake
n.
An error or fault resulting from defective judgment, deficient knowledge, or carelessness.
A misconception or misunderstanding.
Lia Nightdemon
05-26-04, 03:55 PM My DM just let the party sorc alter self into a version of himself with wings, flying at his base speed.

Yeah my DM let me do this too, I also used it to get gills, and become a male (i'm was female)

Cause I think the spell should allow you to change your physical body into anything you want. but only your body your mind is still the same.
anevilpetingzoo
05-27-04, 11:19 AM Originally posted by cwslyclgh
you have to think of all of its aplications in the core rules, not just the one that a player character will be using.

No I don't! Thought police!! :D

But seriously, I understand that the spell is used in other ways other than PC use, but I still have a feeling that it was an oversight on WoTC's part.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
anevilpetingzoo 05-25-04, 07:57 PM	When using Alter Self You assume the form of a creature of the same type as your normal form. Ok great, and you can fly if your form had wings! Great! Ok now the question, what core humanoid form has wings? I can not find one in any of the 3 core books. Anyone know?
cwslyclgh 05-25-04, 08:02 PM	there are no core humaniods that can fly... that however does not stop a DM from creating one... nor does it mean that there are not non-core sources for flying humaniods (such as the Avariel, or winged elf from the FR setting).
anevilpetingzoo 05-25-04, 08:18 PM	That is very stupid....A core spell that can not be used to its potential even though they mention how to use it.
Seeker95 05-25-04, 08:28 PM	Part of the core rules is that every single DM in the game has guidelines for how to create new races, classes, and monsters. Additionally, Forgotten Realms has at least one flying humanoid race -- the flying elf (avariel?). So it works in the largest, most heavily supported, single-most-widely-used campaign setting. And, if you play an outsider, there are plenty of outsiders that can fly. So it is not stupid. It is a spell that has different ranges of use for different character types, worlds and settings.
cwslyclgh 05-25-04, 08:30 PM	it can be used to its potential by things that are not humaniods... for instance, outsiders or monstrous humaniods that have it as a spell like ability (or spell) can use it to gain wings and fly. you have to think of all of its aplications in the core rules, not just the one that a player character will be using.
flyingmoose 05-26-04, 02:09 AM	My DM just let the party sorc alter self into a version of himself with wings, flying at his base speed. He did all sorts of things like that, growing gills, making himself thinner to escape bindings, changing his eye color, creating a small hole for a piercing...
cwslyclgh 05-26-04, 02:11 AM	he is probably using the 3.0 version of alter self, where that is all legal.
cperkins 05-26-04, 11:15 AM	In FR aarakocras are a flying humanoid race.
cwslyclgh 05-26-04, 11:20 AM	aaracocras are monstrous humaniods, not humaniods.
cperkins 05-26-04, 11:45 AM	Are you sure? You may want to check again. In my last FR game session I used alter self to take aarakocra form... and I think they are humanoids (not monstrous humanoids).
cwslyclgh 05-26-04, 11:55 AM	I checked the facts before I posted my previous response (something I do not always do, but Monsters of Faerun happened to be sitting on my desk becasue I was looking something up in it earlier).
cperkins 05-26-04, 11:57 AM	Oops... then I cheated last game! Unintentionally of course.
Lord Lorac Silvanos 05-26-04, 12:12 PM	From Dictionary.com: cheat v. cheat·ed, cheat·ing, cheats v. intr. To act dishonestly; practice fraud. To violate rules deliberately, as in a game: was accused of cheating at cards. Informal. To be sexually unfaithful: cheat on a spouse. Technically you did not cheat... you simply made a mistake :smirk: From Dictionary.com: mistake n. An error or fault resulting from defective judgment, deficient knowledge, or carelessness. A misconception or misunderstanding.
Lia Nightdemon 05-26-04, 03:55 PM	My DM just let the party sorc alter self into a version of himself with wings, flying at his base speed. Yeah my DM let me do this too, I also used it to get gills, and become a male (i'm was female) Cause I think the spell should allow you to change your physical body into anything you want. but only your body your mind is still the same.
anevilpetingzoo 05-27-04, 11:19 AM	Originally posted by cwslyclgh you have to think of all of its aplications in the core rules, not just the one that a player character will be using. No I don't! Thought police!! :D But seriously, I understand that the spell is used in other ways other than PC use, but I still have a feeling that it was an oversight on WoTC's part.