Best forms for Alter Self [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best forms for Alter Self [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DragonsArt
04-18-05, 10:33 AM Just wanted to get opinions as to the best forms to assume for the Alter Self spell, if you're human... meaning humanoid only.

So far, I see the best choices as:

Bugbear (+3 natural armor, +4 move silently/hide)
Troglodyte (+6 natural armor, +8 to hide underground, multiattack)
Raptoran (40ft flight)
Aquatic elf (water breathing, elf abilities)

Any other good choices from sources I'm not seeing for humanoids?
Amurayi
04-18-05, 11:21 AM "You acquire the physical qualities of the new form while retaining your own mind. Physical qualities include natural size, mundane movement capabilities (such as burrowing, climbing, walking, swimming, and flight with wings, to a maximum speed of 120 feet for flying or 60 feet for nonflying movement), natural armor bonus, natural weapons (such as claws, bite, and so on), racial skill bonuses, racial bonus feats, and any gross physical qualities (presence or absence of wings, number of extremities, and so forth). A body with extra limbs does not allow you to make more attacks (or more advantageous two-weapon attacks) than normal."

I`d say every monster which can fly.
:)
DragonsArt
04-18-05, 11:48 AM I`d say every monster which can fly. :)

While I appreciate the quote, notice that the spell only allows you to transform into creatures of the same type (ie. humanoid, etc.). Since the character in question is humanoid (not monstrous humanoid), I was hoping for suggestions of types of humanoinds... ones I may have missed that have abilities that are worthwhile.
DragonsArt
04-18-05, 12:02 PM :eek:
Natalis
04-18-05, 06:12 PM (the search really needs to get back up... :) )

Avarial if you're playing FR...(winged elves) would give you the ability to fly
tiercel
04-18-05, 10:52 PM As far as I know, just using the Monster Manual, troglodyte is the best overall general-use form. (It's the one my players constantly use, anyhow.) "Just" getting +6 natural armor for 10 min/level is pretty mighty for a 2nd level spell! (And it stacks with barkskin. Yeah.)

Obviously the more books you use (or if your caster has a type other than humanoid), the more you can abuse alter self. On the other hand, if you are digging through Monster Manuals II and III, it means your DM is too - and you really don't want that. (Not to mention third-party d20 sources....)
tiercel
04-18-05, 11:10 PM (Double post.)
Moon-Lancer
04-18-05, 11:11 PM if your not human, could you then use this spell to turn into human and gain a temporary bonus feat
Feng
04-22-05, 12:14 PM So does this mean you can't use Alter Self to simply "grow wings" and maintain your other physical features? Jees...theres a player in my group that has been doing that for quite sometime....oooops im a bad DM bad bad bad DM
PhaedrusXY
04-22-05, 04:14 PM Here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=176246) is a compilation of legal forms to use with Alter Self. It has a section for humanoids and a separate one for Outsiders.

(Oops, almost inserted a link to Trogdor (http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail58.html) instead, by accident. :P )
CaoSlayer
04-22-05, 05:19 PM So does this mean you can't use Alter Self to simply "grow wings" and maintain your other physical features? Jees...theres a player in my group that has been doing that for quite sometime....oooops im a bad DM bad bad bad DM

the 3.0 spell worked that way, the spell was totally redone at 3.5
smrtgmp
04-23-05, 03:30 AM if your not human, could you then use this spell to turn into human and gain a temporary bonus featI really dont think that is true.

On-topic: the trogledyte is great.

There are also some good aquatic humanoids (I think the koa-toan is humanoid) that you should keep in mind if you ever find your self in the water.

If you have the new sandstorm book, there is a humanoid in there (I forget what its called) that has even better natural armor than a trogledyte. I believe its +8. The only problem is it has a move speed of 20.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DragonsArt 04-18-05, 10:33 AM	Just wanted to get opinions as to the best forms to assume for the Alter Self spell, if you're human... meaning humanoid only. So far, I see the best choices as: Bugbear (+3 natural armor, +4 move silently/hide) Troglodyte (+6 natural armor, +8 to hide underground, multiattack) Raptoran (40ft flight) Aquatic elf (water breathing, elf abilities) Any other good choices from sources I'm not seeing for humanoids?
Amurayi 04-18-05, 11:21 AM	"You acquire the physical qualities of the new form while retaining your own mind. Physical qualities include natural size, mundane movement capabilities (such as burrowing, climbing, walking, swimming, and flight with wings, to a maximum speed of 120 feet for flying or 60 feet for nonflying movement), natural armor bonus, natural weapons (such as claws, bite, and so on), racial skill bonuses, racial bonus feats, and any gross physical qualities (presence or absence of wings, number of extremities, and so forth). A body with extra limbs does not allow you to make more attacks (or more advantageous two-weapon attacks) than normal." I`d say every monster which can fly. :)
DragonsArt 04-18-05, 11:48 AM	I`d say every monster which can fly. :) While I appreciate the quote, notice that the spell only allows you to transform into creatures of the same type (ie. humanoid, etc.). Since the character in question is humanoid (not monstrous humanoid), I was hoping for suggestions of types of humanoinds... ones I may have missed that have abilities that are worthwhile.
DragonsArt 04-18-05, 12:02 PM	:eek:
Natalis 04-18-05, 06:12 PM	(the search really needs to get back up... :) ) Avarial if you're playing FR...(winged elves) would give you the ability to fly
tiercel 04-18-05, 10:52 PM	As far as I know, just using the Monster Manual, troglodyte is the best overall general-use form. (It's the one my players constantly use, anyhow.) "Just" getting +6 natural armor for 10 min/level is pretty mighty for a 2nd level spell! (And it stacks with barkskin. Yeah.) Obviously the more books you use (or if your caster has a type other than humanoid), the more you can abuse alter self. On the other hand, if you are digging through Monster Manuals II and III, it means your DM is too - and you really don't want that. (Not to mention third-party d20 sources....)
tiercel 04-18-05, 11:10 PM	(Double post.)
Moon-Lancer 04-18-05, 11:11 PM	if your not human, could you then use this spell to turn into human and gain a temporary bonus feat
Feng 04-22-05, 12:14 PM	So does this mean you can't use Alter Self to simply "grow wings" and maintain your other physical features? Jees...theres a player in my group that has been doing that for quite sometime....oooops im a bad DM bad bad bad DM
PhaedrusXY 04-22-05, 04:14 PM	Here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=176246) is a compilation of legal forms to use with Alter Self. It has a section for humanoids and a separate one for Outsiders. (Oops, almost inserted a link to Trogdor (http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail58.html) instead, by accident. :P )
CaoSlayer 04-22-05, 05:19 PM	So does this mean you can't use Alter Self to simply "grow wings" and maintain your other physical features? Jees...theres a player in my group that has been doing that for quite sometime....oooops im a bad DM bad bad bad DM the 3.0 spell worked that way, the spell was totally redone at 3.5
smrtgmp 04-23-05, 03:30 AM	if your not human, could you then use this spell to turn into human and gain a temporary bonus featI really dont think that is true. On-topic: the trogledyte is great. There are also some good aquatic humanoids (I think the koa-toan is humanoid) that you should keep in mind if you ever find your self in the water. If you have the new sandstorm book, there is a humanoid in there (I forget what its called) that has even better natural armor than a trogledyte. I believe its +8. The only problem is it has a move speed of 20.