Post/Author/DateTime	Post
God of Slivers 05-19-04, 12:29 AM	In 3.0 the aranea got the racial abilities of whatever its alternate form was while in that form, in 3.5 it isnt as clear if it gets the racial stuff. I can see it being problematic if they dont get the racial abilities. How can an aranea pass itself off as a drow if it cant see in the dark? I would just like some opinions on that. SRD entry: Change Shape (Su): An aranea's natural form is that of a Medium monstrous spider. It can assume two other forms. The first is a unique Small or Medium humanoid; an aranea in its humanoid form always assumes the same appearance and traits, much as a lycanthrope would. In humanoid form, an aranea cannot use its bite attack, webs, or poison.
TieraStarr 05-19-04, 06:58 AM	The term "traits" is used to refer to racial benefits, so I would say that they do get the racial specials.
God of Slivers 05-19-04, 10:52 AM	Okay, so lets say I'm in drow form. If I get all of their racial traits then I would get great darkvision, spell resistance, and some spell like abilities, right? What about if I was a svirfneblin?
cwslyclgh 05-19-04, 11:50 AM	here is what a creature gets when using the change shape ability (From the SRD, also found on page 306 of the revised [ie 3.5] MM). Change Shape (Su): A creature with this special quality has the ability to assume the appearance of a specific creature or type of creature (usually a humanoid), but retains most of its own physical qualities. A creature cannot change shape to a form more than one size category smaller or larger than its original form. Changing shape results in the following changes to the creature: —The creature retains the type and subtype of its original form. It gains the size of its new form. —The creature loses the natural weapons, movement modes, and extraordinary special attacks of its original form. —The creature gains the natural weapons, movement modes, and extraordinary special attacks of its new form. —The creature retains all other special attacks and qualities of its original form, except for breath weapons and gaze attacks. —The creature retains the ability scores of its original form. —The creature retains its hit points and saves. —The creature retains any spellcasting ability it had in its original form, although it must be able to speak intelligibly to cast spells with verbal components and it must have humanlike hands to cast spells with somatic components. —The creature is effectively camouflaged as a creature of its new form, and gains a +10 bonus on Disguise checks if it uses this ability to create a disguise. so extraordinary abilities (other then attacks) supernatural abilities, and spell-like abilities are not gained. Since "Drow traits" are listed as an extraordinary ability, and are not an attack an arenea will not get them. as a side note I believe that the term traits used in the Arenea text is being used in a way of saying that the arenea always becomes the same person when it changes shape rather then refering to racial traits (an example of a word that has a normal usage term as we4ll as a game term, and the writers not thinking out the implications of using it the way it is used in normal usage).
God of Slivers 05-19-04, 03:23 PM	In 3.0 the araneas got all of the racial traits, why would they take that away in 3.5 without reducing its LA?
cwslyclgh 05-19-04, 03:30 PM	the chnage was made to all creatures who change shape the way that Areneas do, and their other abilities (unbalanced ability scores, poison, webs, natural attacks, natural armor, spell use, etc.) more then make up for thier +4 level adjustment.
God of Slivers 05-19-04, 03:34 PM	Do they still get to keep their natural armor, racial feat, and vision abilities?
cwslyclgh 05-19-04, 03:46 PM	The creature retains all other special attacks and qualities of its original form, except for breath weapons and gaze attacks. (from above) So Yes