Old Alteration
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Spheres of Power
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You have the ability to change the physical makeup of creatures.

Shapeshift [Core]

As a standard action you may shapeshift yourself or a touched creature, changing their form for as long as you concentrate. If the target is unwilling, this costs a spell point, and they are allowed a Fortitude save to negate. You may spend a spell point to allow a shapeshift to remain for 1 minute per caster level without concentration. You may dismiss your shapeshift as a free action.

Shapeshift is a polymorph effect. A target may only be affected by one shapeshift at any one time. If a caster attempts to place a second shapeshift on a target, he must succeed at a magic skill check. If he succeeds, the second shapeshift is successfully placed on the target, dismissing and dispelling the first.

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The Shapeshifter's Handbook
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When shapeshifting a target, the caster must choose a form and a series of traits for them. Forms constitute a creature’s basic physical makeup (humanoid, draconic, animalistic, avian, etc.) while traits are special characteristics or alterations (natural attacks, creature size, monster special abilities, etc.). A caster may grant up to 1 trait + 1 per 5 caster levels and cannot grant the same trait more than once unless the trait indicates it may be granted multiple times.

With the exception of Blank Form (detailed below), placing a form on a creature causes that creature’s physical body to change into that of another creature. The target gains the listed number of limbs and loses all others. The target loses any extraordinary or supernatural abilities, natural attacks, and movement types dependent on their original form (darkvision, scent, wings, claws, etc.) and gains the listed benefits in their place.

Alternate sources of physical traits (such as a dragon sorcerer’s ability to grow claws) still function. In addition, the target’s equipment melds into their new form, causing them to lose their armor and shield bonuses and the ability to pull any item from a backpack or belt. They also cannot activate magic items (although constant bonuses from magic items still remain).

This cannot be used to assume the guise of a specific individual creature, but otherwise adds a +10 bonus to Disguise checks made to appear as a different race, gender, or species. The caster may cause the target to cosmetically appear as whatever type of creature he desires, although if the target is not granted the right physical attributes (for example, granting the right size category or number of legs), the disguise may fail completely.

When a caster first gains the Alteration sphere, they may grant creatures the Blank Form and the traits listed below. Additional forms and traits may be gained by taking Alteration talents. Any trait may be granted to any form.

Blank Form [Core]

Unlike other forms, the Blank Form does not change the creature’s basic makeup. They do not gain the +10 bonus to Disguise checks, nor do they lose their abilities, equipment, natural attacks, or any other aspect of their unaltered form. The Blank Form allows a caster to add traits to a creature without fundamentally changing the target first. A caster may grant the following traits to a creature affected by their shapeshift. A target must possess the appropriate limb where listed, and cannot grant a natural attack to a limb that already possesses a natural attack.

  • Darkvision 60 ft
  • Low-light vision
  • 2 claw attacks (Primary attacks, 1d4, 1d3 small, requires arms). You may grant this trait multiple times.
  • 1 bite attack (Primary attack, 1d6, 1d4 small, requires head). You may grant this trait multiple times.
  • 1 gore attack (primary, 1d6, 1d4 small, requires head). You may grant this trait multiple times.
  • 2 slam attacks (primary, 1d4, 1d3 small, requires arms). You may grant this trait multiple times.
  • 2 pincers (secondary, 1d6, 1d4 small, requires arms). You may grant this trait multiple times.
  • You change the target’s cosmetic appearance. This could include changing the target’s apparent age, making an elf into an orc, disguising a large dog as a small pony, changing a male into a female, or some other such alteration. This grants the target a +10 bonus to Disguise checks. This trait may only be applied to the Blank Form, as such changes are assumed with other forms.

Wiki Note: Blank Form does not grant a form, and therefore does not qualify for effects like the Favored Form feat.


Alteration Talents

Aberrant Body

You may add the following additional traits to your forms:

  • Acid Spit: The target may launch a glob of acid as a ranged touch attack out to Close range, dealing 1d6 damage per 2 caster levels, plus an additional 1 damage per d6 for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 your caster level (minimum 1). Spending a move action removing the acid stops the additional damage.
  • Gibbering: All creatures within 30 ft. of the target take a -2 penalty on concentration checks. This penalty increases by 1 per 5 caster levels.
  • Many Eyes: The target cannot be flanked.
  • Mucus: The target gains the ability to release a mucus cloud with a radius of 5 ft. +5 ft. per 5 caster levels that persists for 1 round per caster level unless dispersed by a strong wind. Once this ability is used, it cannot be used again for 1d4 rounds. Any creature that comes in contact with the cloud must make a Fortitude save with a DC of 10 + 1/2 HD + Constitution modifier or become unable to breathe air but can breath underwater for 1 round per caster level or until they spend a standard action removing the mucus. A creature unable to breathe air that remains out of water begins to suffocate.
  • Roper Strands: The target gains a roper strand. This trait may be granted multiple times, granting an additional roper strand per additional trait. As a standard action, (or full-round action if using multiple strands), the target may launch their strands, making one ranged touch attack per strand at a target within Close range. Each strands clings to the target, causing 1 Strength damage each round they remain attached (increasing by 1 die size per 5 caster levels; i.e. 1, 1d2, 1d3, 1d4, 1d6, etc.). A Fortitude save (10 + 1/2 HD + Con modifier) negates this damage for the round. A creature cannot be affected more than once per round. Strands have an HP, and Hardness equal to the effect’s caster level, and a break DC, escape artist DC, and AC equal to 10 + the effect’s caster level. However, strands are instantly severed by any slashing damage, which bypasses its hardness automatically. Creatures connected by roper strands may not move away from each other, though may choose to move closer or laterally. Moving farther requires severing the strand with an attack, breaking it with a strength check, or removing it with an escape artist check, or succeeding on a drag combat maneuver against the target they are connected to. When two targets are connected by a strand, they may make drag combat maneuver checks against each other at range without provoking attacks of opportunity. If a strand is broken, the target instantly regrows the strand, and may still make strand attacks.

Additional Limbs [Core]

You may apply the following traits to any form. You may grant each trait multiple times.

  • An extra pair of arms.
  • A prehensile tail, which may be used to hold objects as if it were a hand, and retrieve objects from a belt or pouch as a swift action.
  • Tail slap (Secondary, 1d6, 1d4 small, requires tail)
  • Stinger (Primary, 1d4, 1d3 small, requires tail)
  • A pair of legs. This grants a 20 ft land speed if the target didn’t possess one. If this is not the form’s first pair of legs, the target gains a +4 CMD bonus against trip attempts. If this causes the target to become a quadruped, they gain the related increase to carrying capacity and may serve as a mount for creatures smaller than itself.
  • An extra head.

Aerial Agility

You may add the following additional traits to your forms:

  • Hover: The target can halt its movement while flying, allowing it to hover without needing to make a Fly check. If the target is Large or larger and hovers within 20 ft. of the ground in an area with lots of loose debris, the draft from its wings creates a hemispherical cloud with a radius of 60 ft. The winds generated can snuff torches, small campfires, exposed lanterns, and other small, open flames of non-magical origin. Clear vision within the cloud is limited to 10 ft. Creatures have concealment at 15 to 20 ft. (20% miss chance). At 25 ft. or more, creatures have total concealment (50% miss chance, and opponents cannot use sight to locate the creature). (Requires a fly speed)
  • Improved Maneuverability: The target’s flight maneuverability improves by one step. This trait can be taken multiple times, the effects stack to a maximum of perfect maneuverability. (Requires a fly speed)
  • Wingover: Once each round, the target can turn up to 180 degrees as a free action without making a Fly check. This free turn does not consume any additional movement. (Requires a fly speed)

Agile Transformation

You may add the following additional traits to your forms:

  • Dodge: The target gains a +2 dodge bonus to AC. This stacks with other sources of dodge bonuses.
  • Evasion: The target gains incredible reflexes. When the target makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, it instead takes no damage. This ability does not function when wearing medium or heavier armor.
  • Initiative: The target gains quickened reactions, granting a +4 competence bonus to initiative.
  • Uncanny Dodge: The target gains extraordinary reactions, granting Uncanny Dodge as the rogue ability. The target is no longer flat-footed at the start of combat nor loses Dexterity to AC against invisible attackers. If the target is granted this trait a second time or already has the Uncanny Dodge ability from another source, they instead gain Improved Uncanny Dodge as the rogue ability. The target can no longer be flanked. This defense denies a rogue the ability to sneak attack the target by flanking, unless the attacker has at least four more rogue levels than the target has hit dice.

Animal Mind [Core]

You may apply the following trait to your shapeshifts:

  • The target must pass a Will save or have their mind become bestial. Their Intelligence is reduced to 2, and they are treated as an animal for skills such as Handle Animal and Diplomacy. They cannot use any spells, sphere abilities, supernatural or extraordinary abilities, although they retain other aspects of their class levels such as BAB and any other abilities.

Aquatic Mastery

You may add the following additional traits to your forms:

  • Jet: The target can swim backward as a full-round action at four times their swim speed. It must move in a straight line while jetting, and does not provoke attacks of opportunity when it does so. (Requires a swim speed)
  • Keen Scent: The target can notice other creatures by scent in a 180-ft. radius underwater and can detect blood in the water at ranges of up to a mile.
  • Ink Jet: Once per minute, the target may shoot a jet of ink. In water, this creates a 10 ft. radius sphere that provides total concealment and persists for 1 minute. On land, this is a ranged touch attack with a 10 ft. range increment and a maximum range of 50 ft. that forces a struck creature to make a Reflex save (DC 10 + 1/2 HD + Constitution modifier) or be blinded for 1d6 rounds or until they spend a standard action removing the ink from their eyes.

Bestial Reflexes [Core]

You may add the following traits to your forms:

  • Lunge: Choose one natural attack. As a full-attack action, you may make a single attack at double your normal reach with that weapon with a +4 bonus to your attack roll.
  • Leaping attack: As a standard action, you may jump, making a single attack at any point during the leap. You do not provoke an attack of opportunity for leaving a threatened square.
  • Pounce: You may make a full-attack after a charge.
  • Trample: As a full-round action, you may move up to your move speed, moving over and dealing slam damage (1d6+1-1/2 Str modifier, 1d4+1-1/2 Str modifier small) to any creatures smaller than yourself. Targets of a trample can make an attack of opportunity, but at a –4 penalty. If targets forgo an attack of opportunity, they may attempt to avoid you, making a Reflex save for half damage (DC 10 +1/2 your HD + your Str modifier). A trampling creature can only deal trampling damage to each target once per round, no matter how many times it moves over that creature.

Bestial Spirit [Core]

You may add the following traits to your forms:

  • Trip: Choose one natural attack. You may attempt a trip as a free action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity when you successfully hit with that attack.
  • Ferocity: You may stay conscious and continue to fight when at negative hit points, but lose 1 hit point per round you do so.
  • The ability to speak with animals and vermin.
  • Rend: target must possess claws; deals damage equal to 1 claw + 1 1/2 times Strength when successfully striking a target with 2 or more claw attacks in the same round.

Bully

You may add the following traits to your forms:

  • Powerful Charge: Choose one natural attack the target possesses. When charging, that attack attack deals damage as if it were one size larger and receives 1 1/2 times the target’s Strength bonus to damage instead of 1 times.
  • Pull: Choose one natural attack the target possesses. On a successful attack against a creature of equal or smaller size, that creature is moved up to 5 ft. plus 5 ft. per 10 caster levels closer. This movement does not provoke an attack of opportunity and is halted if it would move them into a solid object or another creature.
  • Push: Choose one natural attack the target possesses. On a successful attack against a creature of equal or smaller size, the target may make a free bull rush check that does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

Extreme Adaptation

You may add the following additional traits to your forms:

  • Altitude Immunity: The target is acclimated to living at high altitudes and additionally can treat its altitude zone as one lower, plus an additional 1 lower per 10 caster levels.
  • Breathless: The target may survive without air. The target becomes immune to effects that require breathing (such as inhaled poison), can survive underwater, or even in a vacuum (though does not provide protection from extreme cold or other conditions that may be encountered in such an environment). This does not give immunity to cloud or gas attacks that do not require breathing. Granting this trait costs an additional spell point.
  • Endure Weather: The target suffers no harm from being in a hot or cold environment and can exist comfortably in conditions between -50 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit (-45 and 60 degrees Celsius) without having to make Fortitude saves. The creature’s equipment is likewise protected. This trait doesn’t provide any protection from fire or cold damage, nor does it protect against other environmental hazards such as smoke, lack of air, and so forth.
  • Pressure Immunity: The target is immune to the pressures of the ocean and takes no damage from water pressure.

Giant Traits [Core]

You may add the following additional traits to your forms:

  • Rock catching.
  • Rock throwing (2d6, 2d4 small): this deals 1.5 times Strength damage, and has a range of 20 ft, + 10 ft per 2 caster levels.

Greater Transformation [Core]

Increase the number of traits you may apply with your shapeshift by 1.

Lingering Transformation

Your shapeshift effects linger for 2 additional rounds after you stop concentrating. Additionally, when you spend a spell point to continue your shapeshift without concentration, the duration is doubled. This increase stacks with the Extend Spell metamagic feat and other similar effects.

Mass Alteration [Core]

When bestowing a shapeshift, you may spend an additional spell point to shapeshift an additional 1 creature per 2 caster levels at the same time. Each target must be within range and must gain the same shapeshift form and traits.

Mimicry

You may study a creature you can see as a full-round action or spend a spell point to instead study it as a swift action. For the next hour or until you study another creature, you gain a single Alteration talent corresponding to the creature or one of the creature’s apparent features. A creature you have studied with this talent counts as being familiar for the purposes of the Perfect Imitation talent and the mimicry trait of the Vocal Transformation talent.

Morphic Weapon

You may add the following traits to your forms:

  • Shape Weapon: Choose one limb capable of wielding a weapon. You may transform this limb into a weapon the target creature is proficient with. This weapon cannot be disarmed and gains an enhancement bonus equal to 1/4 of your caster level (min 0). Ranged weapons produced this way do not come with ammunition. A two-handed weapon still requires an additional limb to wield. This weapon is treated as a manufactured weapon with hardness equal to your caster level. Treat the weapon as having its own hp, normal for a weapon of its type, for purposes of effects that would damage or sunder it. If this weapon has the broken condition when the shapeshift ends, any attacks or skill checks made with the corresponding limb take a -2 penalty to attack rolls for 24 hrs. A DC 15 heal check or magical healing equal to the hit points the weapon possessed remove this penalty.
  • Graft Weapon: Choose one limb capable of wielding a weapon that is holding a weapon that can be used in one hand. You may graft the weapon held by this limb into the limb itself. A grafted weapon cannot be disarmed and may be treated as a primary natural weapon. The target loses other uses of this limb and may take skill check penalties as a result. A grafted weapon may be damaged and sundered as normal.

Odiferous

You may add the following additional traits to your forms:

  • Nauseating Spray: Once per minute, as a standard action the target may spray noxious chemicals in a 15 ft. cone. Any creature in this cone must make a Fortitude save with a DC of 10 + 1/2 HD + Constitution modifier or be sickened for 1d6 rounds. If you spend an additional spell point when granting this trait, the affected creatures are nauseated for 1d6 rounds on a failed save and sickened for 1 round on a successful save. The size of the cone increases by 5 ft. per 5 caster levels. This counts as a poison effect.
  • Inured: The target gains a +2 competence bonus on any save to resist the sickened and nauseated conditions and against poison effects. This bonus increases by +1 per 4 caster levels.
  • Stench: The target secretes a stinking chemical offensive to most living things. Any creature adjacent to the target must make a Fortitude save or be sickened until 1d6 rounds after they are no longer adjacent. A creature that saves against this effect is immune to any instance of it from the same caster for 24 hrs. This is a poison effect.

Perfect Imitation

Your Alteration sphere abilities allow targets to imitate individual creatures with which you are familiar. The +10 circumstance bonus on Disguise checks provided by the Alteration sphere applies to Disguise checks to appear as that specific individual. This bonus does not stack with the bonus to Disguise checks from similar effects (the disguise self spell, illusionary disguise talent of the Illusion sphere, the Realistic LikenessARG feat, etc.). Your control is detailed and specific enough to allow you to merge your clothing and armor with your body and replicate the appearance of other clothes, armor, and even jewelry. Such articles cannot be removed from the creature’s possession as they are formed from the target’s body. As usual, merged armor provides no AC and any merged equipment cannot be accessed. Additionally, the option to alter a target’s cosmetic appearance with Blank Form no longer requires a trait if not assuming the guise of a specific individual.

You may add the following traits to your forms:

  • Camouflage: Your target may shift its coloration to mimic its environment, granting a +5 circumstance bonus to Stealth checks.

Powerful Limbs

You may add the following traits to your form:

  • Powerful Arms: Choose one pair of limbs the target possesses capable of wielding a weapon. With these limbs, you may wield weapons of one size larger without penalty. This does not stack with other effects that allow you to wield larger weapons without penalty, such as powerful build. Additionally, the target increases its overhead lifting capacity by 50%.
  • Powerful Claws: Choose one natural attack the target possesses (or pair of natural attacks if granted in pairs such as claws, talons, pincers, etc.). The selected attack or attacks deals damage as if it were one size larger. This size increase stacks with other effects that increase actual and effective size, such as the Size Change Alteration sphere talent or the Encompassing Light talent of the Light sphere.
  • Powerful Legs: The target is always considered to have a running start when making Acrobatics checks to jump and treat its move speed as if it were 10 ft. plus 5 ft. per 5 caster levels higher when determining the bonus or penalty to jump checks from movement speed. Additionally, the target’s carrying capacity is increased by 50%.

Protean Mastery

You may add the following traits to your forms:

  • Belated Shift: You may spend an additional spell point to leave one trait option unassigned. You may assign any valid trait to this slot at any time as a swift action, or spend a spell point to do so as an immediate action. Once assigned, the trait persists for 1 minute and cannot be changed again until 1 minute after expiring.
  • Close Wounds: The target gains the ability to end any ongoing bleed effects it suffers from as a swift action.
  • Lycanthropic Hide: The target gains DR 3/silver. This improves by +1 per 5 caster levels.
  • Shift Organs: The target gains a 25% ability to ignore critical hits and precision damage, which increases by 25% per 10 caster levels, to a maximum of 100%.

Prickly

You may add the following traits to your forms:

  • Spines: The target grows spines, quills, or thorns. These may be treated as armor spikes of their size (1d6 Medium, 1d4 Small, 20x2, piercing) but may be enhanced as natural weapons and may be wielded as a secondary natural weapon if beneficial.
  • Spine Launch: You may launch spines as a thrown weapon (1d6 Medium, 1d4 Small, 20x2, piercing) with a range increment of 20 ft. You may draw the spines as a free action and throw them for any attacks you are entitled to normally. Launched spines regenerate at the end of your turn. (Requires spines)
  • Piercing Tail: Choose one tail slap attack. You may choose to have this tail slap count as a primary natural attack. This attack deals piercing damage (2d6 Medium, 1d8 Small). (Requires Tail Slap)
  • Razor Claws: Choose one type of natural attack that does piercing or slashing damage (bite, claw, etc.). This type of natural attack deal 1 point of bleed damage plus 1 per 5 caster levels. This bleed damage stacks with itself but not other sources of bleed damage.

Ranged Alteration [Core]

You may shapeshift creatures at Close range instead of Touch range. You may take this talent multiple times. Each time it is selected, increase the range by 1 step (Close to Medium, Medium to Long).

Retain Ability

Choose one extraordinary or supernatural ability dependent on your target’s base form (darkvision, scent, racial breath weapon, etc.). You may choose to allow the target to retain this ability in place of a trait you would normally grant them as part of your shapeshift.

Size Change [Core]

As a trait, you may change a creature’s size. You may enlarge or reduce a creature’s size by one category, plus an additional size category per 5 caster levels. You cannot enlarge beyond Huge size, nor reduce a creature beyond Diminutive size. Creatures gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls and to AC, as well as a +2 bonus to Fly checks and a +4 bonus to Stealth checks for every size category they are reduced, and suffer a -1 penalty to attack rolls and AC, as well as a -2 penalty to Fly checks and a -4 to Stealth checks for every size category they are enlarged. (These numbers are doubled when moving to or from Diminutive size.) Ability scores are also adjusted according to the charts below; these increases and decreases are cumulative for each category increased or decreased (thus, moving from Medium to Huge would cumulate in a +8 bonus to Strength and a -4 to Dexterity).

Clarification: Size Change resizes the creature's weapons and armor. (Per discussion with an author)

Table: Size and Reach
Size Category Space Reach
Diminutive 1 ft 0
Tiny 2 1/2 ft 0
Small 5 ft 5 ft
Medium 5 ft 5 ft
Large 10 ft 10 ft
Huge 15 ft 15 ft
Table: Enlarge
Adjusted Size Str Dex Con
Diminutive - -2 -
Tiny +2 -2 -
Small +4 -2 -
Medium +2 -2 -
Large +4 -2 +2
Huge +4 -2 +2
Table: Reduce
Adjusted Size Str Dex Con
Diminutive -2 +2 -
Tiny -4 +2 -
Small -2 +2 -
Medium -4 +2 -2
Large -4 +2 -2
Huge -4 - -2

Tentacles [Core]

You may add the following traits to your forms:

  • A tentacle attack (Secondary, 1d4, 1d3 small). You may grant this trait multiple times. The effects stack.
  • Grab: must be placed on a natural attack. On a successful attack, allows you to make a free grapple check. Does not provoke an attack of opportunity. You may grant this trait once per natural attack.
  • Constrict: Deal 1d6 damage (1d4 small) plus your Strength modifier on every successful grapple check.

Twisted Transformation

You may spend a spell point to have your shapeshift deal 1d6 per two caster levels (minimum 1d6) untyped damage to all targets that fail their save against the shapeshift.

You may add the following traits to your forms:

  • Flesh Pocket: You rearrange internal organs and muscles to create a pocket inside the target’s body, usually in the abdomen. The opening to the pocket resembles a large scar. The pocket can hold creatures and objects objects up to two sizes smaller than the target. The target gains a +20 circumstance bonus to concealing items in their flesh pocket.
  • Seal Eyes: The target must pass a Fortitude save or have its eyes sealed, blinding it.
  • Twist Legs: The target must pass a Fortitude save or have one movement speed reduced by 10 ft. plus 5 ft. per 5 caster levels, to a minimum of 5 ft.
  • Wrench Stomach: The target must pass a Fortitude save or be sickened while the shapeshift lasts or for a number of rounds equal to your caster level, whichever is shorter. If you spend an additional spell point, the target is instead nauseated on a failed save and sickened for one round on a successful save.

Undead Traits [Core]

You may grant the following traits to your forms:

  • DR 5/bludgeoning or DR 5/slashing. This improves by 1 per 5 caster levels. At 10th caster level, this may be changed to DR/Silver or Magic.
  • The subject counts as an undead creature when determining if it is healed or harmed by positive or negative energy, such as from a Cleric’s channel energy class feature or the Life sphere.
  • A bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting effects, disease, poison, sleep, and stunning equal to half the caster level (minimum 1).
  • At 10th level, the target may be granted the blood drain special quality (1d2 Constitution; this improves by 1 die size for each 5 caster levels beyond 10th).
  • At 10th level, the target may be granted the fear aura special quality (30 ft, always active, creatures entering the area must pass a Will save against a DC of 10 + 1/2 HD + Charisma modifier or be shaken for as long as they are inside the aura; once a creature saves against this effect, they are immune for 24 hours).
  • At 15th level, the target may be made incorporeal. You must spend an additional spell point to apply this trait.

Vitality

You may add the following traits to your forms:

  • Fast Healing: You may spend an additional spell point to grant the target fast healing 1, increasing by +1 per 10 caster levels.
  • Glow of Health: The target gains a +2 racial bonus on saves versus death effects, negative energy, poison, and disease, increasing by +1 per 10 caster levels.
  • Sleepless: The target gains immunity to magical sleep effects as the elf racial ability.

Note on unlimited healing: GMs that wish to have limited healing in their campaigns should not allow the Fast Healing trait to be made permanent, along with various limits placed on available items from the Life sphere.

Vocal Transformation

You may add the following traits to your forms:

  • Gift of Speech: The target may speak and supply verbal spell components normally, even if in a form that would normally prevent this.
  • Mimicry: The target may perfectly imitate voices and sounds with which it is familiar. The target gains a +10 bonus on Disguise checks to imitate a creature type, individual, or object that they have listened to for at least 10 minutes. These 10 minutes do not have to have been during the duration of the shapeshift. This bonus does not stack with the bonus to Disguise checks from shapeshift, but does increase the bonus to Disguise to imitate a specific individual with the Perfect Imitation talent to +15. (Must be able to speak)
  • Roar: The target may roar, howl, growl, or make other threatening vocalizations as a standard action to make an Intimidate check to demoralize all foes within 30 ft. that can hear the sound. This trait may be taken a second time to reduce this to a move action.
  • Vocal Theft: The target becomes unable to speak and may not supply vocal spell components or make Perform checks that require singing or speaking.

Transformations

Wiki Note: Transformations are not a separate type of talent and do not have a tag. They have been grouped here for ease of reference when compared to talents that merely grant traits to your forms.

Anarchic Transformation

You may grant the form of a chaotic outsider with your shapeshift. The target gains a 10 ft. land speed, a +2 natural armor bonus which increases by 1 per 5 caster levels, darkvision 60 ft., resistance to acid, electricity, and sonic damage equal to half your caster level (minimum 1), and radiates an aura of chaos as a cleric of a level equal to your caster level. Additionally, you may choose three of any of the following: a pair of legs granting 30 ft. land speed, increasing by 10 ft. per additional pair, a pair of arms that can manipulate objects as a human’s can, a head (each additional head grants a +2 bonus on Perception checks), a tail, a tentacle natural attack (secondary, 1d4 Medium, 1d3 Small). These options may be chosen more than once. The base form does not possess legs, so cannot be tripped unless legs are added.

You may also grant the following traits to your forms:

  • Resist Elements: Elemental resistance to acid, electricity, and sonic equal to your half your caster level (minimum 1).
  • Chaotic Skin: The target gains DR 2/lawful. This improves by 1 per 5 caster levels.

Animalistic Transformation [Core]

You may grant the form of a land animal or magical beast with your shapeshift. The form has a head and 4 legs with all the benefits of being a quadruped. The target gains a 40 ft land speed, which increases by 20 ft per 5 caster levels. The target also gains the Scent ability, a bite attack (Primary, 1d6, 1d4 small) and a +2 natural armor bonus which increases by 1 per 5 caster levels.

In addition, you may grant the following traits to any form:

  • A land speed as that granted by Animalistic form (grants 2 legs if the target lacked a land speed).
  • Scent.
  • 2 hoof attacks (Secondary, 1d4, 1d3 small). This may be granted once per pair of legs beyond the first.

Anthropomorphic Transformation [Core]

You may grant a humanoid form with your shapeshift. The humanoid form has 2 legs and 2 arms with hands that can manipulate objects as a human’s can. The target can speak and gains knowledge of one language you also speak. It gains a land speed of 30 ft, and if the target’s Intelligence is lower than 6 it is increased to 6.

If you so choose, you may forgo applying additional traits to the target to instead allow the target to retain its natural attacks, special abilities, and movement types that were dependent on its previous form, in essence making the target a hybrid between a humanoid and its previous form.

Aquan Transformation [Core]

You may grant the form of a swimming animal or magical beast with your shapeshift. The form has a head, fins, and no arms or legs. The target gains low-light vision and a 20 ft Swim speed which improves by 20 ft for every 5 caster levels. The target gains the Amphibious subtype and the ability to breathe underwater. The target also gains a bite attack (Primary, 1d6, 1d4 small), Blindsense 30 ft (which only functions in water), and a +2 natural AC bonus, which increases by 1 for every 5 caster levels.

In addition, you may add the following traits to any form:

  • The Amphibious subtype with the ability to breath underwater.
  • A swim speed as that granted by the Aquan form.
  • Blindsense 30 ft (only in water)

Avian Transformation [Core]

You may grant the form of a flying animal or magical beast with your shapeshift. The target gains a head, 2 legs, 2 wings, and a 30 ft land speed. The target gains low-light vision and 2 talon attacks (Primary, 1d4, 1d3 small) and a +2 natural AC bonus, which increases by 1 for every 5 caster levels. The target takes no damage when falling and may glide, moving with a speed of 30 ft with maneuverability (poor), but falling 1 ft for every 5 ft traveled. At 5th caster level, the target gains a fly speed of 30 ft with maneuverability (poor). This improves by 20 ft for each 5 additional caster levels.

In addition, you may add the following traits to any form:

  • 2 talon attacks as those granted by the Avian form. This may be granted once per pair of legs the creature possesses. The target must possess wings or another means of being airborne to attack with talons.
  • 2 wings and its benefits or flight speed as that granted by the Avian form.
  • 2 wing attacks (Secondary, 1d4, 1d3 small) May be given once per pair of wings possessed.

Axiomatic Transformation

You may grant the form of a lawful outsider with your shapeshift. The target gains a head, 2 legs and 2 arms with hands that can manipulate objects as a human’s can, two slam attacks (primary, 1d6 Medium, 1d4 Small), and a 30 ft. move speed. The target gains a +2 natural armor bonus which increases by 1 per 5 caster levels, darkvision 60 ft., damage reduction against nonlethal damage equal to half your caster level (minimum 1), and radiate an aura of law as a cleric of a level equal to your caster level.

You may also grant the following traits to your forms:

  • Unstoppable: The target gains damage reduction against nonlethal damage equal to half your caster level (minimum 1).
  • Armor of Law: The target gains DR 2/chaotic. This improves by 1 per 5 caster levels.
  • Axiomatic Mind: The target gains a +1 racial bonus against mind affecting and death effects.

Celestial Transformation

You may grant the form of a celestial outsider with your shapeshift. The target gains a head, 2 legs and 2 arms with hands that can manipulate objects as a human’s can, and a 30 ft. move speed. The target gains a +2 natural armor bonus which increases by 1 per 5 caster levels, darkvision 60 ft., resistance to acid, cold, and electricity equal to half your caster level (minimum 1), and radiate an aura of good as a cleric of a level equal to your caster level.

You may also grant the following traits to your forms:

  • Resist Elements: The target gains elemental resistance to acid, cold, and electricity equal to your half your caster level (minimum 1).
  • Celestial Skin: The target gains DR 2/evil. This improves by 1 per 5 caster levels.

Construct Transformation

You may grant the form of a construct with your shapeshift. The form has a head, two arms, two legs, and a 20 ft. move speed. The target gains 2 slam attacks (primary, 1d6 Medium, 1d4 Small), and natural armor equal to 4 + 1 per 5 caster levels.

At caster level 5th your natural attacks are treated as silver and cold iron for the purpose of bypassing damage reduction. At 10th level this improves to counting as adamantine.

You may also grant the following traits to your forms:

  • Construct Plating: The target gains DR 2/adamantine. This improves by 1 per 5 caster levels.
  • Spell Resistance: The target gains spell resistance equal to 10 + caster level. This trait costs an additional spell point.

Dragon Transformation [Core]

You may grant the form of a dragon with your shapeshift. The target gains a head, 4 legs with all the benefits of being a quadruped, a 40 ft move speed and a tail. The target gains a +2 natural armor bonus which increases by 1 per 5 caster levels, Darkvision 60 ft, a bite attack (Primary, 1d6, 1d4 small) and a breath weapon. This breath weapon is either a 60 ft line or a 30 ft cone, and deals either fire, electricity, acid, or cold damage as chosen at the time it is gained. The breath weapon deals 1d8 damage per 2 caster levels, and allows a Reflex save for half damage. The target must wait at least 1d4 rounds between uses of their breath weapon. A target may only possess one breath weapon at a time.

In addition, you may grant the following traits to your forms:

  • A breath weapon, as that given by the dragon base form.
  • Double the size of a breath weapon (must possess a breath weapon to gain this trait).

Elemental Transformation [Core]

You may spend an additional spell point to grant the form of an elemental with your shapeshift. As an elemental’s body is mutable, additional limbs or natural attacks cannot be added to this form through traits. The target gains a 30 ft move speed and a 25% ability to ignore critical hits and precision damage, which increases by 25% per 5 caster levels to a maximum of 100%. The target gains 2 slam attacks (Primary, 1d6, 1d4 small), natural armor equal to 2 +1 per 5 caster levels, and one of the following packages depending on which elemental is being mimicked:

Earth
You gain Darkvision 60 ft, a 30 ft burrow speed, and Earth Glide. You also gain a +2 Strength bonus, and Resistance to acid equal to your caster level.

Fire
You gain Darkvision 60 ft, a +2 bonus to Dexterity, and the Burn special quality (1d4, increases by 1 die size per 5 caster levels). You also gain Resistance to fire equal to your caster level.

Air
You gain a flight speed of 30 ft with Perfect maneuverability, which increases by 30 ft per 5 caster levels. You also gain Resistance to electricity equal to your caster level and the ability to create a Whirlwind (as an air elemental of the same size).

Water
You gain waterbreathing and a 30 ft Swim speed which increases by 30 ft per 5 caster levels. You also gain Resistance to cold equal to your caster level, a +2 Constitution bonus, and the ability to create a Vortex (as a water elemental of the same size).

You may also grant the following traits to your forms:

  • Elemental Resistance to either cold, electricity, fire, or acid equal to your caster level. You can take this trait multiple times, but Resistance to the same element does not stack with itself.

Elemental Transformation, Dedicated (transformation) [Apoc]

You may grant the form of a specific elemental with your shapeshift (air, earth, fire, or water), chosen at the time this talent is gained.

  • Limbs: mutable
  • Speech: Yes; Hands: No
  • Speed: 30 ft. land speed
  • Natural Weapons: 2 slams (Primary, 1d6, 1d4 small)
  • AC: +2 natural armor bonus, +1 per 5 caster levels
  • Special: Darkvision 60 ft., additional limbs or natural weapons cannot be added to this form through traits. The target gains a 25% ability to ignore critical hits and precision damage, which increases by 25% per 5 caster levels to a maximum of 100%.

Choose and gain one of the following packages, depending on which elemental is chosen. You may select this talent multiple times, each time gaining an additional elemental type.

Air
You gain a flight speed of 30 ft with Perfect maneuverability, which increases by 30 ft per 5 caster levels. You also gain the ability to create a Whirlwind (as an air elemental of the same size), and the Air Mastery quality (As a Air Elemental)

The Air package offers the following traits, which you may apply to any form:

  • Flight speed as granted by the Air Elemental Form.
  • Air Mastery as granted by the Air Elemental Form.

Earth
You gain Darkvision 60 ft, a 30 ft burrow speed, and Earth Glide. You also gain a +2 Strength bonus, and Earth Mastery quality (As an Earth Elemental). The Earth package offers the following traits, which you may apply to any form:

  • Earth Mastery as granted by the Earth Elemental Form.
  • Earth Glide as granted by the Earth Elemental Form.

Fire
You gain Darkvision 60 ft, a +2 bonus to Dexterity, and the Burn special quality (1d4, increases by 1 die size per 5 caster levels). You also gain Resistance to fire equal to your caster level. The Fire package offers the following traits, which you may apply to any form:

  • Elemental Resistance to fire equal to your caster level.
  • The burn special quality as granted by the Fire Elemental Form.

Water
You gain water breathing and a 30 ft Swim speed which increases by 30 ft per 5 caster levels. You also gain a +2 Constitution bonus, the ability to create a Vortex (as a water elemental of the same size) and the Water Mastery quality (As a Water Elemental). The Water package offers the following traits, which you may apply to any form:

  • Swim Speed as granted by the Water Elemental Form.
  • Water Mastery as granted by the Water Elemental Form.

Fey Transformation

You may grant the form of a fey with your shapeshift. The target gains a head, 2 legs and 2 arms with hands that can manipulate objects as a human’s can, and a 30 ft. move speed. The target gains a +2 natural armor bonus which increases by 1 per 5 caster levels, low-light vision, and DR 3/cold iron + 1 per 5 caster levels. Additionally, the target may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at its normal speed without taking damage or suffering impairment. This has no effect on magically manipulated terrain.

You may also grant the following traits to your forms:

  • Fey Skin: The target gains DR 3/cold iron. This improves by +1 per 5 caster levels.
  • Wild Empathy: The target may improve the initial attitude of an animal within 30 ft. using Diplomacy. The target gains a bonus equal to half your caster level on this check. Typically domestic animals start as indifferent and wild animals start as unfriendly and the check takes 1 minute. This ability may be used to influence a magical beast with an Intelligence score of 1 or 2, but the check takes a -4 penalty. If you spend an additional spell point when granting this trait, this check may be performed as a standard action and the penalty for influencing magical beasts is removed.
  • Woodland Stride: The target may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at its normal speed without taking damage or suffering impairment. This has no effect on magically manipulated terrain.

Fiendish Transformation

You may grant the form of a fiendish outsider with your shapeshift. The target gains a head, 2 legs and 2 arms with hands that can manipulate objects as a human’s can, and a 30 ft. move speed. The target gains a +2 natural armor bonus which increases by 1 per 5 caster levels, darkvision 60 ft., resistance to cold and fire equal to half your caster level (minimum 1), and radiate an aura of evil as a cleric of a level equal to your caster level.

You may also grant the following traits to your forms:

  • Resist Elements: Elemental resistance to cold and fire equal to your half your caster level (minimum 1).
  • Fiendish Armor: The target gains DR 2/good. This improves by +1 per 5 caster levels.

Object Transformation

You may spend a spell point to grant the form of an object with your shapeshift. The target gains the appearance of a single simple object composed of vegetable matter such as wood, hemp, or cotton. The target has no functional limbs and has a 20 ft. move speed, but retains its normal senses and gains a slam attack (primary, 1d6 medium, 1d4 small). Like an object, the target takes half damage from energy and ranged attacks. The target gains hardness equal to either half your caster level or the hardness of the mimicked material, whichever is lower and a 25% ability to ignore critical hits and precision damage, which increases by 25% per 5 caster levels to a maximum of 100%.

You may take this talent twice. Upon taking it a second time, you may gain the ability to emulate other materials per the below table and to grant the form of complex objects. Complex objects, such as those with moving parts, require an appropriate Craft check at the object’s craft DC. Failure means the target is not usable as an object. A creature under the effect of this talent does not truly become an object, thus is not a valid target for the Enhancement sphere Animate Object talent or similar effects. A creature that takes the form of a ranged weapon must be supplied with ammunition as normal, but is capable of loading and firing itself. A creature under the effects of this talent that is used as ammunition is not destroyed when used as ammunition, but takes damage equal to the damage dealt by the attack it was used for.

Caster Level Material
1st Ice, stone
5th Basic metals (iron, steel, copper)
10th Precious metals (gold, silver)
15th Gems, specialty metals (cold iron, mithril)

You may add the following traits to your forms:

  • Freeze: The target may take 20 without a time increase on its Stealth check to hide in plain sight as an inanimate object that matches its shape. (Requires the form of an object or construct)

Ooze Transformation

You may spend a spell point to grant the form of an ooze or slime creature with your shapeshift. As an ooze’s body is mutable, they possess no limbs or natural attacks, and additional limbs or natural attacks cannot be added to this form through traits. The target gains a 20 ft. move speed, a +4 natural armor bonus that increases by +1 per 5 caster levels, a slam attack (primary, 1d6 Medium, 1d4 Small, plus 1d4 acid), and a 25% ability to ignore critical hits and precision damage, which increases by 25% per 5 caster levels to a maximum of 100%. The target is blind but gains blindsight out to 60 ft. and is immune to gaze attacks, visual effects, visual illusions, and other attack forms that rely on sight unless gaining eyes from another source. Ooze forms have no legs so cannot be tripped. Additionally, the target can move through an area as small as one-quarter its space without squeezing or one-eighth its space when squeezing.

The target also gains one of the following packages depending on which ooze or slime is being mimicked:

  • Amoeba, Giant: The target gains a 20 ft. swim speed, and the ability to breathe underwater.
  • Gelatinous Cube: The target is transparent and gains a +5 circumstance bonus to Stealth checks. It also gains a resistance to electricity equal to the effect’s caster level.
  • Jelly: The acid damage from the target’s slam only affects organic material and not stone or metal. The acid does 1d6 damage to any clothing and non-metal armor a creature is wearing on a successful attack, and 1d6 damage to any wooden weapon that successfully attacks the jelly. This damage bypasses the material’s hardness. The target also gains a resistance to electricity equal to the effect’s caster level.
  • Pudding: The acid damage from the target’s slam only affects organic material and not stone or metal. This damage bypasses the material’s hardness. You gain a climb speed of 20 ft.

You may add the following traits to your forms:

  • Fluid Body: The target can move through an area as small as one-quarter its space without squeezing or one-eighth its space when squeezing.
  • Engulf: The target can engulf creatures in its path. As a standard action, the target may move up to its speed and attempt to engulf anything in its path. It cannot make other attacks during a round in which it engulfs. The creature merely has to move over its opponents, affecting as many as it can cover. Targeted creatures can make attacks of opportunity against the creature, but if they do so, they are not entitled to a saving throw against the engulf attack. Those who do not attempt attacks of opportunity can attempt a Reflex save (DC 10 + 1/2 HD + Strength modifier) to avoid being engulfed - on a success, they are pushed back or aside (target’s choice) as the creature moves forward. Engulfed opponents gain the pinned condition, are in danger of suffocating, are trapped within the creature’s body until they are no longer pinned, and take slam damage from the target each round. An engulfed creature may attempt to escape as if escaping a pin. (Requires the form of an ooze or slime)

Orb Transformation

You may grant the form of a floating sphere, helmet, or similar shape with your shapeshift. The target gains a 5 ft. move speed and has no limbs, though may benefit from traits requiring a head as if it had one and may not be tripped or beheaded (such as by a vorpal weapon) unless gaining legs or a head, respectively, from another source. The target gains a +2 dodge bonus to AC which increases by 1 per 5 caster levels, and a slam attack (primary, 1d6 Medium, 1d4 Small).

Additionally, the target may float up to 5 ft. plus 5 ft. per 5 caster levels above the ground, with a 30 ft. horizontal movement speed. This improves by 5 ft. for each 5 additional caster levels. When floating this way, fly checks are not required to hover or change direction. When falling the target may choose to descend at a slower rate to control its fall and to negate all falling damage it would take. Each round it descends 30 ft., and may move in another direction for 30 ft. It may choose to drift sideways, gliding forwards while descending, or down, safely increasing its rate of descent. It may even choose to drift ‘upwards’ to reduce its rate of descent, even allowing it to negate it entirely and hover midair. At caster level 7, this speed becomes a fly speed with maneuverability (perfect). This levitation and flight is a supernatural ability. A creature in the form of an orb counts as one size smaller for the purposes of stealth and squeezing into small places.

You may add the following traits to your forms:

  • Float: The target may float up to 5 ft. plus 5 ft. per 5 caster levels above the ground, moving at 30 ft. This improves by 5 ft. for each 5 additional caster levels. When falling the target may choose to descend at a slower rate to control its fall and to negate all falling damage it would take. Each round it descends 30 ft., and may move in another direction for 30 ft. It may choose to drift sideways, gliding forwards while descending, or down, safely increasing its rate of descent. It may even choose to drift ‘upwards’ to reduce its rate of descent, even allowing it to negate it entirely and hover midair.

Plant Transformation [Core]

You may grant the form of a plant creature with your shapeshift. The creature has 2 ‘arms’, which may be tree limbs or vines (adding limbs to a plant creature adds more appendages), has a move speed of 20 ft, 2 Slam attacks (Primary, 1d6, 1d4 small), and a +4 natural armor bonus that increases by 1 for every 5 caster levels.

You may grant the following traits to your forms:

  • You may grant the target a +2 natural armor bonus, which stacks with other sources of natural armor.

Serpentine Transformation

You may grant the form of a serpent with your shapeshift. The target has a head, no limbs, and a tail, but is treated as a quadruped for the purpose of carrying capacity. The target receives a 40 ft. move speed, a climb speed of 20 ft., low-light vision, a +2 natural armor bonus that increases by 1 per 5 caster levels, and a bite attack (primary, 1d6 Medium, 1d4 Small). Serpent forms have no legs so cannot be tripped unless gaining legs from another source.

In addition, the target gains one of the following packages depending on which serpent is being mimicked:

  • Constrictor: You gain the grab ability and can automatically attempt to grapple a target after making a successful bite attack and gain the constrict special attack (1d6 Medium, 1d4 Small, plus Strength modifier). You gain the normal +4 bonus on checks made to start and maintain a grapple from the grab ability. This bonus increases by 1 per 5 caster levels.
  • Poisonous: When you make a successful bite attack you automatically attempt to poison your target (save Fort DC 10 + 1/2 Hit Dice + Constitution modifier; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Con damage; cure 1 save).

You may add the following trait to your forms:

  • Death Roll: You may, upon succeeding on a grapple check to deal damage with your bite attack, make an additional grapple check as a free action. If successful, the target is prone. This additional grapple check does not count toward maintaining the grapple, and doesn’t add any other effects (such as constrict) beyond knocking the target prone.
  • Strangle: An opponent grappled by the target cannot speak or cast spells with verbal components.
  • Swallow Whole: The target gains the swallow whole ability, dealing 1d6 bludgeoning damage plus an additional 1d6 acid damage per 3 caster levels. The target may swallow creatures up to one size smaller than themselves. This trait may be taken twice; the second time allows the target to swallow creatures up to their own size and grants a bonus to CMB and CMD equal to 1 plus 1 per 3 caster levels on grapple checks made to swallow creatures or to prevent them from escaping once swallowed. More than one creature may be swallowed at a time, but may not exceed the maximum total size that can be swallowed, counting two tiny creatures as one small creature, two small creatures as one medium creature, etc. A swallowed creature can try to cut its way free with any light slashing or piercing weapon, or it can just try to escape the grapple. The amount of cutting damage required to get free is equal to 1/10 the creature’s total hit points. This damage is inflicted on the swallowing creature as normal. The Armor Class of the interior of a creature that swallows whole is 10 + 1/2 its natural armor bonus, with no modifiers for size or Dexterity. If a swallowed creature cuts its way out, the swallowing creature cannot use swallow whole again until the damage is healed. If the swallowed creature escapes the grapple, success puts it back in the attacker’s mouth, where it may be bitten or swallowed again. (You must possess a bite attack with the grab ability to gain this trait.)

Subterranean Transformation [Core]

You may grant the form of a subterranean animal or magical beast with your shapeshift. The form has a head, 4 legs, a 30 ft land speed, and a 15 ft burrow speed that increases by 15 ft per 5 caster levels. The target also gains Darkvision 60 ft, Tremorsense 20 ft, a bite attack (Primary, 1d6, 1d4 small), and a +2 natural armor bonus that increases by 1 per 5 caster levels.

In addition, you may grant the following traits to any form:

  • A burrow speed as granted by the Subterranean form.
  • Tremorsense 20 ft.

Swarm Transformation

You may spend a spell point to grant the form of a swarm of creatures with your shapeshift. The swarm can be composed only of Tiny creatures. This size cannot be altered by the Size Change trait, enlarge person, or other effects. The target gains a move speed of 20 ft. plus 5 ft. per 5 caster levels and can move through small holes and openings that are large enough for the individual creatures.

The swarm fills a 10 ft. square (or cube if flying) and has a reach of 0. The target gains a 25% ability to ignore critical hits and precision damage, which increases by 25% per 5 caster levels to a maximum of 100%. The swarm has the distraction ability, forcing any creature that takes swarm damage must make a Fortitude save with a DC of 10 + 1/2 HD + Constitution modifier or be nauseated for 1 round. Spellcasting or concentrating on spells within the area of a swarm requires a MSB check (DC 20 + 1/2 caster level). Using skills that involve patience and concentration while in the swarm requires a DC 20 Will save.

Natural attacks cannot be added to this form through traits. The target may choose to ignore any creatures in its space, choosing to not deal the swarm damage, force MSB checks to cast spells, or force Will saves to skills. The swarm form is incapable of performing combat maneuvers and they cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed. Creatures in swarm form take 50% more damage from effects that affect an area. Creatures in swarm form do not threaten creatures, and do not make attacks of opportunity with their swarm attack.

The swarm automatically deals 1d6 plus Constitution modifier damage to any creature whose space it occupies at the end of its turn. This damage increases by 1d6 per 5 caster levels and may be modified by traits that require a natural attack (such as poison from the Vermin Transformation talent) but not those that modify natural attacks (such as powerful claws from the Powerful Limbs talent). A creature that retains a natural attack (such as a shifter via a bestial trait) cannot use this natural attack, but uses d8 for its swarm damage. Swarm attacks are not subject to a miss chance for concealment or cover. The appearance of the individual creatures in the swarm may correspond to the shapes of any creature for which you possess the appropriate talent to imitate.

You may add the following traits to your forms:

  • Divided Self: The target gains a +4 bonus on saves against effects that target individual creatures. (Must have the form of a swarm)

Vermin Transformation [Core]

You may grant the form of a spider, insect, or other such creature with your shapeshift. The form has a head and either 6 or 8 legs, and a bite attack (Primary, 1d6, 1d4 small). You gain Darkvision 60 ft, a +2 natural armor bonus that increases by 1 per 5 caster levels, and a 30 ft Climb speed and land speed that improve by 15 ft per 5 caster levels.

In addition, you may grant the following traits to your forms:

  • One natural attack deals poison on a successful attack. Poison: Injury, DC 10 + 1/2 Hit Dice + Constitution modifier, frequency 1/round for 6 rounds, 1d2 Constitution damage, cure 1 save.
  • A Climb speed, as that granted by the vermin form.
  • Web: once per minute as a standard action, the creature may throw a web, as a net with a 10 ft range increment (total range 50 ft), which is effective against targets up to 1 size larger than the creature. The Escape Artist or Strength check DC to escape is 10 + 1/2 the creator’s Hit Dice + Constitution modifier, with targets already caught suffering a -4 penalty. These webs may also be laid as a trap (Perception DC 20), covering an area up to 3x larger than the creature creating it. A 5 ft section of web has hp equal to the creator’s Hit Dice and DR 5/-. A creature can move across its own web at its climb speed and can pinpoint the location of any creature touching its web. A web may support up to twice the weight of the creating creature.

Old Alteration Feats

Click the header above to visit the Sphere-Focused Feats page. This section includes feats that directly improve or rely upon this sphere.


Old Advanced Alteration Talents

Click the header above to visit the Advanced Talents page. This page includes talents that are more powerful than the ones presented on this page - but remember, Advanced Talents are only available with GM permission.


Old Alteration Drawbacks

Click the header above to see the Sphere-Specific Drawbacks for this sphere. If you're using the optional Casting Tradition rules, Drawbacks allow you to acquire one or more bonus talents in a sphere in exchange for a limit on using this sphere.


Archetypes Specializing in Alteration

-Old Apex Shifter

The Apex Shifter is a Shifter who specializes in changing into different forms using the Alteration sphere.

-Old Beastsoul Monk

The Beastsoul Monk is an archetype for the Monk that focuses on a more primal transformation style. While not actually a caster, they gain the Transformation feat, the ability to flurry with natural attacks, and the ability to use their ki to power their transformations. It is compatible with both the standard and unchained versions of the Monk.

-Old Experimentalist

The Experimentalist is an archetype for the Thaumaturge that focuses on creating alchemic brews and harvesting parts of dead creatures for power. For those bothered by this flavor but interested in the power, the archetype also includes suggestions on a less cannibalistic setup.

-Old Protean

The Protean is an archetype for the Shifter, built around a power that lets it access transformation talents the user hasn't learned. Unsurprisingly, it's best for chaos-aligned characters.

-Old Resizer

The Resizer is an archetype for the Mageknight that focuses on growing and shrinking at-will. While somewhat limited at first, this ability quickly becomes flexible enough to let the Resizer adjust to changing situations.

-Old Warshifter

The Warshifter is an archetype for the Shifter that makes use of the Path of War rules (from Dreamscarred Press), and is the first class to combine Spherecasting and Martial Traditions. They are notably less capable at transforming than other Shifters (although Warshifters are still better than non-Shifters at using this Sphere), but have the added utility of martial powers to make up for it.


Wild Magic

Wild Magic Generator

Wild Magic Table

d100 Result
1 The effect fails and the target or targets become immune to polymorph effects for 1 round per caster level.
2 The target switches sex. This effect is a permanent curse effect that can only be removed by the Break Enchantment talent of the Life sphere or other similar magic.
3 There is a 50% chance each round that the shapeshift will have no effect that round. This does not end the effect or alter the effect’s duration.
4 All creatures within close range of the target gain the swallow whole ability for 1 round per caster level. They may swallow creatures up to one size smaller than themselves and deal 1d6 points of damage plus 1d6 per 5 caster levels acid damage. This stacks with other polymorph effects.
5 All creatures within close range of the target must succeed on a Fortitude save or switch sex. This effect is a permanent curse effect that can only be removed by the Break Enchantment talent or other similar magic.
6 Any creature within close range of the caster must succeed on a Fortitude save or gain the form of a homogeneous glob for 1d4 rounds, retaining normal senses, gaining a 5 ft. land speed, and unable to speak, supply verbal or somatic components, or make any Strength or Dexterity ability checks or skill checks requiring those attributes.
7 Any creature within close range of the target must succeed on a Fortitude save at the original DC or gain the form of a homogeneous glob for 1d4 rounds, retaining normal senses, gaining a 5 ft. land speed, and unable to speak, supply verbal or somatic components, or make any Strength or Dexterity ability checks or skill checks requiring those attributes.
8 Any natural attacks granted to the target by the effect only deal nonlethal damage.
9 Any target must succeed on a Fortitude save gain the form of a homogeneous glob for 1d4 rounds, retaining normal senses, gaining a 5 ft. land speed, and unable to speak, supply verbal or somatic components, or make any Strength or Dexterity ability checks or skill checks requiring those attributes.
10 The caster gains the form of a homogeneous glob for 1d4 rounds, retaining normal senses, gaining a 5 ft. land speed, and unable to speak, supply verbal or somatic components, or make any Strength or Dexterity ability checks or skill checks requiring those attributes.
11 The caster chooses one random allied creature within range that would be a valid target. That creature becomes the target, receiving the same options the original target would have received. The original target is unaffected.
12 The caster chooses one creature or object in range that would be a valid target. That creature or object becomes an additional target, receiving the same options the original target would have received.
13 The GM chooses one random creature or object in range that would be a valid target. That creature or object becomes the target, receiving the same options the original target would have received. The original target is unaffected.
14 One random hostile creature range that would be a valid target. That creature becomes the target, receiving the same options the original target would have received. The original target is unaffected.
15 One weapon wielded by the target becomes an animal of the GM’s choice per the Transform Object advanced talent for 1d6 rounds. The animal is hostile toward the target.
16 (Combat) The caster grows one size plus one size per 5 caster levels per the Size Change talent. This lasts 1d6 rounds, stacks with other polymorph effects, and overrides any other Size Changes from a polymorph effect.
17 (Combat) The caster shrinks one size plus one size per 5 caster levels per the Size Change talent. This lasts 1d6 rounds, stacks with other polymorph effects, and overrides any other Size Changes from a polymorph effect.
18 The caster switches sex. This effect is a permanent curse effect that can only be removed by the Break Enchantment talent or other similar magic.
19 The casting time decreases one step.
20 The casting time increases 1 step.
21 The duration of the effect increases as if cast with the Extend Spell metamagic feat.
22 The target gains an additional +2 bonus to natural armor for the duration of the effect.
23 The target grows additional arms for the duration of the effect. These arms are non-functional, granting no bonuses any abilities, cannot wield weapons or hold or manipulate objects, and impose a -2 penalty on all Dexterity-based checks.
24 The target grows an additional sets of legs for the duration of the effect. These legs are non-functional, granting no bonuses to speed, CMD, or other ability and impose a -2 penalty on all Dexterity-based checks.
25 The target is covered in ears for the duration of the effect, granting a +4 competence bonus to sound-based Perception checks, but imposing a -4 penalty on saves against sonic effects.
26 The target is covered in eyes for the duration of the shapeshift, granting a +4 competence bonus to vision-based Perception checks and immunity to flanking, but imposing a -4 penalty on saves against effects with the pattern and light descriptors and effects of the Light sphere.
27 The target loses most of its skin for the duration of the effect, taking a -4 penalty against effects with the pain descriptor or that cause disease.
28 The target may choose the granted form and traits, temporarily gaining knowledge of all available options when making the selection.
29 The target may decline any or all granted traits.
30 Effect receives a +2 bonus to caster level.
31 Effect receives a -4 penalty to caster level (minimum 1).
32 The caster is covered in mouths for the duration of the shapeshift, granting a +4 competence bonus to taste-based Perception checks, but imposing a -4 penalty on saves against effects that require breathing, such as gaseous attacks. Whenever the caster deals unarmed damage to a target, the damage dealt increases by 1d8 and becomes bludgeoning, slashing, and piercing.
33 For 1 hour per caster level, the caster’s appearance is hideously twisted, inflicting a -4 penalty on all Charisma-based skill checks except for Intimidate, which receives a +2 circumstance bonus.
34 The caster gains the plant creature type for 1 hour. Do not recalculate base attack bonus, saves, or skill points.
35 The caster makes a single magical skill check against all Alteration sphere effects and effects of the polymorph subschool within medium range to dispel them as if using the Counterspell feat. This is resolved after the triggering effect.
36 All creatures within close range of the caster must succeed on a Will save or be reduced to animal intelligence as the Animal Mind talent for 1 round per caster level.
37 All allied creatures within close range of the caster must succeed on a Will save or be reduced to animal intelligence as the Animal Mind talent for 1 round per caster level.
38 All hostile creatures within close range of the caster must succeed on a Will save or be reduced to animal intelligence as the Animal Mind talent for 1 round per caster level.
39 All creatures within medium range of the caster must succeed on a Fortitude save or grow as per the Size Change talent for 1 round per caster level. This stacks with other polymorph effects.
40 All creatures within medium range of the caster must succeed on a Fortitude save or shrink as per the Size Change talent for 1 round per caster level. This stacks with other polymorph effects.
41 (Combat) All hostile creatures within medium range of the caster must succeed on a Fortitude save or grow as per the Size Change talent for 1 round per caster level. This stacks with other polymorph effects.
42 (Combat) All hostile creatures within medium range of the caster must succeed on a Fortitude save or shrink as per the Size Change talent for 1 round per caster level. This stacks with other polymorph effects.
43 All allied creatures within medium range of the caster must succeed on a Fortitude save or grow as per the Size Change talent for 1 round per caster level. This stacks with other polymorph effects.
44 All allied creatures within medium range of the caster must succeed on a Fortitude save or shrink as per the Size Change talent for 1 round per caster level. This stacks with other polymorph effects.
45 The caster grows as per the Size Change talent for 1 round per caster level. This stacks with other polymorph effects.
46 The caster shrinks as per the Size Change talent for 1 round per caster level. This stacks with other polymorph effects.
47 The caster’s arms and legs are replaced by tentacles for 1 minute per caster level. These tentacles may supply somatic components, wield weapons and shields, and use items as the caster’s normal limbs. The caster’s speed is not changed. Each tentacle grants a tentacle natural attack (secondary, 1d4 medium, 1d3 Small).
48 The caster’s arms and legs are replaced by tentacles for 1 round per caster level. These tentacles may not supply somatic components, wield weapons and shields, nor use items. The caster’s base speed is 10 ft. and gains a climb speed of 20 feet. Each tentacle grants a tentacle natural attack (secondary, 1d4 medium, 1d3 Small) with the reach property.
49 All creatures of the animal type within long range are affected by the humanoid (not hybrid) option of the Anthropomorphic Transformation talent for 1 hour, appearing as the dominant humanoid race in the area. This does not grant any additional traits.
50 The caster makes a single magical skill check against all Alteration sphere effects within medium range to dispel them as if using the Counterspell feat. This is resolved after the triggering effect.
51 The caster makes a single magical skill check against all Alteration sphere and polymorph subschool effects within medium range to dispel them as if using the Counterspell feat. This is resolved before the triggering effect.
52 The caster gains the form of a Tiny, harmless animal of the GM’s choice for 1 minute per caster level. Apply the Size Change and Animalistic Transformation talents to determine statistics.
53 The target appears as a juvenile version of the form it would have gained for the duration of the effect. Reduce size by 1 category per the Size Change talent. The target gains a +2 circumstance bonus on all Charisma-based skill checks while under this effect, except for Intimidate, which takes a -2 penalty.
54 The caster grows an additional head for 1 minute per caster level, allowing him to concentrate on a single effect as a swift action.
55 For 1 round, the caster’s eyes are sealed over, blinding him.
56 For 1 minute, the caster loses his vocal chords and is unable to speak.
57 For 1 minute per caster level, the caster’s ears (or equivalent) are deformed, rendering him deaf.
58 For 1 round per caster level, the caster’s body is twisted, staggering him.
59 For 1 round per caster level, the caster’s body is twisted, nauseating him.
60 For 1 round per caster level, the target’s body is twisted, staggering it.
61 For 1 round per caster level, the target’s body is twisted, nauseating it.
62 The target’s eyes are sealed over, blinding it for the duration of the effect.
63 The target loses its vocal cords and is unable to speak for the duration of the effect.
64 The target’s ears (or equivalent) are deformed for the duration of the effect, rendering it deaf.
65 The target’s arms and legs are replaced by tentacles for the duration of the effect. These tentacles may not supply somatic components, wield weapons and shields, nor use items. The target’s base speed becomes 10 ft. and it gains a climb speed of 20 feet. Each tentacle grants a tentacle natural attack (secondary, 1d4 medium, 1d3 Small) with the reach property.
66 The target shrinks as per the Size Change talent for 1 round per caster level. This stacks with other polymorph effects.
67 The caster’s skin thickens, granting a +2 natural armor bonus for 1 minute. This stacks with other sources of natural armor.
68 The target’s natural armor bonus is reduced by half the effect’s caster level (minimum 1) for the duration of the effect, to a minimum of 0 natural armor.
69 For 1 hour, the caster loses all traits (other than basic shape, speed, and normal vision) granted by his race as if under the effects of a polymorph effect that alters form (such as darkvision, natural armor, natural attacks, etc.), though his form does not change.
70 For 1 round per caster level, the caster loses his head (or equivalent), rendering him blind, deaf, and mute, but also making him immune to the effects of the vorpal weapon enchantment.
71 For the duration of the effect, the target grows a shiny carapace that makes clicking noises when it moves, imposing a penalty of Stealth checks equal to half of the effect’s caster level.
72 For 1 hour, the caster grows a shiny carapace that makes clicking noises when it moves, imposing a penalty of Stealth checks equal to half of the effect’s caster level.
73 For 1 minute, the caster has his Intelligence reduced as by the Animal Mind talent.
74 For 1 hour, any natural attacks the caster possesses become rounded and soft and deal only nonlethal bludgeoning damage with damage die reduced by one size.
75 The target loses any natural attacks it possesses or would be granted for the duration of the effect.
76 The caster loses any natural attacks he possesses or would be granted for 1 hour.
77 (Combat) All creatures within close range of the caster must succeed on a Fortitude save or lose any natural attacks they possesses for 1 round per caster level.
78 (Combat) All creatures within close range of the caster have any natural attack they possess become rounded and soft and deal only nonlethal bludgeoning damage with damage die reduced by one size.
79 All hostile creatures within close range of the caster must succeed on a Fortitude save or lose any natural attacks they possesses for 1 round per caster level.
80 (Combat) All allied creatures within close range of the caster must succeed on a Fortitude save or lose any natural attacks they possesses for 1 round per caster level.
81 The caster takes untyped nonlethal damage equal to caster level. This damage does not force concentration checks to cast or maintain sphere effects or spells.
82 The caster is fatigued.
83 The caster is exhausted.
84 (Combat) The caster is stunned for 1 round.
85 (Combat) The caster is dazed for 1 round.
86 (Combat) The caster is nauseated for 1 round.
87 Roll twice and choose the result. Ignore any results that require rerolls. If both rolls thus ignored, there is no effect.
88 Roll again on the Universal wild magic table.
89 The caster takes 1d4 points of Constitution damage even if he would normally be immune to ability damage. Creatures without a Constitution score instead take Charisma damage.
90 The caster takes a number of points of ability damage to his casting attribute equal to the effect’s caster level/4 (minimum 1) even if he would normally be immune to ability damage.
91 The caster loses access to this sphere for 1d6 rounds.
92 The caster gains knowledge of one talent of his choice from this sphere for 1 round.
93 The caster loses knowledge of any of the talents used in the effect (but not the base sphere) for the length of the effect (minimum 1 round).
94 The effect fails and the action is lost. Spell points or spell slots are lost.
95 The effect fails and the action is lost. Spell points or spell slots are not lost.
96 The effect fails, but the action is not lost. Spell points or spell slots spent are lost.
97 The spell point cost of the effect increases by 1. If the caster does not have enough spell points, he is instead staggered until the end of his next turn.
98 The spell point cost of the effect increases by 1d4. If the caster does not have enough spell points, he is instead dazed until the end of his next turn.
99 The spell point cost of the effect decreases by 1. If the effect did not require any spell points, the caster instead gains 1 temporary spell point that expires at the end of his next turn.
100 Roll twice and take both results. Ignore any results that require rerolls. If both rolls thus ignored, there is no effect.

MSD for Non-Sphere Abilities

Some abilities on this site call for making MSB checks against a caster's MSD. A significant number of creatures with change shape and other similar polymorph abilities can be affected by these checks. If the polymorph effect targeted is from the Core Pathfinder Magic system, treat the MSD as the Caster Level + 11. If the effect is granted by a supernatural ability with no listed caster level, treat the creature's HD as their caster level, making their MSD equal to 11 + their HD.


Creature Types and Form Talents

Throughout this site, various abilities require correlating creature types and subtypes to their respective form talents. The table below connects various creature types to the appropriate talent. In the case of the animal and magical beast types, general descriptions of their forms are used in the absence of defined subtypes to better match the available talents. Note that there may be specific cases where an unusual creature fits poorly with the form granted by the talent corresponding to its type. In these cases it is up to the GM to discern the most suitable talent.

Creature Type Form Talent
Aberration Various base forms as appropriate, Tentacles and Aberrant Body talents may be helpful
Animal or Magical Beast (Aquatic) Aquan Transformation
Animal or Magical Beast (Avian) Avian Transformation
Animal or Magical Beast (Burrowing) Subterranean Transformation
Animal or Magical Beast (Quadrupeds) Animalistic Transformation
Animal or Magical Beast (Serpentine) Serpentine Transformation
(Any) Swarms Swarm Transformation
Construct Construct Transformation
Dragon Dragon Transformation
Humanoids Anthropomorphic Transformation
Fey Fey Transformation
Outsider (Chaotic) Anarchic Transformation
Outsider (Good) Celestial Transformation
Outsider (Evil) Fiendish Transformation
Outsider (Elemental) Elemental Transformation
Outsider (Lawful) Axiomatic Transformation
Ooze Ooze Transformation
Plant Plant Transformation
Undead Undead Transformation
Vermin or Vermin-like Magical Beasts Vermin Transformation

Form Talents and Casting Ability

Various forms have differing inherent ability to speak and limbs more or less suitable for supplying the fine gestures required for somatic spell components. Certain traits can bypass these limitations, such as using the Extra Limbs talent to grant arms or the Vocal Transformation talent to grant speech.

Form Talent Able to Speak/Supply Verbal Components Supply Somatic Components
Anarchic Transformation Yes No
Animalistic Transformation No No
Anthropomorphic Transformation Yes Yes
Aquan Transformation No No
Axiomatic Transformation Yes Yes
Celestial Transformation Yes Yes
Construct Transformation No Yes
Dragon Transformation Yes Yes
Elemental Transformation Yes Yes
Fey Transformation Yes Yes
Fiendish Transformation Yes Yes
Object Transformation No No
Ooze Transformation No No
Orb Transformation No Yes
Plant Transformation No No
Subterranean Transformation No No
Undead Transformation Yes Yes
Vermin Transformation No No

Gamemastering

Alteration and Lycanthropy

The Alteration sphere, the shifter class and Transformation feat especially, can work well for simulating lycanthropy in your game, avoiding the need for attempting to balance the template’s boons with non-lycanthrope party members. However, if using the lycanthrope template, or using other creatures with the change shape ability such as the skinwalker race, the Alteration sphere is less than ideal. While a werewolf shifter appears synergistic and thematic on the surface, both change shape and Alteration’s shapeshift are polymorph effects. As a creature can only be under a single polymorph effect at one time, which means that a creature with a racial change shape ability will find their options somewhat limited. It is recommended then that such creatures be allowed to treat their change shape forms as if they were the creatures normal form, applying traits according to their casting ability. Applying traits this way still requires the normal casting time, concentration, duration, and spell point costs that a use of shapeshift would entail. Essentially, you treat the change shape form as if it were the creature’s base form for Blank Form. You of course can still apply different forms, applying the polymorph rules as normal for determining what effect supersedes the other.

Disguise Checks and Shapeshift

As shapeshift as well as other abilities interact with the disguise skill frequently, a moment should be taken to detail how abilities interact with the factors affecting Disguise check DCs. The base Alteration sphere shapeshift ability grants a +10 untyped bonus on Disguise checks to appear as a different race, gender, or species, provided the proper form is applied, though you cannot assume the form of a specific individual without the Perfect Imitation talent.

The base ability also does not provide for producing clothing; a non-humanoid creature assuming a humanoid form may have some difficulty infiltrating society without pants, though the Perfect Imitation talent provides a way around this. Refer to the Form Talent/Creature Type table in Section 2 for a guide as to what talents correspond to different creature types. Obviously there is not a penalty for making Disguise checks without a disguise kit when using shapeshift.

While you may have the shape of the creature you wish to imitate, this does not confer knowledge of speech patterns, posture, or other subtle cues that could alert others to your deception, thus the various modifiers for being disguised as another race, gender, or age still apply, however assuming the correct size with your shapeshift will eliminate the -10 penalty for being the wrong size. Long-term infiltrators would be advised to take the Shifting Disguise feat so as to be able to maintain their disguise for long periods without concentration or spell point cost.

Polymorph and Armor

Since armor merges when under polymorph effects, relying on it while using the Alteration sphere beyond Blank Form is problematic. One option, available to anyone, is to craft or purchase armor with the wild property, allowed to apply to the Alteration sphere’s shapeshift per Spheres of Power. The armorist can add wild to the list of available armor properties by taking the new arsenal trick, Wild.

While any creature can simply don armor appropriate to their shape after transforming, the limited duration of shapeshift makes this solution problematic barring the Permanent Transformation advanced talent, the Transformation feat, or the shifter’s class features. Once the shapeshift effect ends, armor donned while shifted that does not fit the base form falls off in the creature’s square. Other items that may have been equipped during the transformation may be retained or fall off as the GM deems appropriate. For example, a headband may be retained, but rings and gloves on an extra set of arms would fall to the ground. As usual, equipping multiple items that occupy the same magic item slot does not grant additional benefits.

Shifters can take the Barding bestial trait, available with 14 class levels.

The armorist has a two additional ways to mitigate the armor issue with varying degrees of preparation and cost. Once able to summon armor, a polymorphed armorist can simply summon armor in the form of armor or barding appropriate to their current shape. This has the advantage of working for any shape, but if you change shape again new armor will have to be summoned. If focusing primarily on a single form, an armorist capable of binding armor may form their bound armor to suit their preferred form. This provides no benefit in their default form, but in the chosen form they can still benefit fully from the higher enchantment level of bound armor. Additionally, armorists with the symbiotic knight archetype can form their symbiotic armor over any form, reforming it whenever changing shape.

What is harmless?

When cast on a willing target, consider shapeshift to be harmless. As a harmless effect, creatures normally immune to polymorph effects, such as undead and constructs, may still benefit from it without further talents or abilities required.


Adaptation

No expansion to the Alteration sphere could comprehensively cover the bewildering variety of unusual abilities and shapes found just in the animal kingdom, not even considering the range of unique abilities belonging to magical beasts, monstrous humanoids, aberrations, and outsiders that have been published. Attempting to make a unique talent for every possible combination required to represent individual creatures would thus be excessive.

The talents included here are intended to cover broad categories and allow the players to fill in specific details by adding traits appropriate to the desired form rather than to give a form for every possible creature. Additionally, excessive overlap between talents has been avoided where possible.

However, there will be instances that a particular creature needs to be emulated and the existing talents do so poorly or inefficiently. Perhaps a player wants to have a peculiar form of lycanthropy for their character or the GM has a particular concept suited to a custom world. In cases like these, it is entirely reasonable to create new talents to suit the situation. Careful attention should be given to the suite of abilities for any new form, comparing them to existing forms to weigh cost and strength.

The duck-billed platypus will serve as a fair demonstration, as few creatures have such an unusual set of abilities. Using existing talents, neither animalistic transformation nor aquatic transformation fit well, the first being rather too speedy, the second lacking appropriate limbs, and both giving extra abilities that are not desired. A quadruped base form with reduced speed and lacking scent and a bite attack would be a place to start. Add on a swim speed and a unique secondary natural attack than can deliver a poison should get you about where you want to be, resulting in something like this:

Platypus Transformation
You may grant the form of a duck-billed platypus with your shapeshift. The form has a head, tail, and 4 legs with all the benefits of being a quadruped. The target gains a 20 ft. land speed and a 20 ft. swim speed. The target also gains poised barbs on its hind legs, acting as a secondary natural attack (1d6 Medium, 1d4 Small, piercing damage) with Poison (Injury) DC 10 + 1/2 HD + Constitution Modifier, frequency 1/round for 6 rounds, 1d2 Constitution damage, cure 1 save.

In addition, you may grant the following traits to any form:

  • Swim: A swim speed as granted by the Platypus form.
  • Barbs: Barb natural attack (secondary 1d6 Medium, 1d4 Small, piercing)

Another example would be a bat (or dire bat or bat-like magical beast). Avian form is not quite right, so swapping out the two talon attacks for a bite attack and giving darkvision in place of low-light vision is a fairly simple change. Granting blindsight or blindsense, however, would require a spell point to be spent. Compare to the Blindfolded Oracle talent of the Divination sphere, which requires a spell point and closing your eyes, though it has a longer duration.

A giant worm, for another example, could be modeled using the constrictor package of Serpentine transformation, then reduce the land speed, remove the climb speed and low light vision, and add a burrow speed and tremorsense. Tremorsense and a burrow speed are often going to be more useful than low light vision and a climb speed, so removing constrict as well should get you to a reasonable spot.

Some creatures are difficult to model within the constraints of a single talent. For example, griffons have a fly speed, pounce, three natural attacks and rake. They are suitably simulated with Animalistic Transformation for the base form, then adding wings and additional attacks and abilities via other talents. While this works well enough, it makes simulating a griffon difficult in the early levels. Obviously handing out flight at level one without cost can create issues, but allowing a character to have cosmetic wings or talons, granting no mechanical effect, can help them to seem closer to the goal than otherwise possible. Characters taking the Transformation feat for unusual or powerful animals, if unable to fit them well into existing talents or comparable new talents, are advised to go this route until they are able to gain the Improved Transformation feat enough times to achieve their goal. Choosing mechanics that get you as close as possible and then changing the way they are described is fully encouraged.

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