Shapechange - what are the limits?

[Thanee]

Shapechange works like Polymorph Other, but you can choose pretty much any creature.

What are the limits according to the Polymorph Other errata in Tome & Blood?

Can you shapechange into a Construct, Elemental, Outsider, Undead?

(I know that the spell description uses a Golem as example, but that was pre-errata!)

Can you shapechange into a creature with more than 15 HD?

Do you heal as if you had rested for a day upon your first change?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

C'mon, noone has an opinion on this one!?

How does the Polymorph Other errata affect Shapechange?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Caliber]

Uhm ... to go out on a limb here, I would suggest it doesn't. Them being different spells and all ...

 

[Thanee]

Not quite... Shapechange refers to Polymorph Other as much as Polymorph Self does!

It's like the 9th level version of Polymorph Self, much like Polymorph Any Object is the 8th level version of Polymorph Other.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Andor of the Blade]

Going from memory (I don't have my books at work), ShapeChange references P.O. but then says "except for".... It then changes almost all the limitations imposed by P.O.

IMO, the specifics of the spell overwrite any limitations imposed by the referenced spell. Shapechange is fairly straightforward in its wording, allowing changes into almost any creature/object (limit 200 feet per side). As there has been no errata on this, I see no reason to forbid Construct, Elemental, Outsider, or Undead as possibilities.

 

[Oni]

There is a reason that they decided not to errata Shapechange, it works as stated in the PHB. The reasoning went something like this I believe, "Hey, it's a 9th level spell, it's supposed to be powerful."


I'm sure if you dig around you could probably find a quote to that extent, but I think you get the idea.

 

[Thanee]

Oh... that's pretty darn powerful, or not?

Sure, it's a 9th level spell, but still...

Bye
Thanee

 

[Shard O'Glase]

It is on the silly level of overpowered. I turn into a bird fly overhead and then turn into a a 200' by 200' by 200' block of adamantite, and smash all my foes for a few million d6 in damage, I tuurn into a 200' by 200' by 200' blob of hot liquid magma and sploosh down and burn all my foes for 20d6 a round, etc. etc. Any time a spell/power gets that broad in its capabilities there will be problems.

 

[Thanee]

Haha! Well, even if you only assume creature forms from the MM and common objects (nothing like the stuff you mentioned, or the flea-turns-into-rock-in-your-brain-crap), it's already quite powerful!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Caliber]

Hehe. I forgot Shapechange referenced Polymorph. Oops.

But anyway, I agree with Andor. Might as well just let it go, especially since I think Shapechange just tells you like Polymorph, without any restrictions.

Is it really powerful? Sure. But at that level you should have powerful things.