General Notes on Shapechange Spells and Effects

These Notes apply to all Shapechange Spells and Effects, whereby one Being (the "Shapechanger") is changed into the shape of another species of Being (the "Shapechangee").  They do not apply where the change is into the shape of another Being of the same species.  A Spell or Power Specification may override these Notes where it is expressly contrary to them.

  1. A Shapechange Effect may either be specified by the Caster of a Spell ("Caster-specified") and take effect on resolution of that Spell or by the Shapechanger, either by use of a Power or because the Effect of a Spell gives him the ability to Shapechange himself ("Shapechanger-specified").
  2. A Caster-specifed Shapechange Effect resolves immediately after Casting and takes 1/5 sec per pt Sz difference.  A Shapechange to a form of the same Size as the Shapechanger therefore resolves instantaneously.  The Shapechanger may carry on any plotted activities during the change (e.g. dodging attacks) without affecting Initiative, but his ability to perform them may be affected (e.g. if he is Spell Casting and his mouth is changing in shape).
  3. A Shapechanger-specified Shapechange Effect requires heavy concentration by the Shapechanger to specify, but not for the change then to take place.  It counts as a Spell Cast for Initiative (but not IST) purposes, so if the Shapechanger has a General Plot of Fighting and Magic-Use the Shapechange does not require an AMR,but uses up an AMR that might otherwise be available for Fighting.  The change takes 1/5 sec per pt Sz difference plus any additional time that the Shapechanger may need accurately to specify the change.  The change may be specified by thought (e.g. "Wolf") in 1/4 sec. or even by reflex (e.g. a Wolf Cultist who has used the Shapechange to Wolf Power many times would be able reflexively to Shapechange into his favourite Wolf form) in 1/10 sec.  Such thought or reflex specifications using less than 1 second's heavy concentration do still use up an AMR in a Fighting and Magic-Use General Plot but will only have a pro-rata effect on D (e.g. the experienced Wolf Cultist has a D of 50%, he reflexively Shapechanges at the beginning of a sec of a MR to an AL7 Wolf with a D of 60% of the same Size as himself in 1/10 sec, so his D that sec is 60 * 9/10 = 55%).
  4. A Shapechanger has all the physical abilities of the Shapechangee, but may not be able to use them without practice.
  5. He retains his Saving Level and Magic-Using abilities (though using them may be problematic – see the FAQ) and any Powers.
  6. Unless the Shapechange Spell or Effect specifically says otherwise (e.g. the Shapechange to [Specific Animal] Beastmaster Power and Spell), the Shapechanger has the Shapechangee’s HitLoc Table, ADS, modes of attack and Damage done by those modes of attack, but retains the Shapechanger’s HP, AMR, D, RD and A (which will typically be that for Unarmed Combat, unless the Shapechangee is capable of using weapons (e.g. if Shapechanged into an ape)).
  7. If the Shapechangee has Powers (e.g. a Dragon’s Breath or a Basilisk’s Stoning gaze) the Shapechanger does not get them unless the Shapechange Spell or Effect specifically says so.
  8. Druidic Shapechange Effects may have a Healing Effect: on completing each Shapechange to a Shapechangee, the Shapechanger loses (10xD6)% DAM.  This is a Heal Effect, which works the same way as Druidic Heal Wounds.  There is no further Healing Effect on changing back to the previous form before the Shapechange.  Damage taken in either form is carried over in full to the other form, except if the HP of the two forms are different - in which case the Damage suffered is pro-rataed after applying the Healing Effect.
  9. The Shapechanger still counts as a Person (or whatever he normally is) and not as an Animal (or whatever the Shapechangee is) for purposes such as targeting Spells, unless the Shapechange Spell or Effect specifically says otherwise.
  10. In general a Shapechange affects only the body and not the mind.  The Shapechanger perceives like the Shapechangee but thinks like the Shapechanger.  However prolonged time in Shapechanged form tends to make a Shapechanger think more like the Shapechangee, as well as gaining fuller use of its physical abilities.  Eventually the Shapechanger may come to believe he is a Shapechangee, and be unwilling to turn back.

The following are examples of Shapechange Spells or Effects: