Shapeshifting abuses

[hcobb]

Just a quick poll to see how far you allow Shapeshifting in your TFT games.

First: Can you retain full IQ when shapeshifting into another form with either listed or max IQ much lower than current IQ?

Can you retain talent and spell use when shapeshifting into another form that isn't a spellcaster?

Can you shapeshift into ...

The form of a known living person (especially given the note at ITL 44)

If that person is younger or order than the spell subject does the spell subject then age in line with the target age?

A wraith, retaining all other attributes for an indefinite no-cost to maintain insubstantiality?

A vampire, gaining +4 ST and regeneration?

An elemental, and if so do you get the immunity to illusions?

A wight, for immunity to normal weapons?

A demon (from what base ST?!?) gaining controlled global teleportation?

A gate spider so you can spin your own gates?

A 1-hex dragon? (If so how many years does it take to grow into a 2-hex dragon?)

A Basilisk?

[Skarg]

Can you retain full IQ when shapeshifting into another form with either listed or max IQ much lower than current IQ?
Yes. But I use the GURPS Shapeshifting thing where if you stay in that form for very long, your IQ starts to head towards the intelligence of the creature you now are.


Can you retain talent and spell use when shapeshifting into another form that isn't a spellcaster?
Only if the body is similar enough to allow it, and/or at penalties that represent the difference.


Can you shapeshift into ...

The form of a known living person (especially given the note at ITL 44)
No. It lets you change someone into another type, but not into "a Raquel Welch duplicate". However you could aim for a red-headed woman.


If that person is younger or order than the spell subject does the spell subject then age in line with the target age?
No, or only superficially. You can't age your opponent to age 120 to kill them, nor your friends to age 18 to trivially bypass the monumental expense and difficulty of making Youth potions.


A wraith, retaining all other attributes for an indefinite no-cost to maintain insubstantiality?
No, that's more than changing their shape, and a wraith isn't a creature - it's a spirit form. Again, also no killing people by "shapeshifting" them into ghosts.


A vampire, gaining +4 ST and regeneration?
No, a vampire isn't a different shape. Vampirism is a disease and a condition. You also can't Shapeshift someone into someone who has whatever other disease you want.


An elemental, and if so do you get the immunity to illusions?
No, because elementals aren't creatures. It seems to me the form should be a living animal.


A wight, for immunity to normal weapons?
No, again you'd be turning them into an undead spirit not a living creature form.


A demon (from what base ST?!?) gaining controlled global teleportation?
No. Again, not a living creature, but some weird extra-dimensional thing. Also, even the small ones don't have compatible attribute totals with most subjects...


A gate spider so you can spin your own gates?
Yes, but you might find that becoming a gate spider doesn't confer the knowledge of how they make gates.


A 1-hex dragon? (If so how many years does it take to grow into a 2-hex dragon?)
The answers to both questions depends on which campaign setting it is.


A Basilisk?
Yes, though again depending on campaign, you might not be able to freeze people as easy as a natural basilisk can.

[RobW]

Looks fun, I'll steal Skarg's input format!

First: Can you retain full IQ when shapeshifting into another form with either listed or max IQ much lower than current IQ?
Yes

Can you retain talent and spell use when shapeshifting into another form that isn't a spellcaster?
Yes if you can do the gestures/speaking

Can you shapeshift into ...
Short answer to all these is that you never get the non-physical (mental, magical, etc) abilities of the forms you shift into

The form of a known living person (especially given the note at ITL 44)
Yes, but it's not a disguise with eg postural, movement, and voice identity, so anyone knowing the person would realise something was wrong

If that person is younger or order than the spell subject does the spell subject then age in line with the target age?
Good question. I take it you are shifting into the form, so if the aged form has physical issues, you have those too.

A wraith, retaining all other attributes for an indefinite no-cost to maintain insubstantiality?
Definitely not

A vampire, gaining +4 ST and regeneration?
No regeneration, that's a magical property

An elemental, and if so do you get the immunity to illusions?
No

A wight, for immunity to normal weapons?
No

A demon (from what base ST?!?) gaining controlled global teleportation?
No

A gate spider so you can spin your own gates?
No gate spinning, that's a magical ability

A 1-hex dragon? (If so how many years does it take to grow into a 2-hex dragon?)
Yes. But no magical abilities, inc flight and probably growth

A Basilisk?
Yes but no magical ability to freeze

[TippetsTX]

I think the key here is 'SHAPEshifting'... you get the form, but not the function or special features.

[hcobb]

Originally Posted by TippetsTX

I think the key here is 'SHAPEshifting'... you get the form, but not the function or special features.

So the prince looks like a frog but still tastes like swine?

[TippetsTX]

Originally Posted by hcobb

So the prince looks like a frog but still tastes like swine?

You lost me there... why would a frog taste like pork (I thought they tasted like chicken)?