Master of Many Swarms?

[noparlpf]

Master of Many Forms gets Improved wild shape (vermin). Lots of vermin have the swarm subtype. So Master of Many Forms can become a swarm, right? Anybody know of some good swarms to use?

Come to think of it, that Murder of Crows from ToM is an Animal (swarm). Is there any reason why a base Druid couldn't turn into that at level four?

Or does the fact that the Alternate Form ability that Wild Shape is based on post-errata doesn't change your type and subtype and only explicitly grants the aquatic subtype when applicable mean that swarms aren't available? When Wild Shape was based on Polymorph, would it have been possible to turn into a swarm?

[Necroticplague]

Yes, you could become a swarm. Do note that, even though a swarm takes up 10 feet, it is still a Tiny/Diminuitive/Fine creature, so you'll have to wait until you can access those sizes.

That being said, you wouldn't gain the Swarm subtype when you take that form. So you would be a swarm, but without any of the special swarm rules (with the only vestige remaining being your odd size-space combination).

This is true, regardless of whether you base wildshape off of alternate form or polymorph (which is, itself, based off alter self), since both state you retain your own type and subtype.

[eggynack]

Yes, you could become a swarm. Do note that, even though a swarm takes up 10 feet, it is still a Tiny/Diminuitive/Fine creature, so you'll have to wait until you can access those sizes.

That being said, you wouldn't gain the Swarm subtype when you take that form. So you would be a swarm, but without any of the special swarm rules (with the only vestige remaining being your odd size-space combination).

This is true, regardless of whether you base wildshape off of alternate form or polymorph (which is, itself, based off alter self), since both state you retain your own type and subtype.
Maybe, though you might be able to pick that stuff up anyway. All those swarms have swarm traits listed under special qualities, and I think that it is true that A) that those traits refer directly to stuff from the swarm subtype, and B) that those traits are extraordinary abilities, and thus accessible through enhance wild shape. It might not work anyway though. Wild shape lets you turn into any animal, and implicit in that is the word "one" between any and animal. A bat swarm is not an animal, so much as it is a whole pile of animals. Might fall apart when you get to "New forms include all creatures with the animal type" though.

[noparlpf]

This is true, regardless of whether you base wildshape off of alternate form or polymorph (which is, itself, based off alter self), since both state you retain your own type and subtype.

My copy of the book and the SRD (which usually includes errata) both say: "Polymorph... The subject’s creature type and subtype (if any) change to match the new form."

But anyway, that's basically what I figured. No swarm subtype means no immunity to weapon damage and whatnot. I was wondering if you could combine that with Improved Evasion and immunity to mind-affecting effects from somewhere else to be immune to weapon damage and targeted spells of any sort and to take at most half damage from area effects. Ah well.