how to use alter self

[Baby Gary]

I have heard that alter self can be very OP, but how? I have looked through some handbooks and I can't find what to do to make it super OP. if you could please tell me how and why alter self is powerful I would love that

[Kaleph]

Some examples.

You need flight? Be an avarian.
You need armor? Be a troglodyte.
You need burrow speed? Asabi.
Natural attacks? There are a lot of forms also for that.

And it lasts 10 minutes/level. So at level 3 (2 levels before getting "fly") you can have already a flight speed, and for 30 minutes - a 2nd level spell! And the next time you use, it'll have a completely different effect!

Not to mention that, if you're an outsider, you get access to many, more powerful, races...