favored class and polymorph and mind switch

[newguydude1]

if you polymorph or mind switch into a different race, do you retain your favored class or do you gain the new race favored class?

so do i get hit with multiclass penalty if i polymorph from a human into an elf for a day? or if i use astral seed and mind switch to permanently hijack a elf body?

[Telonius]

From Mind Switch (https://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/mindSwitch.htm):


You gain the extraordinary special attacks and qualities of your assumed body, but you do not gain supernatural or spell-like abilities.

To take an example, the Elf (https://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/elf.htm) monster listing, in the table under "Special Qualities," lists "Elven traits." From the text:


Elf Traits (Ex)
Elves possess the following racial traits.

+2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution.
Medium size.
...
Favored Class: Wizard.

The rest of the PHB races have similar wording and formatting. Racial traits are an extraordinary special quality of the target, and Favored Class is one of those traits. So yes, by RAW, you'd suddenly be subject to the Favored Class penalties if you Mind Switched from a human to an Elf.

One more thing to add on the pile of "Why Favored Class is dumb, and should be removed by all tables."



EDIT: For Polymorph, the opposite is true. From the text of Polymorph:


It also gains all extraordinary special attacks possessed by the form but does not gain the extraordinary special qualities possessed by the new form or any supernatural or spell-like abilities.

So you're all clear if you Polymorph into an Elf.

[newguydude1]

thank you very much. i hate multiclass stuff too.