wild shape question

[Wraithy]

i am about to start playing a druid character (aiming for the master of many forms PrC).
but after looking at the handbooks i have no idea what wildshaping does to a character. i know what you can shape into but not which abilities you keep and which you lose.
if anyone can tell me (or point me towards the page i obviously missed) i would really appreciate it

[Shhalahr Windrider]

but after looking at the handbooks i have no idea what wildshaping does to a character.

If by "the handbooks" you mean the actual WotC published books (as opposed to web-published items like "Internet Nerd #4's Ultimate D&D Handbook"), then that will give you grief. Wild Shape has been the subject of major errata. Check out the SRD entry on Wild Shape. I don't think it could be stated much more clearly.

[TheOOB]

Wild shape is a complicated ability to say the least, Shhalahr's link will explain everything you need.

While it may not be what you are looking for, it should be noted that the druid shapeshift varient (found in the PHB II) is one of the most common houserules used in D&D game, as it is much more simple and balanced. While it doesn't work w/the master of many forms at the moment, it wouldn't be difficult to make a new prestige class or feats to give it the versitility you are looking for.

[FdL]

MoMF is great in concept and fluff, but it's not so good to actually play one. If you find Wild Shape confusing, Improved Wild Shape continues this. It's a good (only?) option for a wild shape specialist, and it's still pretty good, though it can be horribly abused so I wouldn't trust the class to just anyone. Else you get 24/7 monkey people and similar aberrations which are a distortion of the original spirit of the rules.

Shapeshifting looks better, it's easier to play and it's minmaxer proofed. What we need now, sorely, is a class that builds on it, the equivalent of MoMF for the variant. Soon, I think this will come.

[Wraithy]

thanks for the links and the advice, i still think i'll go towards MoMf.
just one last question: if i shifted into another humanoid (after taking the PrC), would my armour and weapons also shift into me like if i had shifted into an animal? if it did then i would have a hard time explaining to the inkeeper why a naked orc is standing where a clothed gnome once was.

[Closet_Skeleton]

thanks for the links and the advice, i still think i'll go towards MoMf.
just one last question: if i shifted into another humanoid (after taking the PrC), would my armour and weapons also shift into me like if i had shifted into an animal? if it did then i would have a hard time explaining to the inkeeper why a naked orc is standing where a clothed gnome once was.

I would guess not they wouldnt but shifting into an Ape and using weapons is a debated topic so I'm not so sure.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

just one last question: if i shifted into another humanoid (after taking the PrC), would my armour and weapons also shift into me like if i had shifted into an animal? if it did then i would have a hard time explaining to the inkeeper why a naked orc is standing where a clothed gnome once was.

I don't think the rules for Master of Many Forms were adjusted at all to reflect the changes made to Wild Shape. It was written at a time when Wild Shape would only absorb equipment if the new form could not wear it. As such, some house ruling may be in order for situations like this as well as other potential conflicts.

[lord_khaine]

i dont belive you will, though i cant remember whats written under the improved wildshape ability that you will be using.

and anyway, i recomend ignoring that erata, i cant see what i brings to the game besides annoyance.

[frasmage]

and anyway, i recomend ignoring that erata, i cant see what i brings to the game besides annoyance.

um, the errata is there to make an attempt at balancing things that are over powered and specify things that are unclear. In short, it is actually there to remove annoyance.

[Fixer]

As a house rule, I'd state that if a character wild shaped into a creature type they already are (humanoid->humanoid, animal->animal) then their clothing & armor resize to adjust to the new size (if any) but all other equipment remains the same size and does not meld into the new form.

[Wraithy]

if push comes to shove i can just be a naturist as well as a druid (they seem compatible).
Or: take off the armour before changeing and put it back on after

My DM hates anything illogical (despite being an all-powerful being with literally limitless magical monters at his disposal. cat girl corpses everywhere) so he might not accept shapechanging armour unless it is in a book description (beastskin armour is not worth the cost in gold or wild shape uses)

I would guess not they wouldnt but shifting into an Ape and using weapons is a debated topic so I'm not so sure.

the easy thing to do would drop the weapons before you change, and grab it afterwards, if your hands are similar in shifted form you retain weapon proficiency.

[Smiley_]

an alter shape spell or such would keep the equipment, but something like Shapechange makes the armor, equipment, and the like meld into the caster. I think the Spell description states weather or not equipment stays.

As for wildshape, I believe it gives the subject the statistics, size, shape, and special attacks of the creature as well as resistances and immunities and all that. What is not given is special abilities, feats, spells, and spell like or supernatural abilities. All that is changed is the shape. You would not get a dragon's spells with a shapechange spell, but you would get the breath weapon. Of course, there are probably thousands of exceptions that people could point out

Wildshape works mostly for beasts and animals, so you won't have to worry about this stuff too much.

Just assume that if a quality of a creature cannot be given by the change of anatomy, it is not given.