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2020-10-05, 04:54 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2018
Shapechange + Find (greater) Steed
Just found this combo suggested in another thread and there were no comments about whether it works RAW. The idea is as follows:
Find Steed /Find Greater Steed specify that any spell that only affects you while mounted on your steed can also affect your steed.
Shapechange doesn’t function based on CR like true polymorph so when you cast Shapechange on yourself, it affects your steed as well and “The new form can be any creature with CR equal to your level or lower.”
This suggests that both you and your mount can Shapechange into dragons. So a wizard or Bard uses Wish to get a Pegasus, and the next day can flood any battlefield with TWO creatures that would take most of the party to kill.
Are there any limitations to this that I can’t see right off the bat? I’m assuming your mount retains its alignment and mental stats, just like you do. I guess one question is if you maintain your mental link with the mount, and if it’s still guaranteed to be friendly to you? Are there any other ways this could go haywire for the caster?
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2020-10-05, 05:11 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2013
- Location
- Somewhere
- Gender
Re: Shapechange + Find (greater) Steed
If it works of the level instead of CR, it doesn't work on a mount, as the mount doesn't have a level.
Although arguably 0 is the same as none, so the mount can turn into a frog or a commoner.It's Eberron, not ebberon.
It's not high magic, it's wide magic.
And it's definitely not steampunk. The only time steam gets involved is when the fire and water elementals break loose.
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2020-10-05, 05:40 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2006
- Location
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2020-10-05, 06:29 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2014
Re: Shapechange + Find (greater) Steed
I think you're right that technically by RAW this works. The biggest danger I foresee is the DM throwing a book at your head and saying, "No."
I generally try to follow the Principle of Least Surprise so that players get to play the game the PHB led them to expect them they'd be playing, but in the case of counterintuitive rules interactions like this I feel no guilt whatsoever about declaring that Shapechange on your steed is restricted to creatures of its own CR or lower, not the caster's level. Most players would probably be surprised if it didn't work off of CR, since that's the precedent that they're used to from Polymorph.Last edited by MaxWilson; 2020-10-05 at 07:57 PM.
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2020-10-05, 07:55 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2020
Re: Shapechange + Find (greater) Steed
Per RAW, you could turn you and your greater steed into metallic dragons. And then your steed could use its Change Shape ability to magically polymorph permanently to become a Githzerai Anarch or something like that (which persists after Shapechange expires unless the steed dies before then). The steed doesnt have spell levels so using Change Shape in this way is optimal.
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2020-10-06, 04:31 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2019
Re: Shapechange + Find (greater) Steed
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2020-10-06, 05:29 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2018
Re: Shapechange + Find (greater) Steed
RAW answer seems to be "it works".
RAI is probably "your steed shapechange according to its CR, not your level".
Alternatively, I'd be tempted to count your mount as a gear, and merge it with you if you shapechange into something that cannot mount it. The intend of this "spells that affect only you might also affect your magical steed" is to make it compatible with invisibility, teleportation, and protection spells that would usually only target you. In other words, "you and your steed somewhat form a single entity whenever it is convenient for spells". Following this logic, RAI could be "you choose whether your magical steed remain on the ground, merges into the new form, or is mounted by it."
As for RAF, if you shapechange into something that can mount a dragon, shapechanging your mount into a dragon is certainly cool. But using this newly created dragon as an independent animal companion you send attacking alone rather than an actual steed seems like an exploit of the RAF.
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2020-10-06, 07:09 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2020
Re: Shapechange + Find (greater) Steed
"Change Shape. The dragon magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating no higher than its own, or back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (the dragon's choice). In a new form, the dragon retains its alignment, hit points, Hit Dice, ability to speak, proficiencies, Legendary Resistance, lair actions, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this action. Its statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those of the new form, except any class features or legendary actions of that form."
Change shape is a magical polymorph effect that per RAW stays in effect until the [steed or character shapechanged into a] dragon dies or takes an action to change back into a dragon. When you drop concentration on Shapechange neither of those things have occured so the magical polymorph persists. It is a magical effect so it can be dispelled.
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2020-10-06, 03:42 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2016
Re: Shapechange + Find (greater) Steed
Never let the fluff of a class define the personality of a character. Let Clerics be Atheist, let Barbarians be cowardly or calm, let Druids hate nature, and let Wizards know nothing about the arcane
Fun Fact: A monk in armor loses Martial Arts, Unarmored Defense, and Unarmored Movement, but keep all of their other abilities, including subclass features, and Stunning Strike works with melee weapon attacks. Make a Monk in Fullplate with a Greatsword >=D
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2020-10-06, 03:43 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2014
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2020-10-06, 03:46 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2016
Re: Shapechange + Find (greater) Steed
Well, I think the biggest issue is getting Shapechange with Find Greater Steed or Find Steed. The only way you'd be able to do this is by being a Bard, and taking Find Steed and Shapechange as your Bardic Secret spells. That said, its a bit of a weird one...Yes the spell affects the Steed but due to the wording its a bit weird. I could see an argument for the spell combo to work as you said, but at the same time I could see arguments against it. I'm personally predisposed to saying "Sure, go at it?, and would rule in your favor. But that's just me.
Never let the fluff of a class define the personality of a character. Let Clerics be Atheist, let Barbarians be cowardly or calm, let Druids hate nature, and let Wizards know nothing about the arcane
Fun Fact: A monk in armor loses Martial Arts, Unarmored Defense, and Unarmored Movement, but keep all of their other abilities, including subclass features, and Stunning Strike works with melee weapon attacks. Make a Monk in Fullplate with a Greatsword >=D
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2020-10-06, 03:47 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2014