Shapechange Echos

Keltorn · Post by **Keltorn** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 5:27 pm

I acquired the skill Shapechange today, and I'm having some trouble using it. Of course, my skill level for it is very low, and that's certainly a part of the problem, but there's a few OOC things.
I want to know if the echos could be a little more helpful. For most of my attempts, there is no echo at all, but occasionally I get one that says, "You can't polymorph into that!" The form I was attemtping was certainly on the list of acceptable creatures, and it's also very IC for my character to take that form. I tried another one that gave me the echo, "You are not skilled enough to polymorph into that." On all attempts, I incurred mana loss, even when I am not skilled enough.
Do the echos mean I can never take those forms, or just not on that particular attempt? For the ones I cannot accomplish, should I still be losing the mana for it? Also, could there be an echo for the failed attempts? I certainly hope there's one for a successful shapechange.

Kelemvor · Post by **Kelemvor** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 6:17 pm

Any attempted shapechange incurs a mana loss whether successful or not, this reflects the concentration and mental energy put into the attempt.

'You may not polymorph into that' indicates that you have either selected an animal which is not within the acceptable list for rangers or have not used the precise keyword that the code is seeking.

'You are not skilled enough to polymorph into that' as it suggests, indicates that you must raise your shapechange skill before being able to assume that particular form.

I would advise speaking with other rangers ICly to learn what forms are generally available

Balek · Post by **Balek** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 7:39 pm

What about the times when a shapechange fails and there is no echo at all? What does that mean?

Kregor · Post by **Kregor** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 8:37 pm

It means simply, the skill failed, as in spell failure.

I have noted the failure chance goes down as you get higher level. On the spell side, spell failure due to skill level went away, but spell-like abilities, like shapechange, still seem to have their spell failure chance based on skill level.

I would personally like to see the failure based on skill level go away, in lieu of a reduced effect (duration, etc) similar to what happened when spell failure based on skill level was coded out. If not, at least an echo of failing the attempt would be nice.

Some of this may be moot at this point anyway with the new spell system, because AIR, if we move everything to 3E standard, shapechange will end up as a spell, not a skill.

Rhytania · Post by **Rhytania** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 9:58 pm

3e it is called WildShape in which it is a supernatural ability given to druids and select priest classes. Doesnt specifically catergize into the spell section, much like trackless step.

Keltorn · Post by **Keltorn** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 4:36 pm

Kregor wrote:I would personally like to see the failure based on skill level go away, in lieu of a reduced effect (duration, etc) similar to what happened when spell failure based on skill level was coded out. If not, at least an echo of failing the attempt would be nice.

I hope they don't put a time limit on Shapechange. I would so panic if I had to fly over water. O_O But an echo for a failed attempt would certainly be nice for the beginners. I personally don't need one now, but it'd still be nice.
As for the list of possible forms, could that list be updated? The current list (http://www.forgottenkingdoms.com/board/ ... .php?t=432) has the form I wanted, and it is certainly IC for my ranger to pick that form, but it still doesn't work.

Kelemvor · Post by **Kelemvor** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 6:42 pm

A time limit already exists on shapechanged forms, you will eventually revert back. It is just not as brief as a spell of a similar level

Keltorn · Post by **Keltorn** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 8:57 pm

Rats... I hate time limits. Ah, well. It hasn't run out on me yet, so it must have a pretty long duration.

Kregor · Post by **Kregor** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 6:06 pm

You can tell the duration of your shapechange using the "affect" command. It will show you as affected by polymorph (base spell code the ability is based upon) for a given duration. As I recall, the default duration is a very very long time, or the equivalent of an extended duration spell. This is several game hours long, more than enough to get anywhere you need to go in a flying form, for example.

If the failure were altered to make it affect duration, then it could perhaps vary from that default duration to only a while. This would make it still useful for travel only purposes for lower skill level rangers.

As the thread referred mentions, the coding team hard coded limitations on shapechange based on skill level, and took some of the original creatures out of the possibilities entirely. Powerful flying ceatures, as I recall, are coded out entirely, though, honestly a griffon is listed as a large magical beast in the 3.5E SRD, and wyverns are listed as a large dragon, so should not have belonged in the shapechange list in the first place.