Alter Self & Human Bonus feat

[Lars]

After seeing  few discussions on the topic I was wondering if anyone here can point me in the direction a similar thread or explain to me why or why not it does not work.

Im leaning toward getting it either as extraordinary or racial bonus feat

[Necrosnoop110]

He's an older thread on the topic...

Yes, another Alter Self question [3.5]
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=6952.0

Also...

You have the physical qualities of the assumed form.

Physical qualities include natural size, mundane movement capabilities (such as burrowing, climbing, walking, swimming, and flight with wings. Physical qualities also include natural armor bonus, natural weapons (such as claws, bite, and so on), racial skill bonuses, racial bonus feats, and any gross physical qualities (presence or absence of wings, number of extremities, and so forth).

Your size becomes the same as a typical example of the creature whose form you assume, as noted in the creature's description. You cannot assume a larger or smaller size even if the creature's advancement entry lists other possible sizes. If for example, you change into a lizardfolk, you become Medium size -- you could not turn into a Small or Large lizardfolk.

Your maximum speed in any assumed form, however, is 120 feet for flying or 60 feet for nonflying movement; faster speeds are considered extraordinary qualities, even when they are not so listed in the creature's description. In most cases, racial skill bonuses depend on your body and your mind. So, you get to keep your own racial skill bonuses and feats while gaining those of your assumed form. Your DM might want to make certain exceptions. (For example, a dwarf's skill bonuses related to stonework are arguably cultural in origin and don't just appear when you're in dwarf form.)

Source: The Rules of the Game: The Alter Self Spell

Not sure where I stand on this. The spell Alter Self says you gain the "racial bonus feats." I have seen the argument that humans do not get a "bonus" feat they get an "extra" feat and thus does not count. As a DM, at lower levels, I'd be tempted to rule you only gain "set" or "static" feats and "open" feats are too strong for this particular spell and level. At higher levels of the game I might just grin and allow it.

[Power]

I'd rule that the human bonus feat is not a physical quality but a function of years of swift experience as a human, so no.

Also, if that worked that would elevate Alter Self to Pathfinder's Paragon Surge spell.

[altpersona]

i always thought it was a bonus feat.

looking at d20srd.org i see it is listed as 'extra' (as recently pointed out somewhere)

i also noticed that the only mention of 'bonus feat' in the basic races is for elves. they get four bonus Martial Proficiency feats. 

[awaken_D_M_golem]

All the other base races have a Monster entry in the SRD.
But Humans don't.

Was there ever an official "monster" write-up for Humans ?

[TuggyNE]

All the other base races have a Monster entry in the SRD.
But Humans don't.

Was there ever an official "monster" write-up for Humans ?

Not that I'm aware of.

[Lars]

I think it can be possible to extrapolate(right word?) a humans monster stats by looking at werewolf lord or vampire lord if my memory serves me right. But in 3.5 there is no writeup for human as far as i know.

Ill check when im around the books to see if i can find stats under a template or similar

[awaken_D_M_golem]

Y'know that's a random weirdness of this game.

1e has some Humans in the MM, but they aren't
a generic semi base race build up entry.

4e has some Humans in that MM, and they have
the problem of technically being a completely
separate race, from the Human right next to it.

[vaz]

In Races of Destiny, there is no ^B to denote a racial bonus feat for a human on the Chameleon entry, but there is for the floating feat.

[Necrosnoop110]

Y'know that's a random weirdness of this game.

1e has some Humans in the MM, but they aren't
a generic semi base race build up entry.

4e has some Humans in that MM, and they have
the problem of technically being a completely
separate race, from the Human right next to it.

Yes. 2e had an entry for man (human), IIRC.

[linklord231]

The Mechanics of Rebirth sidebar on RotD pg 10 refers to the extra feat that humans get as a "nonspecific bonus feat." 

[SorO_Lost]

Case study.

Polymorph Subschool
The subject takes on all the statistics and special abilities of an average member of the assumed form in place of its own except Alignment, HP, effective HD, you remain able to understand your learned languages. In all other ways, the target’s normal game statistics are effectively replaced by those of the assumed form. The target loses all the special abilities it has in its natural form, including its class features, even if the assumed form would normally be able to use these class features.

Alter Self
You acquire the physical qualities of the new form while retaining your own mind. Physical qualities include natural size, mundane movement capabilities (such as burrowing, climbing, walking, swimming, and flight with wings, to a maximum speed of 120 feet for flying or 60 feet for nonflying movement), natural armor bonus, natural weapons (such as claws, bite, and so on), racial skill bonuses, racial bonus feats, and any gross physical qualities (presence or absence of wings, number of extremities, and so forth). A body with extra limbs does not allow you to make more attacks (or more advantageous two-weapon attacks) than normal.
Yes, Humans lose their bonus Feat.

FAQ
When my human uses polymorph* to take the form of another creature, he loses any extraordinary special attacks and qualities. Does this include his bonus feat and bonus skill points? If so, how do I figure out which feat and skill points are derived from his racial traits? A human’s bonus feat and bonus skill points—like most other racial traits—are considered extraordinary qualities, and thus are lost when the character would lose such abilities (including when polymorphed).

Rules of the Game
In most cases, racial skill bonuses depend on your body and your mind. So, you get to keep your own racial skill bonuses and feats while gaining those of your assumed form.

RotG emphasizes one word (that doesn't even exist in the text) above all else and follows it to the logical conclusion, ignoring the fact it's built on an assumption of reinterpreted text to begin with and is entirely against all relevant printed rules.

Oh how this RotG entry reminds me of people I've had to deal with.