Uses of Alter Self: (discussion thread
here)
Mobility: Pick a few forms that can fly, swim, and burrow. I think you'd get a climb speed also, which can be handy.
Combat: High natural armor class, and natural attacks. Mobility can be helpful here also.
Utility: Many creatures have high racial bonuses to skills, and/or racial bonus feats. Telling whether something is a racial bonus feat or not can be tricky. If it has a (B) next to it in the feats section, it definitely is. Otherwise, if the creature's description doesn't say that it is, it probably isn't. All creatures get feats every three levels, and at first level, and you don't get those from the spell. I think disguising yourself as a member of another race, or an individual, also falls under this, but I guess it could be its own category.
If you submit something to be added to the list, please list the HD of the creature, the Type of the creature, benefits it offers, and what book or resource it is from.
Just so we are all clear on what exactly you can get from the spell, here is an excerpt from its description in the SRD. Pay special attention to the parts I've underlined.
Here is the compiled list so far, taken from lists by Lilt, Schulerta, ErikPSO, SouthernSkies, and various other sources. Dpskane is in the process of adding a column to it that indicates whether the form would be capable of using Verbal and/or Somatic components. Feel free to look over the list, and check to make sure it is correct, because I don't own all of the books used as sources in it.
Humanoids from the SRD: [b]Name Source Cast NA Size Movement Skill/feat bonuses[/b]
Bugbear MM p29 V/S 3 M 30ft +4 Move Silently
Dwarf PHB 14 V/S - M 20ft (no encumbrance) +2 to Craft (Stone or Metal),
+2 to Search (Stonework)
Duergar MM 92 V/S - M 20ft (no encumbrance) +4 Move Silently, +1 Listen and Spot
Elf PHB 15 V/S - M 30ft +2 Listen, +2 Search, +2 Spot
Half-Elf PHB 18 V/S - M 30ft +1 Listen, +1 Search, +1 Spot,
+2 Diplomacy and Gather Information
Aquatic Elf MM 103 V/S - M 30ft, 40ft Swim +2 Listen, +2 Search, +2 Spot
Drow Elf MM 103 V/S - M 30ft +2 Listen, +2 Search, +2 Spot (Looks cool)
Githyanki MM 127 V/S - M 30ft
Githzerai MM 129 V/S - M 30ft
Gnoll MM 130 V/S 1 M 30ft
Gnome PHB 16 V/S - S 20ft +2 Listen, +2 Craft (Alchemy)
Forest Gnome MM ? V/S - S 20ft As gnome, and +4 Hide (+8 Forests)
Goblin MM 133 V/S - S 30ft +4 Move Silently, +4 Ride
Halfling PHB 19 V/S - S 20ft +2 Climb, +2 Listen,
+2 Jump, +2 Move Silently
Hobgoblin MM 153 V/S - M 30ft +4 Move Silently
Kobold MM 161 V/S 1 S 30ft +2 Craft (Trapmaking), +2 Search,
+2 Profession (Miner)
Lizardfolk MM 169 V/S 5 M 30ft +4 Balance, +4 Jump, +4 Swim,
Claw and Bite attacks (1d4 each)
Locathah MM 169 V/S 3 M 10ft, 60ft Swim +8 Swim (take 10)
Merfolk MM 185 V/S - M 5ft, 50ft Swim +8 Swim (take 10)
Orc MM 203 V/S - M 30ft
Troglodyte MM 246 V/S 6 M 30ft +4 Hide (+8 underground), Multiattack,
Claw and Bite attacks (1d4 each)
Other Humanoids: [b]Name Source Cast NA Size Movement Skill/feat bonuses[/b]
Skulk FF 154 V/S - M 30ft +8 to Move Silently, +15 to Hide
(only if wearing light/no armor)
Svirfneblin MM 132 V/S - S 20ft +2 Search (Stonework), +2 Craft (alchemy),
+2 Listen, +2 Hide (+4 underground)
Tallfellow Halfling MM 149 V/S - S 20ft +2 Search, +2 Spot, +2 Listen
Deep Halfling MM 150 V/S - S 20ft +2 to Craft (Stone or Metal),
+2 to Search (Stonework), +2 Listen
Phaerlock UD 97 V/S 7 M 30ft +4 balance, +4 Jump, +4 Swim, Multiattack,
Claws and Bite attacks (1d4 each)
Crucian MH 59 V/S 8 M 20ft Iron Will, Weapon Focus (Warhammer)
Catfolk MH 56 V/S 1 M 40ft +2 Listen, +2 Move Silently
Dark Creeper FF 38 V/S 1 S 30ft +8 Hide, +4 MS in Shadows
Dark Stalker FF 38 V/S 2 M 30ft same as above
Mongrelfolk FF 125 V/S - M 30ft Endurance, +8 Hide, +8 Sleight of Hand
Asabi MoF 15 V/S 2 M 50ft, 20ft Burrow Bite attack(1d4), Combat Reflexes,
Jump Lengths Increased
Bullywug MoF 25 S 3 M 20ft, 30ft Swim Endurance, +6 Hide (Marshes)
Gibberling MoF 52 V?/S 1 S 30ft Bite (1d3), Weapon Focus (Bite)
Shalarin MoF 76 V/S - M 40ft Swim Weapon Focus (Trident)
Siv MoF 78 V/S 2 M 40ft, 20ft Swim Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Siangham)
Arctic Dwarf RoF 9 V/S - S 20ft (no encumbrance) +2 to Craft (Stone or Metal),
+2 to Search (Stonework)
Urdunnir Dwarf RoF 22 V/S - M 20ft (no encumbrance) +2 to Craft (Stone or Metal),
+2 to Search (Stonework)
Wild Dwarf RoF 24 V/S - S 20ft (no encumbrance) +2 to Craft (Stone or Metal),
+2 to Search (Stonework)
Avarial RoF 31 V/S - M 30ft, 50ft Fly +4 Spot, +4 Jump, , +2 Listen, +2 Search
Grey Orc RoF 65 V/S - M 40ft
Orog (Deep Orc) RoF 71 V/S 2 M 30ft +2 Craft (Armorsmithing and Weaponsmithing)
Spirit Folk, River UE 14 V/S - M 30ft, 30ft Swim +8 Swim (Take 10)
Spirit Folk, Mountain UE 13 V/S - M 30ft, 30ft Climb +2 Balance, +2 Jump,
+2 Tumble, +8 Climb (Take 10)
Tren SK 87 V/S 8 M 30ft, 40ft Swim +4 Hide (+8 in rocky/subterranean),
2xclaw (1d4), 1xbite (1d4), Multiattack
Varag MM4 168 S 3 M 60ft Run and Spring Attack bonus feats Southernskies compiled a couple of lists of
Magical Beasts with under 5 HD for use on familiars and other companions via the Share Spells ability.
The Sage recently said that familiars can only take the forms of animals using Alter Self (via Share Spells). He is obviously wrong. If you want to know why, look near the bottom of Page 2 of this thread. Southernskies lays it out well there.
Alter Self: Magical Beast Forms for your (Diminutive or Tiny) Familiar -Cockatrice; Small; Fly 60 ft (poor); Bite (1d4)
-Darkmantle; Small; Fly 30 ft (poor); +6 natural;
slam (1d4); No skill bonus as doesn’t get Blindsight
-Shocker Lizard; Small; 40 ft, climb 20 ft, swim 20 ft;
+3 natural; +4 Hide, +2 Listen, +2 Spot, +8 climb (take 10),
+8 swim (take 10); bite (1d4)
-Stirge; Tiny; 10 ft, fly 40 ft (average); Weapon Finesse;
Alter Self: Magical Beast Forms for your Improved Familiar or for Larger Masters.Also usable with "Improved Familiar, Onara" from "Players Guide to Arcanis" (which has Light Warhorse @ CL5th and Heavy Warhorse @ CL7th) (These could also be useful for a Palladin or Blackguard with Sorcerer levels, etc)
-Aranea (Shapechanger); Medium; Climb 25’; +1 natural;
+2 Jump, +2 Listen, +2 Spot, +8 Climb (take 10); Bite (1d6)
-Blink Dog; Medium; +3 natural; (Bite 1d6)
-Eagle, Giant; Large; Fly 80 ft (average); +3 natural;
+4 Spot; 2 Claws (1d6) and bite (1d8); speech
-Ethereal Marauder (Extraplanar); Medium; +3 natural;
+2 Listen, +2 Move Silently, +2 Spot; Bite (1d6)
-Hippogriff; Large; 50 ft, Fly 100 ft (average); +4 natural;
+4 Spot; 2 claws (1d4) and bite (1d8)
-Hydra (5 headed); Huge; Swim 20 ft; +6 natural; +2 Spot,
+2 Listen, +8 Swim (take 10), Combat Reflexes (all heads); 5 bites (1d10)
-Krenshar; Medium; 40 ft; +3 natural; +4 Jump, +4 Move Silently, Track;
-Owl, Giant; Large; 10 ft, Fly 70 ft (average); +3 natural;
+8 Listen, +4 Spot, +8 Move Silently when flying; 2 Claws (1d6) and bite (1d8); speech
-Owlbear; Large; +5 natural; 2 claws (1d6) and bite (1d8)
-Pegasus; Large; 60 ft, fly 120 ft (average); +3 natural;
+4 Listen, +4 Spot; 2 hooves (1d6) and bite (1d4)
-Phase Spider; Large; 40 ft, climb 20 ft; +3 natural; +8 climb (take 10); bite (1d6)
-Spider Eater; Large; Fly 60 ft (good); +4 natural; +4 Listen, +4 Spot; Sting (1d8)
-Unicorn; Large; 60 ft; +6 natural; +4 Move Silently; horn (1d8) and 2 hooves (1d4)
-Worg; Medium; 50 ft; +2 natural; +1 Listen, +1 Move Silently, +1 Spot, +2 Hide; bite (1d6)
More ideas for Improved Familiar forms by RuneLordAsmodeus can be found
here.
Books: Monster Manual (MM), Monster Manual 2 (MM2), Monster Manual 3 (MM3), Monster Manual 4 (MM4), Races of Faerun (RoF), Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (FR), Unapproachable East (UE), Fiend Folio (FF), Underdark (UD), Miniatures Handbook (MH), Manual of the Planes (MoP), Monsters of Faerun (MnF), Lords of Madness (LoM), Sandstorm (SS).
