Psychometabolism (Shapechanging), [Formbound]
Level: Egoist 5, Formbound Spiritist 5, Formbound Surger 5
Display: Material and Visual
Manifesting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: 1 creature touched
Duration: 1 day/level
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates, Will partial (see text)
Power Resistance: Yes
Power Points: 9
You change the target into a form with no more than 1 HD (such as a dog, lizard, monkey, or toad). You do not need to have the form as one of your imprinted forms (see the Formbound descriptor), but you do have to have physically seen a member of the form’s species. If the target is under the effect of another Formbound power and the target fails its save against impose form, all Formbound powers in effect upon the target end immediately and impose form takes full effect.
The target becomes an average looking example of the new form with the possible exception being their size. As with the assume form power, the target only changes one size category in the direction of the new form (and the target gains the appropriate size modifiers to attack rolls, reach, hide checks, and armor class). The target gains all the mundane movement modes (such as swimming or burrowing) and natural attack forms the creature possessed, and loses all of the target’s mundane movement modes and natural attacks (except those granted from powers such as claws of the beast) for the duration. The target is not automatically proficient in the new form’s natural attacks (any attack made with them suffers a -4 penalty) unless the target is proficient with them through some other means.
In place of normal ability score modifiers from a size change, the target receives a +2 bonus to Strength and a -2 penalty to Dexterity per category increase, or a +2 bonus to Dexterity and a -2 penalty to Strength per category decrease. The target’s new size may further be altered through effects such as expansion or compression. Additionally, the target gains an enhancement bonus or penalty to the target’s Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores equal to the imprinted form’s corresponding ability modifiers. Treat nonabilities (scores of “-”) as if they were scores of 0 (-5 modifier).
If the assumed form is capable of speech, your target can communicate normally. If the assumed form has appendages that are capable of drawing in dirt, the target can at least scrawl messages in malleable substances.
The target loses all the special abilities it had in its normal form, including its class and racial features and any racial feats it might have taken. All items that are worn or carried by the subject fall to the ground at its feet (even if they could be worn or carried by the new form). If the new form would prove fatal to the creature (for example, if you changed a swimming shark into a dog or if you changed an eagle in midflight into an animal without means of flying) the target gets a +4 bonus on the save.
If your target is slain within 24 hours of this power taking effect, the target reverts back to their original form although they remain dead. If your target manages to survive for 24 hours after the effect they must make a will save to avoid the further effects of this power. A success on this save staves off the additional affects for 24 hours, when they would need to make a new Will save unless the power has ended. A failed Will save forces the target to become a normal example of the new form – including further reduction (or increase) in size. The target’s ability scores become identical to an average example of the form. The target loses all ability to understand language and communicate until the power ends. The target’s game statistics become identical to the average example of the new form for as long as this power is in effect. For the remainder of the time, the target acts as a typical example of the new form.
When the power ends, the target reverts back to their regular form and all of their game statistics return back to normal. If the change occurs in a space that is unable to hold the new form (such as a mouse hole or a weasel’s den) the target is shunted into the nearest space that can hold the target. For every 10 ft that the target is forced to move in this manner the target takes 1d6 damage. Since the target’s equipment did not meld with them when they assumed a new form, the target appears with only a small article of clothing – identical to the skin or fur of the imposed form – covering the most sensitive areas of the target.
Incorporeal or gaseous creatures are immune to impose form, and a creature with the shapechanger subtype (such as a lycanthrope or a doppelganger) can revert to its natural form as a standard action (which immediately ends the spell’s effect). The bestow form and assume form powers can be used to end this power prematurely, but only if the target succeeds on a Fort save equal to the save required when impose form was originally cast. If the target succeeds, bestow form or assume form affects the target naturally and impose form ends. The target reverts back to its normal size and statistics before the effects of bestow form or assume form are applied.
Augment: This power may be augmented in one or more of the following ways.
- If you spend an additional 6 power points, this power’s duration becomes “permanent” and should the target fail its save the target loses all prior memories before the manifesting of the power, and these memories do not return should the power be countered in some fashion. This augment does not change the save DC of the power.
- If you wish to spend 1 minute manifesting this power instead of the standard manifesting time given in the power’s description, the target size may change up to three size categories (instead of one) to a maximum or minimum (as appropriate) final size of the desired form.
