DM Q&A: Spell: GMW and Flame on Wild Shape

[Kain]

I play a druid and I was curious about how the GMW and Flame weapon work on the wild shape forms. I have seen Greater Magic Weapon as well as flame weapon cast on wizards in troll shape and it worked for them. When cast on me in my dire bear form, the spell animation completes and there are no error messages. BUt when I attack, I do no flame damage, and there is no increase in my Attack Bonus or my ability to ignore damage reduction. I was just curious if this was intentional or just unlooked at.

[Quadhund/Greenhouse]

Nothing in this aspect has been touched by the FRC team and is inherent to the NWN core system.

Given that, I have no idea why a polymorph spell functions differently than wild shape. I would image it has something to do with the way creature weapons and item merging occurs.

At this time, i cannot forsee any sort of fix this way.

[Kain]

I looked at the code for the item merging and it shows that every item equppied merges into the wildshape form. However, I have learned through gameplay that the only items to merge into wildshape are the armor and the helmet. So again, I am curious if the merging code itself has been touched (which from your response to the first question appears to be no) I would just like clarification.

[DM Richard (Retired)]

I have very limited knowledge on this subject but here it is.

My understanding is that the different shapes that a druid can change into each have their own rules for what body slots actually carry over into that shape. I'm guessing that this rule goes for polymorphed creatures too but I can't be sure.

I do know however that creatures get multiple attacks and not all of those attacks are with the same appendage. For example if you cast flame weapon on a bear animal companion he has claw attacks and a bite attack. Only one of those attack forms is flaming. Some attacks he makes will do flame damage, some will not.

Knowing these two things, I can't be sure if the spell didn't work. Although with no error message it sounds like it did. Or if you just haven't hit with the one attack that has been modified.

[DM Richard (Retired)]

For most animal forms I believe the only item benefits that function while they are merged are armor and helmet. Humanoid forms gain other slots though.

[EDM Entori]

Just a note.. GMW and FW actually worked on familiars and summons for some time, FW still works on some.. but since the server did some revamping to spells... when the devas were nerfed.. this stopped working the GMW no long works on any creature or polymorph.

Thanks

Ent

This is insightful, but not directly related to the conversation ... I LIKE NUTS.

[Quadhund/Greenhouse]

I just tested GMW on a few summons, and i believe it is working (at least for some attacks). Not sure how else my skeletal ettin was getting attacks of 21.

[Kain]

Yes, Ive seen it work on Polymprhped trolls and familiars jsut not me in dire bear wildshape... Anyone ever see it work on that, how about elemental shape, havent tried it there, cant not high enough lvl yet. Anyhow, Ill fool around see what I can come up with.

[EDM Entori]

depends if the said summon has a weapon.. or I think it depends on teh spell .. if I'm in game I'd happy to port somewhere and show a DM ..maybe I'm bugged.

thanks

Ent

[Dachshund]

kain said:

I have seen Greater Magic Weapon as well as flame weapon cast on wizards in troll shape and it worked for them.

Hmm... surely whoever did this knows that trolls fear fire like nothing else. If regeneration works while in trolls shape, people should REALLY fear fire while in that form since damage from it does not regenerate.