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[Machiavelli]

Besides all the questions that have already been discussed regarding this topic, i was thinking about some new problems the spell carries along. These are no real issues but things that hasn´t been clarified up to now:

1) if you change e.g. into a cat, does the incease in attributes also manifest into the result of the spell? This means: does a raise in e.g body incease the size of the cat? What about a cat with body 6 or higher?

2) is it now completely cleared that there are maximum attributes that have to be noted or does the spell ignore the maximum attributes?

3) how do you look after you change into another being? What about Surge Effects like strinking eyes, hair etc.? Do they come along?

4) if you are a human, can you still change into "human form" and raise your attributes?

That´s it for the moment.

[Seth]

I think Seth meant an example, though.

Yup.

I'm quite good at spotting munchkin, but this one is probably the best I have ever seen.

Shapechanging into a tiger:
Lets look at at from the point of view of a mage with 1 in all physical attributes

• the improve attributes spell give you one attribute at your value + successes
• this spell gives you the tiger attributes + your successes
• but you have some disadvantages: cannot use tech (armour, guns, armour, lockpicks, armour, comms, armour...), its a waff in a dungeon (taking off clothes, putting them back on again, not loosing stuff...)

Shapechanging into a troll:

• You buff every physical attribute by successes, and your body/str gets buffed by 4 more
• Its like a combination of improve attributes 4 times, with a free physical mask
• there are no downsides.

Now as a GM I will really struggle accepting that the first spell is in any way balanced. Its one of those sad moments when you realise the game writers have %@!*!ed up. The second spell (which needs GM approval - and that is canon - and it won't be getting mine or most other peoples) is so far out of balance that I use it as a shining example of what not to do in spell design.

So this argument is based on what's reasonable in a game, and not what is correct. The reason that I am arguing for it to be RAW (without care or consideration of FAQ which is deeply flawed) is that generally shadowrun is a pretty decent system, and I emotionally want this carbuncle of a spell to be the delusions of a munchkin, and not RAW or RAI.

My second argument is much more straightforward. Canon spells are those in the published works. Anything else needs GMs permission. The spell description says "The
subject can only assume the form of a critter whose base Body rating is 2 points greater or less than her own". In the critter section it lists "ordinary critters" which are cats and dogs and animals and stuff, spirits, dracoforms and paracritters. My interpretation of this is that shapeshift lets you have ordinary critters. My supporting evidence of this is that otherwise you could shapeshift into a spirit...and I am pretty sure thats not the case. (Mind you now I am waiting for the munchkins to say..."shapeshift spirit" thats the way of the future).