Arcane Tradition
** This submission comes from the exceptionally talented friend of the blog, Neal M! Say hi to him the comments! **
School of Transmogrification
Perhaps none of the arcane spellcasters mighty powers is as versatile, useful, or spectacular as the ability to change into something else entirely. The School of Transmogrification specializes in just that – altering one’s own body as needed with polymorph, and other shapechanging transmutations.
Natural Adaptation
At 2nd level, you add the spell alter self to your spellbook, if it is not there already. You can cast this spell without expending a spell slot. After doing so, you can’t do so again until you finish a short or long rest, though you can still cast it normally using an available spell slot.
Favored Shapes
At 6th level, choose three beasts as your favored shapes. A favored shape is a specific kind of creature whose form you can assume by means of the polymorph spell. Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of your favored shapes with another beast of your choice.
You have advantage on Constitution saving throws made to maintain concentration while in one of your favored shapes.
You choose an additional favored shape at 10th, 14th, and 20th level. Your favored shapes chosen or replaced at 17th level and beyond can be any creature, not just beasts.
Natural Transmogrification
At 6th level, you add the spell polymorph to your spellbook, if it is not there already. You can cast this spell without expending a spell slot. When you do so, you can target only yourself and only to become one of your favored shapes. Once you cast polymorph in this way, you can’t do so again until you finish a short or long rest, though you can still cast it normally using an available spell slot.
Reflexive Change
At 10th level, when you are attacked or a creature causes you to make a saving throw, you can use your reaction to cast polymorph (expending a spell slot for a prepared polymorph spell or using the Natural Transmogrification feature) targeting yourself and only into one of your favored shapes. Beginning at 17th level, you can instead cast true polymorph in this way.
After using this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before using it again.
Infinite Variety
At 14th level, you gain the ability to create imaginary forms when casting polymorph, true polymorph, and shapechange on yourself. To create an imaginary form, choose one of your favored shapes as a base form. You then choose a single aspect of a second monster whose form you can assume with the spell being cast and add it to the first creature. Available options include the following.
● Replace the base form’s Armor Class with that of the second form.
● Add the second form’s movement modes (i.e. swim speed, climb speed, burrow speed, fly speed).
● Add one of the second form’s natural attacks if the base form doesn’t already have that attack.
● Add one of the second form’s damage resistances, damage immunities, or senses.
● Add one of the second form’s special qualities, besides Spellcasting or Shapechanger.
● Replace one of the base form’s physical ability scores, if both forms are of the same size category.
For example, if the base form was a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and the second form was a Giant Owl, you could add the fly speed of 60 feet to the Tyrannosaurus Rex, making it a winged T-Rex. If the first form was a Giant Scorpion, and the second a Giant Octopus, you could add the Octopus’s tentacle attack to the Giant Scorpion, grappling enemies from afar, then clawing and stinging them.
