So, alter self allows you to turn into any 5HD-or-less member of your type, be it humanoid, outsider or vermin - but HOW MANY times you can change your form per cast? As far as I've got it, it's any amount of changes and tweaks in the duration of the spell, thou some people say it's not. Is there an official limitation about it?
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asked Jun 7, 2013 at 15:03
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1\$\begingroup\$ What leads you to think that you were allowed to modify your appearance after the spell was cast and had taken affect? After rereading the spell description, I believe the answer is that you cannot change the appearance after the spell has been cast. \$\endgroup\$– Colin DJun 7, 2013 at 15:14
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1 Answer
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When you cast the spell, you change form to the desired form. That form remains until it ends, is dispelled, or is dismissed. It gives no ability to switch between forms in a single casting.
The precise text:
You assume the form of a creature of the same type as your normal form.
That is the effect of the spell when it is cast. Spell effects take place when cast. Compare to shapechange, which does allow you to change repeatedly in one casting:
You can become just about anything you are familiar with. You can change form once each round as a free action.
Here the spell is saying that part of its effect is to grant you this ability to continue to change. Alter self does not give any such ability, it just grants the desired change chosen at the time of casting.
