Shifted ability

Shifted abilities are the special powers imitating those granted to creatures, which are given to player characters according to the polymorph form taken. Shifted characters make use of these abilities as if casting a spell (which depending on the ability may result in triggering an attack of opportunity) and use the spell radial to cast the ability. These abilities have infinite uses unless specifically restricted by the spell script. While the shifter class is often used for determining the damage and DC, there are several abilities (especially normal spells) where the caster level and/or the default DC is used instead.

The caster level of a shifted spell is the number of levels taken in the initial class of the character (the class taken at character level one) which is reduced by any level drain applied to that class. The default DC is calculated as any other spell but the ability modifier used corresponds to the ability associated with that particular class.

If a spell from a spell book is quickslotted and, then, the character polymorphs to a form that can cast that spell, he may use the quickslotted spell instead. In this case the caster level and DC are determined as if the character were naturally casting the spell from that spell book and even the metamagicks used in the quickslotting apply. Unused castings of that spell in the spellbook will not be used up when cast this way.

To enable a non-player character (NPC) to make use of an ability gained through a polymorph, custom scripting (often a custom AI) is required. The scripting commands regarding spell casting do not recognize shifted abilities as spells available for casting (though they do allow for casting despite availability). Dungeon masters, (and players with polymorphed familiars), can possess an NPC and in this way make use of its shifted abilities.