Gives myself infinite weight and becomes black hole.

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Can I turn my hands into crab claws.

 "Crab people, crab people. Looks like crabs, walk like people."

the moon druids actually do get this but it's at 14th level.

hi , ive been looking for a bit and trying to work out , my character is a winged tiefling , would it be reasonable to use this spell to hide the wings ? is it allowed or stopped under standard rules or is it down to the DM ? because if not its really going to restrict the forms I can take 

Working on a home brew for a bard subclass, “College of Splendor”...they focus on visual arts infused with magic; so painting, drawing & sculpting.

They have a very “flexible” view on physical form; so their early subclass ability gives them a use of Alter Self that can be used every short rest, minus concentration (a bit of a gamble to eliminate concentration; but the spell is not so powerful from a combat perspective).

I love this spell; and feel it doesn’t get as much use as some.

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This is going to be a dumb question? But can Alter Self turn me into metal (specifically for my hands/feet as natural weapons)

 I'd say no, in most cases, because the spell mentions how they appear, especially the fact that most appear from growth of the features, they don't just appear. However, artificers can learn this spell, and I'd say that it is plausible depending on your setting. Unfortunately for my attempts to describe these things, the real answer is "ask your DM."

maybe ask if they wanna play a changeling id say that makes the most sense. since ya get on demand shapeshifting that includes gender and all that stuff. plus what you said is literally in they're description  A changeling can shift its face and form with a thought. Many changelings use this gift as a form of artistic and emotional expression. sounds perfect

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Would a character be able to change their gender with this spell? A player of mine wants to make a non-binary character and they were looking at spells that could change a person's body as a form of expression.

 Gender isn't a physical trait, you don't need a magic spell to alter that. It doesn't specify changing sex, but it does specify "distinguishing characteristics", which one could argue that sex falls under. I'd say that's entirely up to DM interpretation.

I would say yes with an asterisk. The changes are supposed to be purely cosmetic, so wings don't let you fly as others have mentioned, so I'd say any "parts" you produce are equally as cosmetic and unable to function if you're catching my drift. A big reason I consider it like this is that the Changeling race specifically lists sex as one of the things they can change, where as this doesn't.

 it actually doesn't state that the changes are purely cosmetic, only that your statistics don't change and your basic shape, like being bipedal, stays the same.  a character's biological sex has no influence on their statistics and most certainly doesn't change their basic shape more than changing race would, so changing your biological sex for an hour should be fair game

Does anyone have some homebrewed rules for different "adaptations" other than aquatic? For example, Aerial Adaptation where you have grown flying squirrel gliding wing, or Mountain adaptation with resistance to cold and bonus to climbing?

or did I just make them? lol

Quote from Utsu_Yami >>

Does anyone have some homebrewed rules for different "adaptations" other than aquatic? For example, Aerial Adaptation where you have grown flying squirrel gliding wing, or Mountain adaptation with resistance to cold and bonus to climbing?

 

 

or did I just make them? lol

 It honestly seems to overpower the spell completely if it allows flight. Then what's the point of the fly spell at level 3? And what's the point of the levitate spell at level 2?

So it doesnt alter the look of clothes and gear?

As a Moon Druid with a Thousand Forms, considering that the way their shapeshifting works. I would say Yes.. it would change the clothes and gear to fit you...

Because the idea of Alter Self is supposed to match this, I would say clothes and gear would also shift slightly to match. I don't think a Great Sword would become a Greater Great Sword, but I would argue armor and clothes increase in size slightly.. 

I disappointed that DND didn't take the initiative and allow natural weapons to be used as natural armor as well.. Like a porcupine.. Of course these rules are opened for interpretation, but  to often, DM will not permit was isn't "standardized" so this option becomes matter of debate rather then a creative expression..

DM question; since you are able to adapt to an aquatic environment, would it be reasonable to allow someone casting this spell to adapt their bodies to a hot environment? I.e gaining something like bigger ears or one of those neck flaps that let animals diffuse heat more easily. 

So if your party is travelling through like a desert, or even fire elemental plane, cast alter self to negate the con saves for exhaustion because you’ve adapted to heat?

I altered to look like a werewolf, scared the hell out of the other party members!

id say its fare as long as it 10 feet flying speed because the alchemist subclass has the ability to spend one spellslot to chose from a Table of 6 Effects one of which is a fly speed of 10.

I wouldn't say flying or hovering, but more of a controlled fall. I.e. not taking fall damage. I guess like feather fall but with only self and for a duration, not just one fall.   I can see how this could become op, but it does have its limits (what do you do when you are on the ground? you now have these useless skin flaps.)

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I wouldn't say flying or hovering, but more of a controlled fall. I.e. not taking fall damage. I guess like feather fall but with only self and for a duration, not just one fall.   I can see how this could become op, but it does have its limits (what do you do when you are on the ground? you now have these useless skin flaps.)

Perhaps we should have a greater alter self at level 4 that allows flight and some other things as well.

You cant gain additional limbs but your dm might let you turn your arms into wings but your dm is fully in their right to not allow that as flight for 2nd lvl spell is op and the spell clearly defines 3 uses already 

I wish the damage from the natural weapons scaled with upcasting or something