Transformation

Transformation is an Alteration 6 2 ritual that transforms the caster into a random monster or animal for 8. The spell has a higher likelihood of succeeding in luck scales; if it fails, the caster either transforms into a critter, a feebleminded Foul Spawn, or simply dies. Aside from magic paths, no properties are carried over from the original caster into their transformed body. Their age is also set to the default age of whichever monster or animal they transformed into. Any items that they can no longer carry due to their new equipment slots are returned to the inventory.

The possible transformation results are highly variable, ranging from size 1 to 6 with traits and equipment slots specific to that particular chassis. A mage may transform into a stealthy but highly fragile Winged Monkey or luck into a supercombatant-tier Ettin with an extra head and arm slot. To add to the variability, many transformation results have a chance of gaining additional magic paths. However, most results have only two misc slots due to being animals, rendering them incapable of equipping the majority of magic boosters. If a mage casts Transformation underwater, the result is selected from a different pool of mostly aquatic chassis.

The most straightforward application of Transformation is to remove undesirable traits from nature mages, such as the high upkeep of Pans and Pearl Kings or the homesickness of Naiads. The variability of chassis stats and traits means that transforming for a better chassis alone is unreliable and likely to waste gems. For nations with small death nature mages, transformation may be of particular consideration due to its interaction with Twiceborn.

Transformation has a (20 + misfortune)% chance to fail. If the caster fails this check, they make the same check again. Succeeding on this second check gives a bad result from the table below (and feebleminds the caster if the new form is not mindless), while failing again kills the mage.¹⁾

If the caster succeeds on the first roll, they are transformed into a random chassis depending on whether they are underwater or on land. While many of the results are undisciplined due to being animals, they will still follow scripts as normal during combat. Most results also have subpar magic resistance, making them more vulnerable to spells like Soul Slay and Mind Hunt.

What are the bad transformation results underwater?

Sprite	Unit Name	Special Attributes	Comments
	Foul Spawn and 8 other variations	Variable. One gains amphibious, some have different attacks, but none stand out.	Will be feebleminded, but has full slots.
	Foul Spawn		Will be feebleminded. No body or hand equipment slots, but five attacks, size 5 and a reasonable amount of hitpoints.
	Freak	Fear (5) Trample Adept Cross Breeder (10) Mindless	Will not lose paths due to being mindless. Has only 2 misc slots despite the pictured limbs. Trample, fear, and crossbreeding can all be situationally useful.
	Dragonfly Frog Large Ant Large Beetle Large Spider	Stealthy (40) Poor Amphibian (Frog only) Animal Magic Being Flying (Dragonfly and large beetle) Need not Eat Mindless Swamp Survival (Dragonfly and Frog) Forest Survival (Ant, Beetle and Spider)	Will not lose paths due to being mindless. All die to a stiff breeze, but being stealthy makes them more difficult to catch.

If the transformed mage is underwater, the result is selected from the table below instead. Except for the Sea Dog, all are fully aquatic and will need an Amulet of the Fish or something similar to go above water. Gaining an extra magic path is much more common than transforming on land, but path gain is largely restricted to nature and water.

Sprite	Unit Name	Special Attributes	Comments
	Small Shark	Stealthy (40) Animal Aquatic Need not Eat	Chance for bonus water magic: 20%
	Hippocampus	Animal Aquatic Recuperation	Chance for bonus nature magic: 50%
	Sea Dog	Animal Amphibious	Chance for bonus nature magic: 20% The only amphibious underwater result.
	Sea Stag	Animal Aquatic	Chance for bonus nature magic: 20%
	Leocampus	Animal Aquatic	Chance for bonus nature magic: 20%
	Giant Lobster	Animal Trample Aquatic	Chance for bonus water magic: 20%
	Kraken King	Darkvision (100) Stealthy (60) Blunt resistant Animal Aquatic Recuperation	Chance for bonus astral magic: 50% Unlike the Ancient Kraken pretender chassis, this kraken has a meagre 2 misc slots. Still stealthy, however.
	Shark	Stealthy (40) Animal Aquatic Need not Eat	Chance for bonus water magic: 10%

Dominions 5 - Transformation and Twiceborn by Attica