[RPG] Can a sorcerer cast other spells while in the shape of an Air Elemental

pathfinder-1espells

I have a character who is a sorcerer with the Elemental(Air) bloodline. She's now 9th level and can thus cast Elemental Body (it's a bonus spell at that level). It hasn't come up, yet, but I foresee her wanting to cast other spells while this spell is still in effect. My initial take was to not allow her, but I'm rethinking that a bit. If she's amorphous, then she should be able to handle somatic components, at least theoretically. If she can make sound she should be able to handle verbal components, maybe. Sorcerers already have Eschew Materials as a feat at 1st level, so most material components should be taken care of. Am I missing something, or should other spellcasting work while in this form?

Best Answer

Elemental body places no restriction on spellcasting

Nowhere in the elemental body spell is any limitation on spellcasting offered. It simply says you take the forms of the various elementals.

Elementals are capable of casting spells

Unlike animals, elementals can talk, tend to be roughly humanoid in appearance, and thus can perform gestures and manipulate materials and foci. Elementals can take levels in spellcasting classes, and when you become one you remain capable of doing everything that’s necessary for spellcasting.

So yes, you can cast spells during elemental body.

All your items meld during a polymorph effect

This would include your spell components, which is problematic for spellcasting. A sorcerer, of course, has Eschew Materials, and anyone else could take it, so that would be one solution for negligible-cost components, or you could just keep the components separate while polymorphing.

Considering how easy it is to get around, and how it really seems like it’s supposed to be a convenience feature for the transmogrifier, I probably wouldn’t bother enforcing this rule though. I could see abuses that might make me put my foot down, but for the most part it’s probably fine.