Quote Originally Posted by Eldariel View Post
Well, Alter Self doesn't alter your stats, you're a Wizard so you don't particularly care about your AC, small size is mostly a boon with the hit bonus for Rays and the Hide bonus in general, etc. For Alter Self it's very good, and e.g. Elan, Synad and Daelkyr Half-Blood exist as LA +0 Aberrations. Alter Self in particular has enough duration that you can reasonably expect to cast it out of combat (even Extended) and have it up for the encounter at the start so at worst you're doing normal and you get to supernova every time you can make the DC 19 Will-save. Given you have at least 13 Wis and at least 4 levels in a good Will-class, isn't all that bad; you're looking at +5 minimum (+3 with the penalty) though 14 Wis, Cloak of Resistance +1 [by the time you hit level 4 spells, Greater Resistance moods that part], and any potential generic bonuses make you fairly good at it soon enough. On level 7 you have 5 base, +1-+2 Wis, +3 Resistance for +9-+10. One-two PRCs (say Master Specialist and Divine Oracle) add +2 more each. Keen Intellect and you're looking at +18 or so (20 base Int with +2 item) giving you 100% chance of making the check. For Polymorph, yeah, 1 min/level is a bit pesky.
Look at how much you invested to get it up to 100%. Is why I'm saying the 2nd standard action is totally justified.