The ability to shapeshift into animal forms is learned only white robe
mages and is an advanced form of alteration magic. Forms given to a mage
are granted randomly when the magic-user chooses his or her major path of
shapeshifting. A magic-user will only learn which forms they have been
granted once they reach the minimum rank required to form into them.
When a magic-user undergoes a shapeshift he or she loses some spell
affects that may have been acting on them at the time.
See also: help forms, help revert, help 'shapecontrols', help magicmajor