D&D 5E Wight's Life drain v Polymorph

[Coroc]

Er, no, that's not how polymorph works. When the polymorphed form is reduced to zero hp the spell ends. It has nothing to do with concentration and therefore it makes no difference who cast the spell.

As a consequence, it is impossible to disintegrate someone "still in polymorphed form".

So the "ruling" by Crawford is footed in RAW? Or is it ambiguous?

 

[anthr]

My two cents:

• The Wights energy drain is nasty in 5E, but nothing compared to earlier versions of the game.
  I'd treat Hp maximum reduction as a condition, and I'd say that all conditions carry over if you polymorph. The only thing that Polymorph affect is hp, no other conditions (so you are still poisoned, paralyzed, constrained, etc). The Polymorph isn't a free "get out of jail"-card.
  And I don't understand the problem with bookkeeping. How do you track conditions if you're not polymorphed? Just use the same bookkeeping when you're polymorphed, simple as that.
• As for flesh to stone: I'd rule that it freezes (or more accurately stones) the character, meaning that once you turn to stone nothing changes until you get a greater restoration cast at you.
  You are stuck as a T. Rex as long as you are turned to stone, even if the Polymorph-spell ends. Petrification has nothing to do with hp so the polymorph rules doesn't kick in.
• As for shadows I see strength drain as a condition, meaning it carries over and would kill the character instantly if he had lower strength than the creature he polymorphed to.
• As for disintegrate I think Jeremy Crawford is too nice (but he also stated that they did the spell more polite). But even with his ruling it's still possible to die outright, you just need to fail two saves and not have that many hp.
• Death ends the polymorph spell, so if you die if you are polymorphed it doesn't help if the druid casts reincarnate, because you're dead, not polymorphed.

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

Thanks all. I at least have now got a nice variety of thought out answers.

Turns out the highly intelligent Eldritch-Knight did well to talk the Druid out of Polymorphing him into a T-Rex. We call that 'accidental roleplaying'.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

So the "ruling" by Crawford is footed in RAW? Or is it ambiguous?

It's RAW.

Some people try and read it differently because they have it in for moon druids, but the wording is pretty clear - disintegrate applies the damage to the target then dusts them if they end on zero hp.

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

"If this damage reduces the target to 0 hit points, it is disintegrated."

I think this one is pretty clear, Polymorph and Wildshape have a damage overflow rule to be followed.

On a failed Dex save apply Disintegrate damage. If applicable, follow damage overflow rule. Follow any other rules too (Evasion, force resistance etc). Finally check hp total. 0hp? Dust.

Much clearer than Shadow str damage or petrification state!

(Btw, check out Power Word Kill. Do not take a form with less than 100hp. Period.)

 

[billd91]

I tend to apply that particular debuff to both (and future shapes), because I think think the ability is mostly otherwise a joke.

A joke? You ever see a PC take a critical hit from a wraith and fail the save? I racked up my first 5e PC kill with that one as a DM.