A bit lost... What was the Polymorph issue?

[Danyael]

I recall reading somewhere that Wizard's stated that there was a problem with polymorph. Could someone tell me what is it about or give me a link (in this forum please) to the point?

 

[Shazman]

I beleive they decided it was too vague and open to abuse. I think it has been errated by WotC several times. I'm not completely sure of the details, but this is what I have gathered by talking with other who have followed it more closely.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

For one thing, it's balanced around the MM1 monsters. It's probably not big news that not every other monster and templated monster adheres to the same balance. Polymorph was an open invite to players to attempt to get a massive power-up far beyond the intention of the original designers.

 

[Danyael]

So, they dumped it?

 

[jodyjohnson]

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dd/20060216a

Officially removed from the Mark of Heroes campaign.

Pretty much recommended that if it was an issue around your table, then yes, dump it.

Alternative Polymorph style spells in PHB II and Complete Mage using the new - become the creature - method.

 

[Thanee]

So, they dumped it?

Nope, the spell is still there and unchanged.

They have published a few alternatives, though, which could be used instead, if one so desires, or in addition as well.

Bye
Thanee

 

[MerricB]

Polymorph is a problem as it uses Hit Dice as the sole determiner of eligibility; as you can see from the CR difference between high HD zombies and demons, HD doesn't work that well - it creates too big a power differential.

Cheers!

 

[MarkB]

Basically, the big change to Polymorph in the errata back around the start of the year did nothig whatsoever to Polymorph itself. What it did, instead, was to isolate the Polymorph spells, effectively quarantining them from the rest of the system. Now, other spells and effects - such as Wild Shape and any monster's shape-changing ability - which previously referenced Polymoprh have all been changed to work on independent game mechanics (mostly the revised Alternate Form rules in the Monster Manual).

So, you can choose to keep using Polymorph in your games, but if you don't want to, you can remove the spells completely, and so long as you're running from the errata'd rules, the rest of the ruleset is left intact.