Anti-climactic BBEG battle

[tennyson]

Since the polymorph spell description says that it behaves like alter self except for the following info, and the following says nothing to change the size clause, wouldn't that restriction still apply?

Has that been dealt with in the FAQ or one of the RotG articles?

This was one of the problems we ran into when trying to verify if the spell was executed correctly.

 

[Dakhran the Dark]

Since the polymorph spell description says that it behaves like alter self except for the following info, and the following says nothing to change the size clause, wouldn't that restriction still apply?

Has that been dealt with in the FAQ or one of the RotG articles?

Rules of the Game: Polymorphing (Part Three) states that the assumed form's size can be anything from Fine to Colossal.

 

[EPRock]

This was one of the problems we ran into when trying to verify if the spell was executed correctly.

As one of the previous posters pointed out, All the restrictions of Alter Self Apply; you cannot change into a creature with more hit dice than you, you cannot change into a creature more than one size category larger than you.

(You can go two sizes larger by enlarging yourself first).

7 Hit Dice the best thing to change inot would be an Annis.

Because Stats change to Size Large; Str 25, Dex 12, Con 14; Natural Armor +10, 2 Rake attacks, and A bite attack.

 

[Zithuan]

Polymorph:
This spell functions like alter self, except that you change the willing subject into another form of living creature. The new form may be of the same type as the subject or any of the following types: aberration, animal, dragon, fey, giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid, ooze, plant, or vermin. The assumed form can’t have more Hit Dice than your caster level (or the subject’s HD, whichever is lower), to a maximum of 15 HD at 15th level. You can’t cause a subject to assume a form smaller than Fine, nor can you cause a subject to assume an incorporeal or gaseous form. The subject’s creature type and subtype (if any) change to match the new form.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20040525a
The assumed form's size can be anything from Fine to Colossal.

Polymorph requires a decent amount of preparation before it can be used; you can't simply pick something out of the MM and go nuts.

Annis Hag is a good choice, but the Wizard will only have a BAB of +3 instead of the Hag's +7. I tend to like the Treant for Str 29, trample and the benefits of the Plant type.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

That's why you don't use polymorph spells for the first time in a crucial situation.

 

[blargney the second]

(You can go two sizes larger by enlarging yourself first).

In the text for Enlarge Person it says that multiple size-increasing effects don't stack.
-blarg

 

[Liquidsabre]

Thanee has got it, the size changes possible for polymorph are stated differently in the spell that overwrites the alter self restrictions.

As for the game, sounds like alot of fun but my DM senses would have gone off, there's a reason the battle was so out of whack and sounds like everyone knew it was the spell. That sort of stuff is what the DM should be prepared for by either being familiar with the spell or taking time to pause the combat long enough to take a closer look at the spell - it certainly beats having an anti-climatic ending.

 

[Saeviomagy]

As one of the previous posters pointed out, All the restrictions of Alter Self Apply; you cannot change into a creature with more hit dice than you, you cannot change into a creature more than one size category larger than you.

In that case, you also cannot assume a form larger than 5 hit dice, because that property of alter self carries over as well.

IOW, rubbish.

 

[blargney the second]

In that case, you also cannot assume a form larger than 5 hit dice, because that property of alter self carries over as well.

IOW, rubbish.

Polymorph specifically states that the assumed form's HD must be <= the lower of the caster's level and the subject's HD, to a max of 15 HD.

-blarg

 

[Thanee]

Polymorph is not really very well-written.

You can’t cause a subject to assume a form smaller than Fine...

This part here, I assume, means, that you can take on any size from fine to colossal.

It's, however, clearly spelled (spelt?) out in the RotG articles.

Bye
Thanee