Arcane shape changing.

[Scratched_back]

Okay, I'll keep this one brief.

Is there a spell around allowing an arcane caster polymorph into inanimate objects? Obviously, still wanting to retain intellect and the likes... I don't just have the burning desire to become a chair.

I only ask because our Ranger/Rogue scouts ahead a lot (as their type are likely to do) but he occasionally needs a helping hand if he runs into trouble. I thought of a scenario in which he could scout ahead with my greatsword on his back, held by me - polymorphed into a sheath for the time being. It seems odd to me that out of all the spells there are in D&D, I don't know of one to make this possible.

Cheers all.

 

[Liquidsabre]

What you're looking for is the Sor/Wiz 8, Trcikery 8 spell: polymorph any object.

 

[Rystil Arden]

What you're looking for is the Sor/Wiz 8, Trcikery 8 spell: polymorph any object.

Nope Liquid, sadly that one fails his qualifications by giving him the Intelligence score of the assumed form.

 

[Hypersmurf]

You can't turn into an inanimate object, but you can get the effect you want with Shapechange.

If you're a Warforged, you could do it with Alter Self or Polymorph, too...

Turn into an Animated Chair - it's a creature of type Construct, so you can use Shapechange to do it.

-Hyp.

 

[Jack Simth]

This might be stretching a bit but ... you might be able to Shapechange into an Animated Object of a sword sheath, as the Shapechange spell (Animal 9, Druid 9, Sor/Wiz 9) specifies "any single nonunique creature (of any type) from Fine to Colossal size." Animated Objects are technically creatures, the spell permits you to maintain your own mental scores (as normal polymorph), and thus you would still be able to act (just make sure you have prepared spells with Still and Silent, AND make sure those same spells don't need any Material Components or Focuses, so you don't need any particular body part or item to cast the spell, or you will waste a standard action switching forms. Also, the duration is 10 minutes a level, so it would probably work out okay.

For that matter, you could even potentially become the sword in the sheath..... Or his hat..... or his wristband .... or his pocketwatch.... or a pair of lenses on his face.....

Edit: Hypersmurf beat me to it. Oh well.

 

[Jack Simth]

Even better: Shapechange into a magic-looking staff. That way, when you start to cast spells, everyone thinks you are just a magic staff that the rouge is using, and continue to attack the rouge. Once they realize that your spell list doesn't match any single staff, that's when you take the shape of a dragon.

 

[Liquidsabre]

Nope Liquid, sadly that one fails his qualifications by giving him the Intelligence score of the assumed form.

Oops, miss that. How about shapechanging into a mimic?

 

[Scratched_back]

Right, thanks to everybody with input so far, but is there nothing to even come close to such an effect before 9th level spells? My character is only a 9th level himself, and even then I only have up to 4th level spells, hahah!

Maybe it's my underestimation, but I didn't realise the lines I was thinking along was deemed by the rules to be such a powerful ability... I mean 9th level spells, jesus!

I know obviously that whilst what I'M thinking of doing with such a spell isn't necessarily overly powerful, but tremendously powerful applications of the same spell will no doubt exist, therefore justifiying it's level... but even then, I'm still pretty shocked there isn't a "cheaper" or lesser level alternative.

Somebody mentioned Warforged. What's that then? Really!

EDIT: Oh right, Eberron stuff. It's an FR campaign, so no-can-do on the Eberron front.