Baleful Polymorph and Hit Points

[geezerjoe]

Recently I've been thinking that it might be even better to use Rich Burlew's version of the ploymorphing rules (not necessarily his spells however), which would change Polymorph spells so that only racial modifiers of the abilities change. [e.g. as a human with 16 Con, you had +0 from your race and "rolled" a 16; therefore as a monkey with +0 as well you would still have Con 16]

I really like this "house rule". I also like this thread for bringing up this issue. I've always assumed a change in Con always represented a change in hp. So much for ASSuming

 

[Thanee]

It would make Polymorph even more powerful, however.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Romnipotent]

It would make Polymorph even more powerful, however.

Bye
Thanee

POWAH! ALL HAIL TEH POWAH!

I think its a good idea as a sideline score for figuring out your hitpoints but not fort save and such... an abstract concept of body.

Now to post in the Rogues Gallery

 

[Li Shenron]

It would make Polymorph even more powerful, however.

Definitely, but it helps making things a little more consistent IMO.

Often I think that the true problem with Polymorph and other troublesome spells is that they simply are too low level. When the revision came out, they seemed reluctant to change spell levels, probably because of back-compatibility (updating characters for example). However they did change some spells level, but strangely not the "big troubles" such as Poly, Harm and Haste, which they were instead seriously changed in their effects.

Still, I'm very unsatisfied about how polymorphing spells work, because they always end up with circumstances that make people laugh, and they are still abusable if you want to.