Best choices for a 9HD Polymorph Other

[Quidam]

I'm also quite intrigued by the 9-headed hydra. While polymorph states that extra limbs do not grant extra attacks, the hydra has combat reflexes that allow each head an AOO each round. Has anyone had this come up in their campaign?

From reading polymorph, there was no mention of feats made, so I've been assuming you get 'em. Anyone play differently? If so, got a source citation for your decision?

Also, I've heard mention of the Sage ruling that some of the abilities marked (Ex) shouldn't have been, meaning you'd get them with polymorph. Anyone have a pointer to where I could learn more on this?

 

[Iku Rex]

From reading polymorph, there was no mention of feats made, so I've been assuming you get 'em. Anyone play differently? If so, got a source citation for your decision?

The spell does not give you the feats of the new form. Therefore, you don't get the feats of the new form.

Also, I've heard mention of the Sage ruling that some of the abilities marked (Ex) shouldn't have been, meaning you'd get them with polymorph. Anyone have a pointer to where I could learn more on this?

The Sage once claimed that constrict wasn't an extraordinary ability, (http://homepage.mac.com/guyf/DnD/Sage/PolymorphAlterSelf.html) but since then both the MM errata (no change) and the MM2 (constrict is still [ex]) confirms that it is.

(He also says that rake [ex] isn't extraordinary - probably because there is a separate, unrelated natural weapon called "rake", and natural weapons are not extraordinary abilities.)

Basically, you don't get any ability labeled as extraordinary.

You may want to look at the changes made to polymorph in the PsiH errata: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/er/er20010819a . Originally the polymorph self in the Psionics Handbook was essentially identical to the errataed version in Tome and Blood. In the PsiH errata polymorph there is no mention of any extraordinary abilities.

Also note: If your new form is a fey, giant, humanoid, shapechanger, or undead, your equipment changes to match the new form and retains its properties. Otherwise, it melds into the new form and becomes nonfunctional. (PsiH errata polymorph)
If you go with this the hag (monstrous humanoid) forms do not let you retain your equipment.

A hydra is Huge and not a valid form for a medium sized creature.

 

[LokiDR]

So, if you change into a grimilakin (sp?) from MM2, you keep your equipment, even as a cat-looking creature? That seeems wrong to me. What about outsiders? If I poly into a hound archon, assuming I already am an outsider, I can't use equipment? That seems lame to me.

 

[Quidam]

The spell does not give you the feats of the new form. Therefore, you don't get the feats of the new form.

Allright, allright. Good point- it seemed that they made an effort to tell you what you didn't get...

You may want to look at the changes made to polymorph in the PsiH errata: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/er/er20010819a . Originally the polymorph self in the Psionics Handbook was essentially identical to the errataed version in Tome and Blood. In the PsiH errata polymorph there is no mention of any extraordinary abilities.

I can't see any good reason why they'd make Psi's THAT much more powerful. Probably an oversight.

A hydra is Huge and not a valid form for a medium sized creature.

D'oh! Alas- thought that one seemed too good to be true. Anyone know of a good way to increase your size category? Oh. I know. How 'bout Polymorph? It says you keep your type, but you gain physical characteristics- size being one of them. So I'll pop you into a troll, then pop you again into a hydra... Legal?

 

[Shard O'Glase]

They mention extraordinary abilities in the errata, poly self is spread across 2 pages did you not read the second page or something? Check page 5 they don't really have paragraph indents but the 2nd paragraph.

 

[Pylar]

Carp..

I've always enjoyed it when a Polymorph Other is used to turn the big bad nasty fighter into a carp, goldfish or other brightly colored animal that requires water to breath. It's fun just to watch them flop around on the groud gasping for their last breath..

 

[LokiDR]

Allright, allright. Good point- it seemed that they made an effort to tell you what you didn't get...



I can't see any good reason why they'd make Psi's THAT much more powerful. Probably an oversight.



D'oh! Alas- thought that one seemed too good to be true. Anyone know of a good way to increase your size category? Oh. I know. How 'bout Polymorph? It says you keep your type, but you gain physical characteristics- size being one of them. So I'll pop you into a troll, then pop you again into a hydra... Legal?

Not legal, sorry. When you polymorph, you polymorph as your base creature (HD, size, type)

 

[Quidam]

Re: Carp..

I've always enjoyed it when a Polymorph Other is used to turn the big bad nasty fighter into a carp, goldfish or other brightly colored animal that requires water to breath. It's fun just to watch them flop around on the groud gasping for their last breath..

Only problem with this scenario is that Polymorph has a Fort save, and you'd be hard pressed to get a bruiser to miss one of those. I'm painfully aware of this fact, as our party is currently up against a mess of giants (like a flock of geese or a pride of lions) and it'd be quite gratifying to start making chipmunks out of 'em.

Anyone have a good suggestion for a high Dex polymorph form? I saw a thread mention the Quickling- which is nice. What's the highest Dex you've seen in a Large creature, though? I'm already used to a 10ft reach...

 

[Iku Rex]

I can't see any good reason why they'd make Psi's THAT much more powerful. Probably an oversight.

They mention extraordinary abilities in the errata, poly self is spread across 2 pages did you not read the second page or something? Check page 5 they don't really have paragraph indents but the 2nd paragraph.

I guess I was unclear.

What I meant was that they don't mention any extraordinary abilities as examples of natural abilities.

(Which is a good thing, since natural abilities are defined as "not extraordinary"...)

So, if you change into a grimilakin (sp?) from MM2, you keep your equipment, even as a cat-looking creature? That seeems wrong to me. What about outsiders? If I poly into a hound archon, assuming I already am an outsider, I can't use equipment? That seems lame to me.

They should never have included "shapechangers" in the first place - the grimalkin (sp?) isn't the only bad example.

I suspect the list was made with simplicity and game balance in mind. The "planetouched" races and prestige classes that make you an outsider are potentially broken if they let you change into a planetar and still keep all your equipment.

 

[LokiDR]

being an outsider and polymorphing into those forms isn't amazingly broken if you have to work at becoming an outsider. If you have to take an ECL modifier, it seems balance enough. I am doing this now, and I am far outshined by the archer cleric.

Broken or not, they should have been complete. Better, they shouldn't have just listed types.