Breaking Down Polymorph

[Philip]

Ok, it seems like my one of my characters is finally going to cast Polymorph (didn't get a chance in 3.0). I was just looking at it (and Alter Self) and trying to break it down into its components.

Restrictions
Polymorph imposes the following restrictions on the creature you want to change into:

• Creature HD no greater than caster level
• Creature HD no greater than 15
• Only following creature types: aberration, animal, dragon, fey, giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid, ooze, plant, vermin.
• No Incorporeal or Gaseous creatures
• Creature Size Fine or larger
• No templated creatures
• No advanced creatures (in Alter Self it says that significant physical qualities must fall within norms for the new form's kind, I assumed that includes no advanced creatures)

Exchange
When polymorphed you lose the abilities below and gain the matching abilities of the creature you changed into.

• Speed (mundane movement only, max fly speed 120 ft.)
• AC (natural, size, dex)
• Str
• Dex
• Con
• Extraordinary Special Attacks not derived from class levels (improved grab, constrict, pounce, rend, swallow whole, rake, poison)
• Racial Skill Bonuses
• Racial Feats
• Type and Subtype

Retain
You retain the following abilities/characteristics after changing:

• Supernatural Special Attacks not dependent on physical form (Paladin's Smite Evil)
• Supernatural Special Qualities not dependent on physical form (Paladin's Divine Grace)
• Spell-like Abilities
• Extraordinary Special Attacks derived from class levels (Rogue's Sneak Attack, Barbarian's Rage)
• Extraordinary Special Qualities derived from class levels (Rogue's Evasion, Barbarian's Damage Reduction)
• Spellcasting Ability (but new form can cast spells with V components only if new form can speak, and cast spells with S and M components if target has limbs capable of fine manipulation)
• Equipment (only if usable and equipable in new form)
• Int
• Wis
• Cha
• Hit Points
• Base Attack Bonus
• Base Save Bonuses
• Skills Ranks
• Feats
• Alignment

Lose
You lose the following abilities/characteristics after changing:

• Equipment (if not usable or equipable by new form)
• Supernatural Special Attacks dependent on physical form
• Supernatural Special Qualities dependent on physical form

My first question is about senses. Apparently you do not exchange senses, because the spell specifically states you do not gain any of the target's creature Special Extraodinary Qualities such as Low-light Vision, Darkvision, Scent, Blindsight, Tremorsense etc. Do you retain your own senses (the fact that you gain racial bonuses to skills such as Spot, Listen and Search argues against this). Do you get a portion of the target creature's senses? What about polymorphing into a Black Pudding or another Ooze type creature? The Ooze description in the SRD says: Blindsight (Ex): An ooze’s entire body is a primitive sensory organ that can ascertain prey by scent and vibration within 60 feet. Does this mean that if you polymorph into an Ooze you are in effect suffering from total sensory deprivation, because you don't gain this ability?

Edited for readability

 

[sithramir]

You don't gain the oozes blindsight. So don't polymorph into an ooze.

If you had scent you'd keep it when polymorphed assuming you still had a nose.

 

[Philip]

If you don't get any of the senses, polymorphing into an Ooze would be pretty useless indeed. Maybe they should have removed it from the list of types you can change into instead of making it possible but useless.

I am assuming that not gaining a creature's senses is a balance issue. I am still having doubts some about some of the Extradinary Special Attacks gained. Being able to polymorph into a Rust Monster and destroy an Iron Golem instantly with your rust attack makes Rusting Grasp rather obsolete.

 

[Saeviomagy]

From the sounds of it, you don't lose your original senses (there's nothing in your list which refers to non-class extraordinary qualities).

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I'm a big fan of 3.5, but I think WotC may have messed up polymorph. You can turn into a bat without sonar?

OTOH this isn't any worse than 3.0 Polymorph ... it just isn't any better, either.

 

[Rozman]

Looks like the only way to get Blindsense is through builder-book feats:

Either be an 8th level Druid and pick up Blindsense, or a 2-feat/19+Wis combo and get Blindsight, 5' radius.

Sounds like "Don't Polymorph into an ooze" is the way to go here