Changes for Polymorph

[smetzger]

I recently played through Lord of the Iron Fortress. Polymorphing the Fighter and Cleric into Stone giants gave us extra firepower, but I didn't like the 'flavor' that it gave to the game.

What do you think of this re-work:

1) Keep the no-outsiders and max HD = Caster Level.

2) Equipment allways melds into new form. BTW: I have already house ruled that magic armor is adjustable within a size category, but doesn't shrink contranct to fit a Pixie and a Stone Giant.

3) You get the EX abilities of the creature in question.

I am hoping that this will make Polymorph more of a spell used for getting 'special abilities' than a spell for increasing general combat effectiveness.

 

[møgøre]

I recently played through Lord of the Iron Fortress. Polymorphing the Fighter and Cleric into Stone giants gave us extra firepower, but I didn't like the 'flavor' that it gave to the game.

What do you think of this re-work:

1) Keep the no-outsiders and max HD = Caster Level.

2) Equipment allways melds into new form. BTW: I have already house ruled that magic armor is adjustable within a size category, but doesn't shrink contranct to fit a Pixie and a Stone Giant.

3) You get the EX abilities of the creature in question.

I am hoping that this will make Polymorph more of a spell used for getting 'special abilities' than a spell for increasing general combat effectiveness.

1) Is that not part of the erratta to the Polymorph spells (published in T&B and on WotC homepage)

2) It would be a good idea. But does'nt work with standard magic armor rules.

3) ..

 

[smetzger]

Re: Re: Changes for Polymorph

2) It would be a good idea. But does'nt work with standard magic armor rules.

As I said I _changed_ the standard magic armor rules. I have already decided on the merits of that change. I mentioned it because combined with my changes to polymorph this will keep the fighter from remiving his magic plate mail getting polymorphed into a Stone Giant and then putting his magic plate mail back on.

Anyone else?

 

[thalmin]

According to Dragon #307, Polymorph spells are undergoing some changes. I don't have the mag in front of me, but I do remember that instead of Poly Other or Self it will be Willing or Unwilling. The full write-up for harm is also in there, plus the changes to haste are explained.

 

[Spatzimaus]

It sounds like some of this will get better in 3.5E, but I'm not too hopeful. Not because I don't think they'll fix the core problem, but because they've changed the basics of what the spells DO too often to count.
Is Polymorph Other supposed to be a permanent change or not? Is Polymorph Self supposed to let you change into multiple forms or not? I think they could be balanced either way, but as long as WotC keeps changing their minds on what the spells SHOULD do, it'll just make everyone unhappy.

IMC (hey, this IS the House Rules forum after all) we left the spells much closer to their original 3E versions, but added a chance of Mishap (basically, we copied the table from Teleport); the more familiar you are with the creature you're trying to polymorph into, the better your odds of getting it right. If you screw up, you end up with a less powerful form than intended (more powerful if it was used as an offensive spell), and you're stuck in that form for the duration (can't dismiss it).

So, let's say you wanted to Polymorph Self into a Stone Giant. If you get On Target, you're a Stone Giant. Off Target gives a Hill Giant (very similar but weaker). Similar Area gives an Ogre advanced a few HD (similar but much weaker). Mishap gives a Gelatinous Cube (much weaker, no ability to use equipment).

Then, we added "Polymorph Self Without Error" and "Polymorph Other Without Error" as level 6 spells, each of which work almost exactly like the PHB spells.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

I like this a lot better than all the other fixes I've seen. Poly other biggest compaint that I'm aware of is its use as a buff for the whole party. Parties just become parties of trolls, hags, giants etc, then they head toward town and get it all dispelled. It really wrecks the flavor and I think intent of the spell. Considering how important your equipment is to you CR, if equipment always melded it would really reduce this spell down to a resonable level of power.

 

[smetzger]

I like this a lot better than all the other fixes I've seen. Poly other biggest compaint that I'm aware of is its use as a buff for the whole party. Parties just become parties of trolls, hags, giants etc, then they head toward town and get it all dispelled. It really wrecks the flavor and I think intent of the spell. Considering how important your equipment is to you CR, if equipment always melded it would really reduce this spell down to a resonable level of power.

Thanks, I am glad you like it. I don't think it will work unless you change the rules for sizing of magical armor. Otherwise the fighter can just take his armor off before hand and then put it back on afterwards.

Since I've included EX abilities... can you think of any game breaking problems?
I wanted to include them so that you could still use the special abilities. Maybe all EX sans Regeneration?

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