Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Amazing Mumford" data-source="post: 4987504" data-attributes="member: 33976">Why would a DM not allow the Polymorph spell?  As it is now, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.  Confusing cross-referencing has been fixed, and monsters now reference Alternate Form instead.  Now, the designers did edit every monster by saying: Every monster that references Polymorph now uses Alternate Form instead.<a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20060502a" target="_blank">http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20060502a</a><a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dd/20060216a" target="_blank">http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dd/20060216a</a>Quote:The polymorph spell itself hasn't changed at all; see <a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dd/20060216a" target="_blank">the announcement</a> for details. What has changed is the polymorph spell's role as the basis for most forms of shapeshifting in the game. Most effects and class features that once referenced the polymorph spell now refer to the <a href="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3e:autoGlossaryWindow('Glossary_dnd_alternateform')" target="_blank">alternate form</a><a href="http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3e:autoGlossaryWindow('Glossary_dnd_specialquality')" target="_blank"> special quality</a> instead. Unfortunately, the alternate form description refers the reader back to the polymorph spell, and that text contains references to the alter self spell. All of this cross-referencing sows confusion when characters begin switching forms during adventures.  Wild Shape is almost the same, but uses Original Con mod (not the new forms) for hps. Hps aren't supposed to change (this was because a 12 Con Druid who becomes a Con 18 creature has +3 hps/level otherwise).   Nothing wrong with Polymorph, no reason for DM's to "ban" it.  Yes, many spells (and other abilities, for that matter) are potentially abusable in the game, mainly by players who depart from role-playing and the spirit of the game and instead use meta-game and power gamer/"munchkin" tactics.  My point is, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!  No spells are truly "broken".  True, many spells give better advantages than others in certain situations-- and it's a quick knee-jerk reaction to just go around "banning" spells-- but in my experience it's always been better for a DM to be a little more clever than that.  Specifically for Polymorph-- I feel that the abuse can come in when player's flip through monster books, looking for the most powerful creatures to turn into.  That's not the spell that's broken, it's the player power-gaming. and/or meta-gaming.  In my campaign, for example, players don't access DM material in-game, and PC's aren't assumed to have encyclopedic knowledge of every creature around.  That's what Knowledge checks are for-- yes, some knowledge checks will be made that will give the PC a great deal of info on a particular monster, but most others will fall short of the PC knowing strength and weakness absolute limits.  A PC probably will know that Ogres, Trolls, and Minotaurs are strong for example-- but they probably won't know which of the 3 is the absolute strongest, unless through in-game trial-and-error. And also, any potentially abusive spell-trick that the PC's come up with, NPC's can use to.  Your mage may be smart, but the lich has been around the block a few times...</blockquote>

Verification