Dragon -> Human/Humanoid Innate Polymorph

[Phasics]

Since dragons are getting the spells stripped away I'm curious if the human form dragons will still make a showing in 4e.

Was kinda a nice way to have a dragon in the campaign without really having a dragon in the campaign.

Also allow for a nice/nasty surprises, "I Kill the blacksmith", " The Blacksmith turns into a Dragon and eats YOU ! " .... "Huh Wha ?!"

"You know that silvery haired old woman you helped a couple of days ago, who's traveling with you ?" "She kinda morphs into a Silver Dragon an opens a can of whoopass on the small army of nasties bearing down on you". "Good thing you ran that side quest eh ? hehehe"

 

[Mouseferatu]

I wouldn't think it necessary, honestly. It's already been implied that many creatures will have access to rituals, and it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume the existence of a "polymorph" ritual--whether or not there's one in the first PHB.

 

[FireLance]

This is from The Rouse's Gleemax thread on Appreciate a Dragon Day, so take it with a pinch of salt:

The adamantine dragon was going to use the time to update it’s FaceBook page. The red dragon was going to host a barbeque. The blue was finally going to take down those Christmas lights. The white was going skiing (wow, our mountains are full of snow). The bronze wanted to take on it’s human form to hit the mall to look for friends and the gold was going to sleep in and play Wii Bowling all day. I don’t know what the rest were doing but I hope it was special.

While bronze dragons might not be in the first MM , it does seem possible that some dragons will have human(oid) forms.

 

[Mouseferatu]

This is from The Rouse's Gleemax thread on Appreciate a Dragon Day, so take it with a pinch of salt:
While bronze dragons might not be in the first MM , it does seem possible that some dragons will have human(oid) forms.

Huh. I hadn't seen that. Interesting...

 

[Cam Banks]

I wouldn't think it necessary, honestly. It's already been implied that many creatures will have access to rituals, and it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume the existence of a "polymorph" ritual--whether or not there's one in the first PHB.

Right, but that's lame. Taking an hour to change shape is not the same as actually changing shape before your very eyes in a revealing dramatic sense.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Mouseferatu]

Right, but that's lame. Taking an hour to change shape is not the same as actually changing shape before your very eyes in a revealing dramatic sense.

Well, I know that if I were creating a polymorph ritual*, I'd write it so that it takes a few minutes to transform out of your normal form, but you can end the ritual with a single action, so you could still have the "dramatic reveal" as the guy grows into a dragon before your eyes.

*(This is purely hypothetical. I am working on no such thing, for anyone. )

 

[Robert Ranting]

Honestly, I think that the ritual would probably only be for assuming a polymorphed shape, and that the dragon would be able to casually dismiss it. Much like how a painstaking disguise of cloth and rubber can be ripped away in a dramatic fashion, a dragon could simply choose to spend one action to end the ritual's effect and reveal his draconic glory, ready for battle.

If I was a dragon, I certainly would want the ability to reverse the transformation at a moment's notice, even if it took me a while to "put on" my human guise. Taking an hour to properly prepare for an infiltration mission or a date with some mortal is one thing, but if you have powerful enemies (as many dragons do) you would want the ability to bring your full powers to bear at a moment's notice.

Besides, some rituals might only take a few minutes. Since combat rounds are in seconds, they still become "out of combat" magic, and if they have monetary costs for ritual components (libations, sacrifices, and bribes to higher powers) then they could still be costly enough to prevent PC abuse.

Robert "Thinks All Dragons Should Have a Humanoid Form" Ranting

 

[Stormtalon]

Some of the most fun I've had DMing dragons has been using ones polymorphed into humanoid form. In my last Eberron campaign, the party found themselves working with the orcs who battle fiends in the demon wastes. One of the first ones they met in the hidden city was a cheerful female orc blacksmith who inexplicably chose one of the characters and sized her up as if she were a horse and then said, "Hmph. She'll do."

But that's what happens when a LG Black Wyrm decides you're an integral part of the Prophecy....

 

[TwinBahamut]

I don't consider the ability to transform into a human form is something that is necessary for dragons, so I hope it isn't a power given to every dragon (or even most dragons). It is one of those specific flavor things that I wouldn't like very much. Dragons deserve to be tearing through the sky and breathing powerful breath weapons, not waltzing around in human form...

 

[Dausuul]

I don't consider the ability to transform into a human form is something that is necessary for dragons, so I hope it isn't a power given to every dragon (or even most dragons). It is one of those specific flavor things that I wouldn't like very much. Dragons deserve to be tearing through the sky and breathing powerful breath weapons, not waltzing around in human form...

It also encourages obnoxious DMing, in my experience. See for instance, "Little guy you disrespect turns into hostile dragon for no good reason," and "Seemingly minor NPC turns into friendly dragon and kills all the bad guys for you."

Dragons polymorphing into human shape can be used for good plots, but far more often it seems to be used by DMs as a cheap "fooled you!" trick on the PCs. (Cheap because there's no reasonable way for a PC to see through it, barring the availability of always-on detect magic and the like.)