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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Greenfield" data-source="post: 5898736" data-attributes="member: 6669384">Okay, go limp on him.Find some other forms to Polymorph to, things with different advantages and weaknesses.  Things that don't scare him so much.Alternately, retire the character and come up with something new, something that has an operating mode somewhere between helpless and awesome.  Something that can use the items he's willing to allow.You see, like most other DMs I know, I've had players come in with one-trick characters, characters who have invested everything into one and only one maneuver or battle tactic.  When they get to use it they're nearly unstoppable.  When they can't they're pretty much out of the action.The players typically complain if it looks like I'm intentionally blocking their favorite tactic (as they should), but every time they get an opportunity to expand their repertoire they just invest more in their one favorite tactic.  They have no combat mode between "limp noodle" and "godly might".And while they enjoy having a character with a reputation as a mighty warrior, they hate it when enemies who have heard that reputation bother to take precautions.I had a player in a Convention game one time who claimed that his character had a shape-shift ability, similar to the Shape Change spell.  He also said it was a racial feature and didn't have any ECL adjustment.  (It later turned out he was running a Changeling, whose ability in no way resembles Shape Change.)  The game was supposed to be around 12th level, and he had 12 Rogue levels.  Needless to say he was grossly overpowered.  But since it was a pick-up game at a convention I blew it off and told him to go with it.Part way through the adventure he had turned into a White Dragon to transport the party on a vital mission.  He saw part of an invading army camped below and decided to have some fun.  He landed and demanded tribute from them.Their leader was a war chief, 12 hd fighter type, and his second was an 11th level Sorcerer.  Facing a Dragon that they weren't prepared for, along with a heavily armed party, they figured they were dead.  The Sorcerer, in desperation, threw a Scorching Ray spell.  four dice, three times.It was his only fire spell, and fire spells were the obvious choice.The sorcerer hit with all three bolts, and critted on one of them.  The player never forgave me for killing his "awesome creation".  The damage amounted to 20 D6 of fire, no Save, with add on damage because of fire vulnerability, to a creature that had 12 D6 + con for hit points.The player accused me of creating the scenario just to kill his PC.  The fact is, he went looking for trouble and intentionally diverted from their diplomatic mission to pick this fight.  And while the bulk of the troops would be cannon fodder for the PCs, having the leadership at or near their levels didn't seem out of line at all.To him it looked like I was picking on him.  To others it might have looked like I was swatting a cheater.  To me?  It was just an encounter at or near their level, and an NPC making an obvious spell choice in a desperate situation.I honestly thought he had some sort of fire resistance.The point of me telling this tale is that to the DM it may look like you're power gaming, and the last thing a DM does with a power gaming player is hand them more power.So you need to break that image.  Tone your PC down a bit in combat.  Ask your Dm about some alternate Polymorph forms that won't overkill his scenarios.  Let him know that you're trying to work with him for game balance and so everyone can have fun.Alternate forms with 7 HD or so:  Annis Hag, Large with Improved Grab, Strength of 25 and +10 Natural armor.Harpy - Medium Monstrous humanoid with claws and wings, decent combat but great mobility.Lammasu - Large magical beast, +10 Natural AC, 23 Str, average flight, another 7 Hd monster.Remorhaz might cross him up a bit.  Burrowing speed this time.  Huge magical beast with Swallow Whole.  26 Strength, and +11 Natural Armor).If you can go to 8 hd monsters, look at the Polar Bear.  Decent natural armor (+5), good claw attacks, and a 27 Strength.  With his Large size and Improved Grab, his Grapple is at +18 which ain't too shabby.Do a search of the SRD specifically for hit dice of a particular size.  The options might surprise you.</blockquote>

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