New FAQ: Polymorph issues solved

[Infiniti2000]

Hmmm... that language is not in the SRD, it appears. Can anyone find it in the SRD?

Look in alter self.

 

[billd91]

Hmmm... that language is not in the SRD, it appears. Can anyone find it in the SRD?

Is it in the PHB? What page number? (Sorry, I can't look it up just now)

If it is in the PHB and not in the SRD, then why?

Alter Self says that, but not Polymorph.

 

[Cheiromancer]

Alter Self says that, but not Polymorph.

And the FAQ says that the "answer uses 'polymorph' to refer to all spells of the polymorph spell chain (including alter self, polymorph, baleful polymorph, polymorph any object, and shapechange), as well as to other effects that refer to spells in the chain (such as the druid’s wild shape class feature)."

So... yeah. If the rules regarding templates are supposed to be the same for all spells in the chain, then the text in Alter Self seems to have been ignored for some reason.

 

[Twowolves]

Alter Self says that, but not Polymorph.

*The question and answer uses “polymorph” to refer to all
spells of the polymorph spell chain (including alter self,
polymorph, baleful polymorph, polymorph any object, and
shapechange), as well as to other effects that refer to spells in
the chain (such as the druid’s wild shape class feature).

 

[Haffrung Helleyes]

what a mess

They really need to just toss out every spell in this chain and write new ones, from scratch.

Ken

 

[Egres]

Alter Self says that, but not Polymorph.

Please, note that bit:

for example, an elf
wizard can’t use alter self to become a half-dragon orc, since
that’s a dragon, not a humanoid)

This implies that an elf wizard could cast alter self to assume a humanoid form with a template that doesn't change his type.

 

[Egres]

Maybe the Sage didn't realize that a template can dramatically increase the effectiveness in combat, and the power in general of a creature if compared to another creature with the same hd but without it.

Maybe he was thinking that we must add the LA to the number of hd of the assumed form in order to respect the hd limit of the spell.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

They really need to just toss out every spell in this chain and write new ones, from scratch.

Ken

You mean, like this?

 

[Infiniti2000]

Maybe the Sage didn't ...
Maybe he was thinking ...

Or maybe he just didn't read alter self. That's the only reason I can think of for ignoring that line.

 

[Len]

Alter Self says that, but not Polymorph.

And Polymorph says "This spell functions like alter self, except ...". There is no exception permitting templates, so they're still forbidden.