New FAQ: Polymorph issues solved

[azhrei_fje]

You mean, like this?

Are you serious? I saw this link posted here on ENworld a few months ago. And while I admire Rich Burlew (mostly for his comic strip! ), I think his treatise on how to revise polymorph is a heckuva lot more work than adjudicating the current spells!

I sat down one day and spent more than 2 hours going over his descriptions and what the ramifications of his version of the spells would be. I gave up.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Are you serious? I saw this link posted here on ENworld a few months ago. And while I admire Rich Burlew (mostly for his comic strip! ), I think his treatise on how to revise polymorph is a heckuva lot more work than adjudicating the current spells!

I sat down one day and spent more than 2 hours going over his descriptions and what the ramifications of his version of the spells would be. I gave up.

It's not too complicated, but I do not like it better than a simple fix of the normal Polymorph, as it is simply less interesting to me and takes the fun out of shapeshifting. However, it is certainly a good, viable variant to the normal rules, unlike the nearby Diplomacy variant.

 

[dcollins]

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

I recommend going back to the 1st Ed. spells, where they just gave you the look & movement, and didn't change all your statistics (until you got shapechange).

 

[Li Shenron]

I'm glad I decided to stop caring about any FAQ or update to polymorph spells after they decided that they make you lose your low-light vision, but not gain the new form's same ability, even if you polymorph into yourself

The new ruling about human bonus stuff and templates is just insane.

Actually, I don't even agree that it should be allowed to shape into an advanced creature, but at least that doesn't seemed unbalanced at all.

 

[glass]

Well, that all seems sensible. And I'm not usually a fan of the FAQ.

Looks like I spoke too soon...


glass.

 

[Li Shenron]

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

Am I wrong in remembering that at least in 3.0 PHB Polymorph Other had a standalone description (PSelf shared the same)??? The reference to Alter Self is such a bad idea, it has caused much headache to us.

 

[glass]

Alter Self says that, but not Polymorph.

It says everything in Polymorph that is sys in Alter Self (except where specifically overridden), by reference to Alter Self.


glass.

 

[Nail]

Ugg.

I'm down to a three letter word for the FAQ, as I ran out of four letter words a while back.

 

[Dark Dragon]

I'm glad I decided to stop caring about any FAQ or update to polymorph spells after they decided that they make you lose your low-light vision, but not gain the new form's same ability, even if you polymorph into yourself

The new ruling about human bonus stuff and templates is just insane.

Actually, I don't even agree that it should be allowed to shape into an advanced creature, but at least that doesn't seemed unbalanced at all.

Agreed. It is utter B$. I don't know how quickly the guys at WotC recalculate the skills, feats and stats (abilities, special powers, and so on) if an elf polymorphs into a human (or vice versa), but I do know that the new FAQ rules won't made it into my campaign as long as I'm the DM.
House rule for alter self, polymorph, wildshape, shapechange: No templates, no advancements. HD and hp remain unchanged (unless some Con altering item becomes non-functional).
If a caster wants to take a monster's form, he must have encountered the non-advanced, non-templated monster before (i.e., the version in MM, MM2,...): either studying it for at least 8 hours or fighting it (or both ). Descriptions in books are not suficient.
Shapechange is an evil spell IMC if the caster takes the form of an evil monster, e.g., a balor.

 

[Artoomis]

Agreed. It is utter B$. I don't know how quickly the guys at WotC recalculate the skills, feats and stats (abilities, special powers, and so on) if an elf polymorphs into a human (or vice versa), but I do know that the new FAQ rules won't made it into my campaign as long as I'm the DM.
House rule for alter self, polymorph, wildshape, shapechange: No templates, no advancements. HD and hp remain unchanged (unless some Con altering item becomes non-functional).
If a caster wants to take a monster's form, he must have encountered the non-advanced, non-templated monster before (i.e., the version in MM, MM2,...): either studying it for at least 8 hours or fighting it (or both ). Descriptions in books are not suficient.
Shapechange is an evil spell IMC if the caster takes the form of an evil monster, e.g., a balor.

This is actually easier to handle than you make it seem.

The DM simply needs to rule that the PC is not familiar enough with a desired form until after the player has made up a revised character sheet for that form. Obviously the PC must have experienced that creature. The onus is on the player. The new FAQ entries support this view.

Personally, I think polymorph should be redone to be vastly simpler.