New FAQ: Polymorph issues solved

[Dark Dragon]

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.

This may be some sort of work for a player, but only if you consider that the player lets his PC take a lot of different forms using Shapechange. If the PC takes only the most powerful forms (like adult dragons, solar, balor, marilith, iron golem, dread wraith), the player has to make only a few sheets. The same is true for Polymorph (trolls or fire giants are often among the Top 5).
As laptops are not uncommon in gaming groups and monster stats are easily accessible from the net, it is not really difficult to create some or even only one polymorph excel sheet...
I'm playing an epic druidic shifter (close to the 3.5 version) and I have made a very simple word sheet within two hours of work. It contains all creatures allowed for greater wildshape, with their boni to BAB (due to size & strength), base saves (due to Dex & Con modifiers) and AC (size & Dex modifiers). The SRD was a great help

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.

Indeed. Let's wait for 4.x... or house-rule it.

 

[isoChron]

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

Ken

Dito ! And it should be simple, easy to recalculate stats and at least a bit sensible.

 

[Saeviomagy]

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).

Of course the problem with that is that the spells are basically useless...

 

[billd91]

Of course the problem with that is that the spells are basically useless...

Oh, not at all. You may just have had look and movement in 1st edition Polymorph Self but it was good for getting into places and spying like you wouldn't believe.