New rules of the game... what the?

[Seravin]

For Anlion's troll form, Skip says that his equipment changes size to match the subject of the spell's new form. The damage for the quarterstaff, however, reamins at 1d6. Is this an error, or have I missed something?

Well, technically a troll can still use a medium-sized quarterstaff it doesn't have to resize to be useful. Of course there's that entire -2 penalty for an improperly sized weapon - but on the plus side, he gets to be a troll.

Looking at the to hit bonus though, it didn't get added in(+4 Bab, +6 Str, -1 size = +9 to hit), so that wasn't it. And he does state that the equipment resizes.

I'm guessing it's an error - though there's already enough math involved in the spell to just say the heck with it and leave the base damage as-is.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

You just mentioned my favourite feature of the polymorphing spells!

According to the rules, if you use alter self or polymorph to turn you into yourself, you lose your own darkvision and low-light vision, wow! The rules becomes dramatic if you assume the form a creature whose only way of seeing is an extraordinary quality such as blindsense or blindsight.

It might even get worse: If you happen to be stronger, less dextrous or less tough than an average creature of your size, you also become weaker, less dextrous or less tough.
(or is there anything contradicting this? I seem to remember a rule in the old - or one of the old - 3.0 rules that say that you can always become yourself with no penalties or bonus...)

 

[Li Shenron]

It might even get worse: If you happen to be stronger, less dextrous or less tough than an average creature of your size, you also become weaker, less dextrous or less tough.
(or is there anything contradicting this? I seem to remember a rule in the old - or one of the old - 3.0 rules that say that you can always become yourself with no penalties or bonus...)

Right! This also brought into my mind... what happens to the ability increases that you gained because of class levels? They come from your class, so you shouldn't lose them? But you still get the (physical) ability increases included in the monster's HD. Yes, I don't think that they are kept, but someone may rule otherwise.

 

[Darklone]

Con change, yippeeeee!

 

[Kem]

Right! This also brought into my mind... what happens to the ability increases that you gained because of class levels? They come from your class, so you shouldn't lose them? But you still get the (physical) ability increases included in the monster's HD. Yes, I don't think that they are kept, but someone may rule otherwise.

Most changes are from character level and not class level. Most class level bonuses have a type and thus are transferable.

Also generally humanoids (With 1 or less HD) tend to use "Level 1 Warrior" as its average member, not a higher level version.

 

[Bagpuss]

According to the rules, if you use alter self or polymorph to turn you into yourself, you lose your own darkvision and low-light vision, wow! The rules becomes dramatic if you assume the form a creature whose only way of seeing is an extraordinary quality such as blindsense or blindsight.

Not according to the article. Humanoid is the only type that doesn't mention that you don't get the vision abilities of the creature. Weird that that isn't included.

 

[Hypersmurf]

For Anlion's troll form, Skip says that his equipment changes size to match the subject of the spell's new form.

You know... where does he actually get that idea from?

When the change occurs, your equipment, if any, either remains worn or held by the new form (if it is capable of wearing or holding the item), or melds into the new form and becomes nonfunctional. When you revert to your true form, any objects previously melded into the new form reappear in the same location on your body they previously occupied and are once again functional. Any new items you wore in the assumed form and can’t wear in your normal form fall off and land at your feet; any that you could wear in either form or carry in a body part common to both forms at the time of reversion are still held in the same way. Any part of the body or piece of equipment that is separated from the whole reverts to its true form.

A Troll is not capable of wearing Medium armor; it should meld into the new form and become non-functional. The spell description says nothing about resizing.

Unless it's just the fact that his equipment consists of a magic ring, magic bracers, and a magic cloak, which resize not because of the spell, but because they're magical clothing or jewellery. Perhaps if the sample character wore armor, we'd see that it doesn't resize...

... hmm. Except he seems to think armor and non-magical clothing will resize, looking at the text he's written. I can't see that supported in the spell description.

A Troll is capable of holding a Medium quarterstaff, so it should remain held by the new form... but it should still be a Medium quarterstaff, not a Large one.

-Hyp.

 

[Christian]

... hmm. Except he seems to think armor and non-magical clothing will resize, looking at the text he's written. I can't see that supported in the spell description.

Well, maybe it's a 'keep our PG rating' thing. After all, if normal clothes can't resize, then when the sorcerer polymorphs himself into a troll, then he's ...

I don't know if I can even say it ...

A NUDE TROLL!! EEEEEWWWW!!

Some things are more important than game logic, game balance, or anything else game-related.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Wouldn't it be like the Hulk? Random magic affect turns trousers purple and they manage to grow with him, although everything else rips?

(Did nobody wonder why Bruce Banner, mild mannered scientist, wore purple lycra trousers with his suit?)

 

[borc killer]

I Also, in a single sentence, he manages to contradict himself - apparently you do speak goblin for being a goblinoid, however you don't suddenly speak goblin by changing type...

If you turn into an Ooze, you cannot see. Full stop. You also apparently don't get acid attacks, despite the fact that these are listed as special attacks

The goblin one is definitely a typo. Looks like someone missed with the cut and past because it really makes not since any way you look at it.

I hope the Ooze thing is a typo but it might not be.

As for the vision crap... Low Light Vision should be a natural ability... Dark Vision should be an extraordinary ability. Anything that an animal has in the ‘real world’ should be a natural ability… but this is a flaw in the design of the game not in his interpretation.

Borc Killer