Poisoned while polymorphed

[Echohawk]

A PC polyporphed into the form of a troll is poisoned, and consequently loses 2 points of Strength. Shortly thereafter the polymorph spell is dispelled, and the PC returns to his usual form. What is the PC's Strength? Does it drop back down to the PC's usual Strength, or to 2 less than his usual Strength?

And perhaps more importantly, where am I not looking in the Core Rulebooks to be able to figure this out for myself?

 

[Hypersmurf]

A PC polyporphed into the form of a troll is poisoned, and consequently loses 2 points of Strength. Shortly thereafter the polymorph spell is dispelled, and the PC returns to his usual form. What is the PC's Strength? Does it drop back down to the PC's usual Strength, or to 2 less than his usual Strength?

He'd change from a troll with two points of Str damage, into a human with two points of Str damage.

Just like if he was polymorphed into an orc, and took 6 hit points' damage; when the spell wore off, he'd turn back into a human... with 6 hit points' damage.

-Hyp.

 

[shilsen]

Hyp is correct, strange and rare as that might be

 

[Echohawk]

Cool, thanks very much.

 

[Echohawk]

Just like if he was polymorphed into an orc, and took 6 hit points' damage; when the spell wore off, he'd turn back into a human... with 6 hit points' damage.

Interesting. We've been playing it that if the polymorphed character has more hit points than his usual max, then he drops to his usual max when he polymorphs back. But if his current hit point total is lower than his usual max when he changes back, it stays the same. Why does the damage remain in effect if the polymorphed form had more hit points?

I've been DMing for about twenty years, but -- strangely, I know -- polymorph hasn't come into play very often. However, in one of my current campaigns there is a sorcerer specialising in polymorph spells, so I'm suddenly finding myself a lot more interested in figuring out the messy details.

 

[green slime]

Interesting. We've been playing it that if the polymorphed character has more hit points than his usual max, then he drops to his usual max when he polymorphs back. But if his current hit point total is lower than his usual max when he changes back, it stays the same. Why does the damage remain in effect if the polymorphed form had more hit points?

I've been DMing for about twenty years, but -- strangely, I know -- polymorph hasn't come into play very often. However, in one of my current campaigns there is a sorcerer specialising in polymorph spells, so I'm suddenly finding myself a lot more interested in figuring out the messy details.

Prior editions had much weaker version of the spell polymorph. Called polymorph self was so weak, it wasn't really that interesting. You didn't really gain any of the exciting special abilities of the form, except for locomotion. During 3.e they made polymorph quite an exciting, intuitive option. Except that it sort of fell apart as new monsters got introduced, which broke certain CR and HD expections.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Interesting. We've been playing it that if the polymorphed character has more hit points than his usual max, then he drops to his usual max when he polymorphs back. But if his current hit point total is lower than his usual max when he changes back, it stays the same. Why does the damage remain in effect if the polymorphed form had more hit points?

Do you mean through a change in Constitution?

Assuming one allows an increase in Con in the polymorphed form to increase hit points, one must also decrease hit points when the Con decreases at the end of the spell.

"If a character’s Constitution score changes enough to alter his or her Constitution modifier, the character’s hit points also increase or decrease accordingly."

It's why Raging can be so dangerous to a barbarian. Let's say we have an 11th level Barbarian, with a Con of 14. He's rolled 90 on his hit dice, and with his Con, he has 22 bonus hit points, for a total of 112.

During a fight, he takes 40 damage (72/112 remaining), and uses his Greater Rage ability. His Con increases by 6, which means his hit points increase accordingly - by 33. His max is now 145, and his current hit points are 105.

In the rest of the fight, he takes another hundred points of damage, leaving him on 5/145.

At this point his Greater Rage wears off, and his Con drops back to 14. His hit points decrease by 33, leaving him at -28/112, and dead.

-Hyp.

 

[Echohawk]

Yes, through a change in Constitution.

The argument presented by the polymorphing player was that the damage done to the troll's body shouldn't carry over to his normal (half-elven) body when he polymorphs back to his usual form, unless the troll had been reduced to below the half-elf's usual hit points.

It seemed like a persuasive argument at the time .

 

[Hypersmurf]

The argument presented by the polymorphing player was that the damage done to the troll's body shouldn't carry over to his normal (half-elven) body when he polymorphs back to his usual form, unless the troll had been reduced to below the half-elf's usual hit points.

If you're letting a Con change via Polymorph alter hit points, it works both ways... up and down.

-Hyp.

 

[Echohawk]

Thanks Hypersmurf. Your barbarian example was very useful in persuading the player than his character's hit points should drop once the polymorph expires.