Poly Other and Roper Question

[bachrockr]

Ok, this is my first post and I have two questions.

First, is Polymorph Other considered too powerful a spell? I am getting disturbed with a 4th level save or die spell, especially when Phantasmal Killer has 2 saves and has the Fear category enabling possible shielding.

So far as I've been experiencing this, the party's been fighting things with Spell Resistance or oozes (immune). But this could get real ugly real quick. Ideas besides having enemy mages read up on the spell?

PS. I'm running City of the Spider Queen, so most enemies are laid out in advance, although I'm not adverse to making small changes here and there. I'm new at running 10+ lvl adventures.

Second are rules for roper combat. I've run it two ways before.

1.) Strands are useless once severed, but damage to strand is not damage to roper's HP.

2.) Strands are not useless once severed (figured from picture and "sticky" description that these are kinda like spider webs, still able to grab when cut, just maybe a bit shorter, i dunno, ropers are magical!). To balance this, I counted severance damage to the ropers' HP (max 10 per strand).

Am I right, wrong. outta my mind? Thanks!

(Now to reread the Harm threads, OMFG)

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Some consider PO to be too powerful. You will just have to make up your own mind after you see it being used in your game.

As for ropers, you do not count the damage to a strand against their hit points. The strands simply are severed if you do 10 or more points of damage to one of them with the proper weapon. A strand is not useless if it is severed. I treat a severed strand as 5 feet shorter each time it is severed, but that is not in the monster's description, just my house rule. In general, if it is not in the description, either let it go, or make a house rule you are comfortable with. If you want just what the MM says, then the strands are not useless and they do not get shorter if severed.