Polymorf Any Object question

[Thanee]

One word of warning: If you polymorph a fire giant into a nice necklace to wear, you should be wary of dispels targeted at your location. That could be a lot of weight on your shoulders suddenly.

On topic: The spell can polymorph magical items, but since what the spell does is changing the item itself, not its magical properties, those will stay the same. You can transform a magical shield into a magical armour with equal properties, or a magical sword into a magical club, but that's about it. Properties that cannot be used in the new form would be inert, until polymorphed into a suitable form.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Mordeth]

Thanks Thanee, thats a very reasonable explanation.

I was hoping to get that answer too!

 

[Seule]

I used this spell last session in a game I am in. The party Paladin is a half-orc who uses a greataxe, and was just giften a Holy Avenger by her god. Sure, the weapon worked as adversised, but her damage was significantly cut down, and she wasn't as happy with it. So, one Contact Other Plane to get permission from said god (Heironeous) later, and a quick Polymorph Any Object, she has possibly the only Holy Avenging Greataxe in out campaign world. She's quite happy with it, too.

As people above have pointed out, this works because the magical properties are identical. I couldn't have transformed it into magical armour.

I'm now considering tailoring everyone's equipment similarly. Have Leather Armour and want Studded? No problem! Find a magical weapon that doesn't fit your specialization? Coming right up! Aside from the possibility of targeted dispells, it's a good tactic. And even in that case, the equipment is still useable, just not quite as perfect. I do wonder about the possibility of turning, say, a cloak of displacement into boots of displacement.

How about an earring of displacement, which doesn't take up a standard slot?

--Seule

 

[Catalyst]

I'm now considering tailoring everyone's equipment similarly. Have Leather Armour and want Studded? No problem! Find a magical weapon that doesn't fit your specialization? Coming right up! Aside from the possibility of targeted dispells, it's a good tactic. And even in that case, the equipment is still useable, just not quite as perfect.

I think the gold value of the old item vs. the new should still be considered. Leather vs. Studded Leather isn't a big deal, but what about turning Studded Leather +3 into Full Plate +3? Or a Breastplate +2 into Mithral Breastplate +2?

 

[Krafen]

The problem with using polymorph any object to transform a longsword into a greataxe is the greataxe has abilities superior to the longsword (increased damage). This would also preclude transforming armor into a more effective type of armor.

From the SRD:
Also note that a polymorph effect often detracts from an item’s or creature’s powers but does not add new powers except perhaps movement capabilities not present in the old form. A nonmagical object cannot be made magical by this spell. A magic item or weapon or other object can be polymorphed into another type of magic object, but it never gains abilities superior to those of the original object.

 

[da chicken]

The problem with using polymorph any object to transform a longsword into a greataxe is the greataxe has abilities superior to the longsword (increased damage). This would also preclude transforming armor into a more effective type of armor.

However, the magical abilities of the object would remain the same. I contest that the magical effect in this case is equally effective. "Abilities superior" should mean "abilities with a higher market price" IMO.

 

[Thanee]

Yeah, that part about superior abilities is really highly amiguous.

It could mean, that the magical properties cannot be enhanced (but can they be altered into different but equally powerful abilities? or can they be lessened in ability, like +2 turned into +1?).

I wouldn't read it like the base item cannot become a better type (i.e. +1 full plate armor transformed into +1 mithril full plate armor, which is clearly superior, would be allowed), but rather that the magical properties cannot be enhanced (or altered in any other way (enhancements are only specifically mentioned, because that's the most obvious use), except being renderd inert, i.e. +1 full plate armor transformed into masterwork longsword).

Of course, that's in no way official, but only my very own opinion.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Krafen]

Yes, the sentence could be interpreted to mean "A magic item or weapon or other object can be polymorphed into another type of magic object, but it never gains magical abilities superior to those of the original object."

That's a reasonable interpretation. On the other hand, if you transform, for example, a suit of armor into a sword, I don't think the enhancement bonus or any special abilities would carry over at all. You might be able to make a case for transforming a weapon into a suit of spiked armor and retaining the enhancement bonus on the spikes.

Back in 2nd Edition, there was a spell called steal enchantment. It allowed you to move the enchantments from one item to another of similar type. For example you could move the enchantment from a dagger to a sword or from a suit of armor to a shield. There was a chance of losing the enchantment in the process, though.