Polymorph and HP

[DK]

Hello everybody!

I have a question about polymorph (and related spells): when you change your form, do you gain bonus HP due to an increase in constitution? The spell says to refer to Alter Self, which says that you maintain your HP. Does that means that your HP stay the same even if you gain an increase of constitution?

Thanks for clarifications! (And sorry if you've already talked about it)

DK

 

[Thanee]

Thanks for clarifications! (And sorry if you've already talked about it)

Only like twenty million times, so don't worry about that! One more or less won't be noticeable.

I actually don't know what the current version is, WotC has kinda given up on trying to FAQ Polymorph. I suspect, though, that it is still the (somewhat weird) statement, that hit points derived from your CON are different than hit points derived from HD rolls and only the latter are fixed when polymorphing and the CON hit points actually do change according to your new CON.

There's the new Polymorph subschool in Player's Handbook II, which specifies a few things, and I think it does say, that your hit points do not change, but IIRC, it also states, that the old spell descriptions supersede the new rules.

Bye
Thanee

 

[DK]

So there isn't a real or official answer? :\

Ok, thanks anyway!

DK

 

[Iku Rex]

The spell says to refer to Alter Self, which says that you maintain your HP. Does that means that your HP stay the same even if you gain an increase of constitution?

Yes. "Your hit points remain the same" means that your hit points remain the same.

Also see the DMG (errata) description of the polymorph effect - "polymorphed creatures retain their original hit points".

Complete Warrior page 65 and Complete Arcane page 53 has official examples of polymorphed/wild-shaped NPCs. Their hit points remain the same despite a changed Con in their new forms. (When CW was published wild shape was still based on polymorph.)

Finally you can turn to similar effects, like the new wild shape rules and "specific creature" polymorph spells of various types, all of which work the same way with regards to hit points.

 

[pawsplay]

The easiest reading under 3.0 would have had hit points change, but under 3.5, they definitely do not.

 

[Iku Rex]

I actually don't know what the current version is, WotC has kinda given up on trying to FAQ Polymorph.

There's never been a FAQ entry on polymorph and hit points.

I suspect, though, that it is still the (somewhat weird) statement, that hit points derived from your CON are different than hit points derived from HD rolls and only the latter are fixed when polymorphing and the CON hit points actually do change according to your new CON.

There was one very strange (out of several conflicting replies) Custserv ruling along those lines.

However, the main culprit behind all the arguing over this non-issue was Skip Williams, who in an error-filled series of Rules of the Game articles on polymorph claimed that "the subject's hit points change according to his new Constitution score." (Contradicting not only the core rules and published supplements, but also the Custserv ruling stating that hit points actually remain the same while the not-hit-points hit points from Con change.)

 

[Iku Rex]

The easiest reading under 3.0 would have had hit points change,

Nope. 3.0 polymorph other was quite explicit: "The subject retains its ... hit points (despite any change in its Constitution score)..."

I spent an embarrassing amount of time arguing over almost every aspect of 3.0 polymorph other, but over the years noone ever suggested that your hit points changed due to a new Con score from polymorph. :\

 

[DK]

Ok, thank you very much!

I have a much clearer idea now!

bye!

DK

 

[Thanee]

Ah, right, there was this Polymorph article on the WotC website, which suggested, that the Con bonus would affect hit points.

Bye
Thanee

 

[TheEvil]

Ah, right, there was this Polymorph article on the WotC website, which suggested, that the Con bonus would affect hit points.

Bye
Thanee

I believe that the new rules for polymorphy make it unambiguously clear that the you do not gain HP for the CON boost. Can't said I like it or would use it, but it at least is clear...