Polymorph any Object restrictions?

[S.Bense]

Had a fun situation to deal with as a DM in my last session, and I'd like some advice.

The party 21st level wizard/archmage tossed out a polymorph any object, targeting the nearby ground, to create a massive, albit thin, stone wall to stem the advancement of an army and to provide cover from enemy archers. The wall was technically within the dimensions of the spell limitations. The player reasons that the wall should be permanent, and I can mostly agree with his reasoning per the spell description. This isn't the first time a polymorph any object has been stretched to its max by the player and made me think twice, however.

My question is, has anyone else run into similar situations when ruling over a polymorph any object, or is it simply that powerful of a spell? At what point do you draw the line, and are there any suggestions for house rules to put limits on the spell? Opinions are welcome.

 

[Tatsukun]

Well, we had a PC PAO himself into a dwarf in our game.
The DM ruled that he kept his human bonus feat at first level, and piled on all the cool Dwarven stuff. I think if the party had had more spells, everyone would have been dwarves!

-Tatsu

 

[Jack Simth]

So... he used an 8th level spell (Polymorph Any Object) to essentially duplicate a 5th or 6th level spell (Wall of Stone / Wall of Iron), when he could have used Greater Shadow Conjouration (7th) to essentially the same effect? Or perhaps Greater Shadow Evocation (8th) to duplicate a Forcecage (7th)? I'd say let him.

 

[shilsen]

Well, we had a PC PAO himself into a dwarf in our game.
The DM ruled that he kept his human bonus feat at first level, and piled on all the cool Dwarven stuff. I think if the party had had more spells, everyone would have been dwarves!

-Tatsu

He wanted to PAO to change his race and the best he could come up with was a dwarf? They don't make munchkins like they used to!

 

[dedicated]

Works fine...
after all wall of stone is permanent and it's 5th level

 

[Tatsukun]

He wanted to PAO to change his race and the best he could come up with was a dwarf? They don't make munchkins like they used to!

Well, he actually didn't have a choice, it was that silly Monte adventure that turns some PCs into dwarves.

-Tatsu

 

[shilsen]

Well, he actually didn't have a choice, it was that silly Monte adventure that turns some PCs into dwarves.

-Tatsu

Ah - RttToEE? I enjoyed the adventure a fair bit, but it was the final straw when it came to putting me off dungeon crawls for good.