Polymorph any Object

[James McMurray]

Ok, the Sorcerer in my Returnt o the Tomb of Horrors campaign just picked up Polymorph any Object as his 8th level spell. I've got a few questions though:

1) Is there a Hit Dice limite like Polymorph Other? If there is, then the example of turning a shrew into a manticore doesn't work. If there isn't, then what's to stop the party from turning a fighter into a Titan?

2) It says it grants the intelligence of the new form, what about personality? If a party member gets turned into something to enhance their fighting skills, will their intelligence drop if it was higher? Will they start to think they are that creature?

3) Is there any clarification out there already that I could use?

Thanks!

 

[James McMurray]

This is one of those "my game starts in an hour" bumps.

 

[gfunk]

Ok, the Sorcerer in my Returnt o the Tomb of Horrors campaign just picked up Polymorph any Object as his 8th level spell. I've got a few questions though:

1) Is there a Hit Dice limite like Polymorph Other? If there is, then the example of turning a shrew into a manticore doesn't work. If there isn't, then what's to stop the party from turning a fighter into a Titan?

2) It says it grants the intelligence of the new form, what about personality? If a party member gets turned into something to enhance their fighting skills, will their intelligence drop if it was higher? Will they start to think they are that creature?

3) Is there any clarification out there already that I could use?

Thanks!

1. I would guess so, since the spell description starts off with the sentence:
"As polymorph other, except this spell changes one object or creature into another. "

IIRC, the HD cap is 15, however if either the target or the caster is 15th level/HD the spell would work

2. My guess is that inanimate objects polymorphed into something living, will have the appropriate personality. However, for creatures they would still have their original personality, though they may be much more intelligent or stupid.

3. Sorry, not that I'm aware of.

 

[kreynolds]

2) It says it grants the intelligence of the new form, what about personality? If a party member gets turned into something to enhance their fighting skills, will their intelligence drop if it was higher? Will they start to think they are that creature?

I'd treat it just like gaining a new form from Reincarnation. The personality is still there, it just might be stuck in a rat with limited ability scores. After all, you're not actually changing the person or creature, just their form.

 

[James McMurray]

So you're still limited to Fire Giant at least. That's a lot better than Great Wyrm Green Dragon.

 

[kreynolds]

That's a lot better than Great Wyrm Green Dragon.

No joke, man.

 

[James McMurray]

So what about turning a pebble into a Fire Giant (or some other combat worthy thing) and then casting Suggestion to make it fight for you?

 

[Plane Sailing]

You could - but the duration for that kind of change might be pretty short

For melee combat effectiveness the best bet might be to transform something into a 14HD dragon - even without breath weapons and magic, they have a fantastic number of attacks - a young red dragon makes a good choice. you get:

AC 21;
Melee bite +19 (2d6+7), 2 claws +14 (1d8+3),
2 wings +14 (1d6+3),
tail slap +14 (1d8+10);

Face/Reach 5 ft by 10 ft / 10 ft;
Str 25, Dex 10, Con 17

 

[James McMurray]

Heck, 20 minutes is more than enough time to do some serious stomping.

 

[Xarlen]

What I used to do, was buy a badger. Feed it, preen it, and keep it in a little carrier.

And when we got into a fight, I'd whip out my badger, shake it's container, open the door, Sling it out, and cast Polymorph on it.

A pissed of badger in the form of a Giant can do some damage.