Polymorph Errata

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

"Save or die" doesn't always mean "death." Sometimes spells like Hold Monster are referred to as "save or die" (since the victim will probably die soon after failing the saving throw).

It should probably be called "save or sit in the corner", but that takes longer to type.

 

[Dog Faced God]

Polymorph other is pretty much a save or die spell. Especially if you're the only spellcaster in the party. *Poof* the wizard is turned into a jellyfish. He cannot cast spells (unless he has the still/silent spell and eschew materials feats) to return to his true form. The rest of the party can't hope to pick him up and run to the nearest ocean with him(unless they're on the beach). The spellcaster is completely neutralized. Sorry charlie, you're done.

Even the Monty Python crew knows how to balance this spell:
"She turned me into a newt!!!
well... it got better..."

See there... the duration clearly shouldn't be permanent.

 

[Lucius Foxhound]

If, however, either the caster or the subject had 15 Hit Dice, then the subject could be polymorphed into a fire giant.

You're absolutely right. But here's where I don't understand the errata: Why in the world should a 7th level Wizard not be able to polymorph himself into a 15 HD Fire Giant, but for some reason, he has the ability to turn a 15th level Wizard into a Fire Giant??!

I like the errata version more, but for some reason, this makes no sense.

 

[BMF]

In other words, in the Dragon version, a vampire (undead) wizard could not polymorph self into a marilith (outsider). In the T&B version, he could.

I disagree. No one in my group has seen the Dragon version, we've all been using the T&B version. And we interpreted it to mean what you say the Dragon version means.

Clearly, the Dragon version is a clarification of what was intended by the T&B, in my estimation anyway.

 

[SimonMoon5]

Clearly, the Dragon version is a clarification of what was intended by the T&B, in my estimation anyway.

Except of course, the T&B version came out after the Dragon version.