D&D 5E Polymorph -- Odd Wording

[Werebat]

I just read the 5th Edition version of Polymorph, and noticed this oddity -- "The [polymorphed] creature is limited in the actions it can perform by the nature of its new form, and it can't speak, cast spells, or take any action that requires hands or speech."

A strict reading of this sentence would indicate that if a human polymorphs herself into an elf, she cannot speak, cast spells, or pick things up in her hands until she returns to her natural human form.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I believe that is the intent.

My reasoning for this is "new body syndrome." Even if the form could normally do those things, they're too fine and controlled for you to do them through your new body.

Also prevents some corner cases, like polymorphing into a shape that gives you better spellcasting than a wizard of your level usually gets, or turning every melee member of your party into a giant or something.

 

[Plaguescarred]

You can't polymorph into an elf as its a humanoid and you can only polymorph into a beast;


PHB266 Polymorph: The new form can be any beast whose challenge rating is equal to or less than the target’s (or the target’s level, if it doesn't have a challenge rating).

 

[Werebat]

You can't polymorph into an elf as its a humanoid and you can only polymorph into a beast;


PHB266 Polymorph: The new form can be any beast whose challenge rating is equal to or less than the target’s (or the target’s level, if it doesn't have a challenge rating).

Ah, didn't realize that "beast" was an official category of creatures. Where can I find the game definition of "beast"? Is a fire elemental a beast?

So, if you polymorph into a chimpanzee, you can't pull a lever or pick things up in your hands?

 

[Plaguescarred]

Ah, didn't realize that "beast" was an official category of creatures. Where can I find the game definition of "beast"? Is a fire elemental a beast?

So, if you polymorph into a chimpanzee, you can't pull a lever or pick things up in your hands?

A fire elemental is an elemental creature. I agree, the chimpanzee would technically not be able to use its hands to pull level, unless the DM use judment and let it do so. You can find these rules in the DM Basic rules http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules


DMBR2 Beast: Beasts are nonhumanoid creatures that are a natural part of the fantasy ecology. Some of them have magical powers, but most are unintelligent and lack any society or language. Beasts include all varieties of ordinary animals, dinosaurs, and giant versions of animals.

 

[Gargoyle]

Ah, didn't realize that "beast" was an official category of creatures.

So, if you polymorph into a chimpanzee, you can't pull a lever or pick things up in your hands?

Spells like polymorph are why we need DM's to overrule the guidelines of the RAW. Of course the DM is free to say no, because of the RAW and that's ok too; they can say that even if the form is capable of it, you can't choose to do it because of the shock of the spell, reduced mental capacity, or whatever. By being perhaps overly restrictive it puts power in the hands of the DM which is ok. Most DM's are going to say yes, chimps can pick up things and pull levers.

The way I see it, you're going to be casting this in one of three ways: on an enemy, on an ally, or yourself. The restrictions are there to make the first use viable and to provide a sort of default. The DM is there to add the common sense. Putting in lots of exceptions would take too much space and just cause more confusion.

 

[I'm A Banana]

You can't polymorph into an elf as its a humanoid and you can only polymorph into a beast;


PHB266 Polymorph: The new form can be any beast whose challenge rating is equal to or less than the target’s (or the target’s level, if it doesn't have a challenge rating).

Nice catch!

 

[Werebat]

Spells like polymorph are why we need DM's to overrule the guidelines of the RAW. Of course the DM is free to say no, because of the RAW and that's ok too; they can say that even if the form is capable of it, you can't choose to do it because of the shock of the spell, reduced mental capacity, or whatever. By being perhaps overly restrictive it puts power in the hands of the DM which is ok. Most DM's are going to say yes, chimps can pick up things and pull levers.

The way I see it, you're going to be casting this in one of three ways: on an enemy, on an ally, or yourself. The restrictions are there to make the first use viable and to provide a sort of default. The DM is there to add the common sense. Putting in lots of exceptions would take too much space and just cause more confusion.

This is a great answer. Assuming that the wording was intentional, for the reasons you describe above, I can get behind it.

 

[Li Shenron]

I believe that is the intent.

Sometimes it would be such a relief if the designers would clearly reveal their intent, instead of tossing rules and materials and let us figure out what they meant.

It does seem to me too, that since polymorph is limited to "beasts" forms, they wanted to specify you can't use weapons, cast spells, or do most other things that are useful for adventuring and fighting, at least not as effectively as humanoids can do.

That said, pulling a level while in monkey form is fine for me. Using a weapon or casting a spell is not. But if the spell allowed to turn into an elf or other humanoids, then I'd allow all these.

 

[Charles Wright]

Non-beast shapes fall under the spell "Alter Self".