Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="The Sigil" data-source="post: 881849" data-attributes="member: 2013">Of course it it usually wise to avoid inserting real-world science into the discussion...But what I said regarding DNA was, in my mind, basically a shorthand for:"The polymorph spell's description says that a creature's type does not change when polymorphed."A dwarf is made of 'humanoid (dwarf)' stuff."Therefore, a dwarf polymorphed into a pony is, in effect, a pony made of 'humanoid (dwarf)' stuff... not pony stuff... to keep its type."That the type does not change implies that the form is not what is important so much as the matter that makes it up... and if the stuff that makes up the creature determines type, a convenient shorthand for this is DNA as it is something that is readily understood." I then DID make the presumption to jump to real-world genetics with the DNA examples (esp. the XX/XY examples).  My apologies.In my experience, though, using "real world" rules is generally a good way to approach a problem unless you have a compelling reason not to - IOW, I assume the "real world" is the default until someone tells me specifically, "it doesn't apply."Regardless, I tried to make my ruling so that we had the fewest additional assumptions (and I think, given the Type/DNA argument, that my assumption is a "reasonable" interpretation) - one - and the fewest potential rules problems.  The solution I proposed fits (IMO) elegantly with the existing rules and pre-empts a lot of potentially sticky situations.When striking a balance between ease of use and absolutely perfect detail, I'll take "easier to use and universally apply if not quite as detailed/interesting" over "detailed/interesting, but impossible to use without DM fiat in every single case."IOW, give the players my rule, and there is no argument.  Give them an "it depends" rule and the DM can be accused of favoritism - or worse, inconsistent rulings. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />But everyone has their own opinions, all equally valid.  I just happen to like mine best. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />--The Sigil</blockquote>

Verification