Polymorph Question

[Velenne]

The various Polymorph errati all say something to the effect of "a body with extra limbs does not grant the recipient extra attacks (or more advantageous two-weapon attacks".

Does that mean if I polymorph into a Large dragon, I can't use its 6 attacks (Bite/Claw/Claw/Wing/Wing/Tail)?

If that's the case, I'm confused at why you would be allowed to fly, rake, constrict, and do other things that a creature would normally only learn how to do with experience in that form, yet you would be unable to get its full attack progression.

Can someone explain to me what that sentence is for?

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

You would gain the ability to make any of the listed attacks.

But you do not gain the ability of making multiple attacks.

It may not be totally consistent with other uses of the spell, but it avoids some unbalancing abuses.

 

[rankarrog]

What about:
You don't get the Multiattacks because of coordination problems? I mean: You've got normally even problems using foreign bodys in combat (at least with pol. others) so it's an even bigger probelm to use more than one Claw/bite as a primary attack.

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

You can use that explanation if you want. It is as good as any.

But then the question becomes: Why can I sprint as a cheetah? Doesn't that require coordiantion that I don't have as a human?

 

[Velenne]

That's exactly my point. I'm sure this issue has come up before (as I KNOW I'm not the first one who considered polymorphing into a dragon!)

As it stands, they've already considerably weakened the spell by not allowing any extraordinary abilities. My own understanding due to sage answers has been that you get whatever the creature has due to its own physiology.

On a related note, the character I plan on using this with already has his own racial Claw/Claw/Bite progression (a feline race) which he uses extensively because he's a psychic warrior.

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

If you have a c/c/b attack in your normal form it only seems reasonable that you would keep it when polymorphed (into a form with claws and teeth at least).

Not gaining the ability does not imply that it is lost.

 

[Jairami]

"The polymorphed creature acquires the physical and natural abilities..."

"Natural abilities include ... natural weapons (such as claws, bite, ...)"

"A body with extra limbs does not allow a character to make more attacks..."

It says you can use claws and bites, but it doesn't say you can use them all at once. It specifically says no extra attacks for extra limbs, now whether they meant that for extra arms or for say wing attacks is anyone's guess.

So you can interpret it a couple of ways that I see.

a) The new creature can attack with only the primary attack a number of times indicated by his BAB.

b) The new creature can attack with all his natural attacks the spell granted as if he were the creature (ie, BAB + STR for primary attack, BAB + STR - 5 for secondary attacks).

c) The new creature can attack with as many of his natural weapons as his own BAB indicates.

or as Axiomatic Unicorn suggested ..

d) The new creature can use as many natural attacks as his own natural form possesses due to keeping his own abilities.

Which of these options is the correct method may vary from DM to DM. I don't know of any official clarification though maybe someone else might.

 

[Galfridus]

I thought that Masters of the Wild had some explanatory text on this situation...but I won't know for sure until I pick it up tonight.

 

[Jairami]

Bump.

This is a question I'd like to have a fairly certain answer on...

Too bad I can't change the topic to call Mr. Loreseeker, Esquire over.

 

[Jairami]

New sport. Bump fishing.

Still fishing for an answer.