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Problems with Polymorph, True Polymorph, and Shapechange
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<blockquote data-quote="Hawk Diesel" data-source="post: 8127306" data-attributes="member: 59848"><p>Alright, I think I've managed to tackle Shapechange. Below is my revised version, and below that are some of my thoughts and reasons:</p><p></p><h2><strong>Shapechange</strong></h2><p><em>9th-level transmutation</em></p><p>Casting Time: 1 action</p><p>Range: Self</p><p>Components: V, S, M (a jade circlet worth at least 1,500gp, which you must place on your head before you cast the spell)</p><p>Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour</p><p></p><p>You assume the form of a different creature for the duration. For the duration of the spell, you gain the following benefits:</p><p></p><p>• You gain 150 Temporary Hit Points</p><p>• You can choose to become Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Huge, or Gargantuan. If your form is Tiny, Small, or Medium your Dexterity becomes 25. If your form is Large, Huge, or Gargantuan your Strength becomes 25.</p><p>• You lose your normal movement modes, instead choosing a new primary and secondary movement. Your primary movement becomes 120ft and your secondary movement becomes 60ft. You can choose Walking, Flying, Swimming, Spiderclimb, or Teleport. Alternatively, you can choose a Burrow speed for one of your movement modes, but this is limited to 30 feet regardless if it is your primary or secondary movement mode. Burrowing allows you to move through nonmagical, unworked earth and stone without disturbing the material as you move through it.</p><p>• You can safely breathe while in air, water, earth, stone, or toxic gasses.</p><p>• You gain Darkvision 120ft and Blindsight 60ft.</p><p>• You become immune to being Blinded, Deafened, Grappled, Petrified, Poisoned, or Restrained.</p><p>• As a reaction can pass through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing.</p><p>• You can choose to become immune to one energy type.</p><p>• You gain up to three special attacks that deal 2d10 damage and is modified by your spellcasting modifier. These attacks count as magical. When you choose your form, you can choose for your special attacks to be melee or ranged (60/120ft), and whether they deal bludgeoning, piercing, slashing, or the same damage type you have chosen as your immunity. When you take the Attack action, you can make up to 3 of these attacks.</p><p></p><p>When you transform, you choose whether your equipment falls to the ground, merges into the new form, or is worn by it. Equipment that is melded into your new form or worn continues to functions as normal.</p><p></p><p>You choose the physical characteristics of the form you assume. If you are attempting to pass as a specific creature who you have seen and with whom you are familiar, you gain a +15 bonus to Deception checks to pass as that individual.</p><p></p><p>During this spell’s duration, you can use your action to assume a different form, changing one or more of the above choices.</p><p></p><p>*********</p><p></p><p>So this spell is obviously very different from Shapechange. One of the big differences is that it doesn't allow you to use abilities like a Dragon's breath weapon or similar such abilities of high CR creatures. But I also feel like that quality is one of the things that made Shapechange incredibly problematic. It put Shapechange over most other damage dealing 9th level spells. For example, compare an almost always on Dragon's Breath to something like Blade of Disaster, Power Word Kill, and Weird. Whereas Shapechange seems like it should be a utility spell, the ability to consistently use Dragon's Breath makes it deal waaaay more damage than other 9th-level spells that are direct damage dealing spells. Only Meteor Swarm and Storm of Vengeance compare. But since Shapechange lasts for up to an hour, Shapechange can potentially deal more damage through Dragon's Breath than Meteor Swarm. And the only reason Storm of Vengeance is able to compare is due to the sheer immensity of the area of effect.</p><p></p><p>Personally, I think Shapechange should stick to altering physical appearance and traits without including things like Dragon's Breath. A 9th level version of Dragon's Breath (the 2nd-level spell) might be a good way to go for a consistent damage dealing spell. But Shapechange should stick to utility. And I think I found a way to achieve that while also negating the need for the Monster Manual.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Hawk Diesel, post: 8127306, member: 59848"] Alright, I think I've managed to tackle Shapechange. Below is my revised version, and below that are some of my thoughts and reasons: [HEADING=1][B]Shapechange[/B][/HEADING] [I]9th-level transmutation[/I] Casting Time: 1 action Range: Self Components: V, S, M (a jade circlet worth at least 1,500gp, which you must place on your head before you cast the spell) Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour You assume the form of a different creature for the duration. For the duration of the spell, you gain the following benefits: • You gain 150 Temporary Hit Points • You can choose to become Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Huge, or Gargantuan. If your form is Tiny, Small, or Medium your Dexterity becomes 25. If your form is Large, Huge, or Gargantuan your Strength becomes 25. • You lose your normal movement modes, instead choosing a new primary and secondary movement. Your primary movement becomes 120ft and your secondary movement becomes 60ft. You can choose Walking, Flying, Swimming, Spiderclimb, or Teleport. Alternatively, you can choose a Burrow speed for one of your movement modes, but this is limited to 30 feet regardless if it is your primary or secondary movement mode. Burrowing allows you to move through nonmagical, unworked earth and stone without disturbing the material as you move through it. • You can safely breathe while in air, water, earth, stone, or toxic gasses. • You gain Darkvision 120ft and Blindsight 60ft. • You become immune to being Blinded, Deafened, Grappled, Petrified, Poisoned, or Restrained. • As a reaction can pass through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing. • You can choose to become immune to one energy type. • You gain up to three special attacks that deal 2d10 damage and is modified by your spellcasting modifier. These attacks count as magical. When you choose your form, you can choose for your special attacks to be melee or ranged (60/120ft), and whether they deal bludgeoning, piercing, slashing, or the same damage type you have chosen as your immunity. When you take the Attack action, you can make up to 3 of these attacks. When you transform, you choose whether your equipment falls to the ground, merges into the new form, or is worn by it. Equipment that is melded into your new form or worn continues to functions as normal. You choose the physical characteristics of the form you assume. If you are attempting to pass as a specific creature who you have seen and with whom you are familiar, you gain a +15 bonus to Deception checks to pass as that individual. During this spell’s duration, you can use your action to assume a different form, changing one or more of the above choices. ********* So this spell is obviously very different from Shapechange. One of the big differences is that it doesn't allow you to use abilities like a Dragon's breath weapon or similar such abilities of high CR creatures. But I also feel like that quality is one of the things that made Shapechange incredibly problematic. It put Shapechange over most other damage dealing 9th level spells. For example, compare an almost always on Dragon's Breath to something like Blade of Disaster, Power Word Kill, and Weird. Whereas Shapechange seems like it should be a utility spell, the ability to consistently use Dragon's Breath makes it deal waaaay more damage than other 9th-level spells that are direct damage dealing spells. Only Meteor Swarm and Storm of Vengeance compare. But since Shapechange lasts for up to an hour, Shapechange can potentially deal more damage through Dragon's Breath than Meteor Swarm. And the only reason Storm of Vengeance is able to compare is due to the sheer immensity of the area of effect. Personally, I think Shapechange should stick to altering physical appearance and traits without including things like Dragon's Breath. A 9th level version of Dragon's Breath (the 2nd-level spell) might be a good way to go for a consistent damage dealing spell. But Shapechange should stick to utility. And I think I found a way to achieve that while also negating the need for the Monster Manual. [/QUOTE]
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