Question regarding Polymorph Any Object.

[Lord Pendragon]

Polymorph only allows one to change into the following types: aberration, animal, dragon, fey, giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid, ooze, plant, or vermin.

However, Polymorph Any Object allows one to change creatures into objects, and vice-versa.

So. Will Polymorph Any Object allow one to change a humanoid into an Outsider?

 

[szilard]

Hrm.

The truly defining feature of (non-native) Outsiders is the fusion between their souls and bodies. I think that bit, at least, is outside the scope of the spell.

-Stuart

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Hrm.

The truly defining feature of (non-native) Outsiders is the fusion between their souls and bodies. I think that bit, at least, is outside the scope of the spell.

For a spell that can change a rock into a human being?

 

[kerbarian]

Polymorph only allows one to change into the following types: aberration, animal, dragon, fey, giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid, ooze, plant, or vermin.

However, Polymorph Any Object allows one to change creatures into objects, and vice-versa.

So. Will Polymorph Any Object allow one to change a humanoid into an Outsider?

No. PAO lets you change the target into any of the creature types listed in Polymorph, plus objects (which are not creatures). Outsiders are neither one of the allowed types nor objects, so the spell can't turn you into one.

It would be nice, but it would also dramatically increase the power level of PAO.

One way to get around the problem is that Polymorph lets you turn the target into a different form of its own type. So if you cast PAO on an outsider, you can turn them into a different outsider. If you're a wizard and want to turn yourself into something like a Planetar, one option would be to cast Fiendform (which changes your type to outsider), then cast PAO to turn yourself into a Planetar, and you'll stay as a Planetar for PAO's full duration.