Romancing some true dragons

[Shin Okada]

Some of the true dragons have Alternate Form ability and can take the shape of a member of PC races, without any time limit.

Other sources suggesting that true dragons, especially those without Alternate Form ability, use Polymorph or similar spells.

But Alter Self can only change them into some creature with Dragon type. And Polymorph spell's duration is 1 min./level. Usually, that is not enough to travel in humanoid form. What is worse, the spell does not lasts long enough to make love with a member of other race.

Is there any other ways for such a dragon to spend enough time for dating with a character of PC race, such as human? Except of Shapechange, preferably.

 

[Alzrius]

Is there any other ways for such a dragon to spend enough time for dating with a character of PC race, such as human? Except of Shapechange, preferably.

A magic item is probably the way to go here. Unfortunately, looking in the standard list of magic items don't show any wondrous items or rings that allow for an unlimited-use polymorph effect (that being the spell you'd need to make this happen).

As such, I'd custom-design a magic item for this. Since it'd have to be "unlimited-use, use-activated," that means it'd cost spell level x caster level x 2,000 gp. For a polymorph spell, that's 56,000 gp - except that the table for estimating GP values of magic items has a superscript there that notes that, if the spell has a 1 min./level duration (as polymorph does), you should double that. So the final cost would be 112,000 gp to make a magic item that'd let the wearer polymorph at will for an unlimited duration.

 

[Derren]

That lore is a holdover from 3E where polymorph had a much longer duration.
Polymorph Any Object would work.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

But Alter Self can only change them into some creature with Dragon type. And Polymorph spell's duration is 1 min./level. Usually, that is not enough to travel in humanoid form. What is worse, the spell does not lasts long enough to make love with a member of other race.

Oh, I think there are plenty of couples who can fit quite a bit of lovin' into that duration. As for your query, my solution is similar to Alzrius', except that my house rule is simply that all true dragons are natural shape changers rather than just the LG varieties. Simple, and effective!

 

[Samloyal23]

Has anyone made an item that prevents someone from returning to their original form after shapechanging or polymorphing? Can a creature be locked into a form it has changed into? Hmmm...

 

[Samloyal23]

What is worse, the spell does not lasts long enough to make love with a member of other race.

That depends on how good you are in bed. If the dragon is a "minuteman" it is not a problem for him...

 

[Shin Okada]

OK, let's assume that a dragon and the partner do at least date in town, not just making children.

A magic item is probably the way to go here. Unfortunately, looking in the standard list of magic items don't show any wondrous items or rings that allow for an unlimited-use polymorph effect (that being the spell you'd need to make this happen).

As such, I'd custom-design a magic item for this. Since it'd have to be "unlimited-use, use-activated," that means it'd cost spell level x caster level x 2,000 gp. For a polymorph spell, that's 56,000 gp - except that the table for estimating GP values of magic items has a superscript there that notes that, if the spell has a 1 min./level duration (as polymorph does), you should double that. So the final cost would be 112,000 gp to make a magic item that'd let the wearer polymorph at will for an unlimited duration.

Hmm, possibly, If a magic item polymorphs the user only into a certain race or creature type, it can be cheaper.

As for your query, my solution is similar to Alzrius', except that my house rule is simply that all true dragons are natural shape changers rather than just the LG varieties. Simple, and effective!

That can be another good option.

That lore is a holdover from 3E where polymorph had a much longer duration.
Polymorph Any Object would work.

Ah, I see. Yeah in 3.0e polymorph was often used as a long time buff. Polymorph Any will work, but it usually lower a dragon's INT and it may not be a good idea. Besides, that is a 8th-level spell and most of the true dragons in marriageable age cannot cast it.

 

[Alzrius]

Hmm, possibly, If a magic item polymorphs the user only into a certain race or creature type, it can be cheaper.

That's a good point. Let's treat this as though it were using a lower-level version of the polymorph spell. Since polymorph is 4th level, and can change you into many different creature types, and alter self is 2nd level, and cannot change you into something of a different creature type, then we'll hypothesize a 3rd level spell that can turn you into a creature of just one different creature type (in this case, humanoids). Everything else would be the same as polymorph otherwise.

So using the standard formula for calculating price, this would be a 3rd-level spell at caster level 5, hence 3 (caster level) x 5 (spell level) x 2,000 gp x 2 (1 min./level duration) = 60,000 gp for...let's call it a hat of humanoids.

 

[Samloyal23]

That's a good point. Let's treat this as though it were using a lower-level version of the polymorph spell. Since polymorph is 4th level, and can change you into many different creature types, and alter self is 2nd level, and cannot change you into something of a different creature type, then we'll hypothesize a 3rd level spell that can turn you into a creature of just one different creature type (in this case, humanoids). Everything else would be the same as polymorph otherwise.

So using the standard formula for calculating price, this would be a 3rd-level spell at caster level 5, hence 3 (caster level) x 5 (spell level) x 2,000 gp x 2 (1 min./level duration) = 60,000 gp for...let's call it a hat of humanoids.

So would a hat of humanoids only turn you into a generic human, or could it turn you into any human race, say a dwarf or a githyanki? I can see this formula being used for a whole class of magic items. A Hat of Canines could turn you into any type of dog or wolf. A Hat of Elements could turn you into any type of Elemental creature, such a mephit or imp of ill humour...

 

[Alzrius]

As theorized, it would only be able to turn you into a single other creature type, in this case Humanoids. Within those parameters, you could be any kind of humanoid, be it elf, dwarf, gnome, etc.