D&D 5E True Polymorph shenanigans and "game statistics"

[discosoc]

You can't if your form can't, and obviously it replaces your whole character so there's that issue too. But presuming you could (such as a Mind Flayer, Vampire, Hag or Dragon or other spellcasting capable creature). Polymorph doesn't make you incapable of casting spells unless the specific form can't, like a bear.

Right, but you won't be casting *your* spells. Just whatever your form happens to have according to the stat blocks. Even then, as a GM, I'd probably rule that even those spells aren't available since you haven't been in the form long enough to actually "memorize them" so really only innate spellcasting abilities would qualify.

 

[Sunseeker]

Right, but you won't be casting *your* spells. Just whatever your form happens to have according to the stat blocks. Even then, as a GM, I'd probably rule that even those spells aren't available since you haven't been in the form long enough to actually "memorize them" so really only innate spellcasting abilities would qualify.

I'd probably agree but it's one of those areas where Polymorph becomes confusing. When you turn into a Vampire, Hag, Drow Priestess or Illithid, you're not turning into just a Vampire, you're turning into a Vampire 2/Wizard 7, Drow 1, Cleric 7 or a Hag 3/Sorcerer 2. These creatures are clearly learned creatures even if they have an innate connection to magic. You're essentially gaining class features in addition to racial ones.

I also liked a previous comment where your gear morphs to match as necessary perhaps sans magical properties unless the stuff you have is equal to the stuff you gain, so I wouldn't find it wholly unreasonable to have your spellbook turn into a spellbook full of Drow/Vampire/Illithid spells. Especially since none of those spells are "special", they're all things you might have known if you were a caster anyway.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I also liked a previous comment where your gear morphs to match as necessary perhaps sans magical properties unless the stuff you have is equal to the stuff you gain, so I wouldn't find it wholly unreasonable to have your spellbook turn into a spellbook full of Drow/Vampire/Illithid spells. Especially since none of those spells are "special", they're all things you might have known if you were a caster anyway.

Balance-wise, it should be fine to give you the spell complement and magic/mundane items of the target creature, because they end up baked into the stats anyway. It's also a lot less disruptive to the game that way. Mainly because the spell is 8th level, I don't think you have to really worry about the extra spells you are gaining.

 

[Sunseeker]

Balance-wise, it should be fine to give you the spell complement and magic/mundane items of the target creature, because they end up baked into the stats anyway. It's also a lot less disruptive to the game that way. Mainly because the spell is 8th level, I don't think you have to really worry about the extra spells you are gaining.

Right, it's a little contradictory to say "Your whole character is replaced, but only with half the stat block." Either it's everything into everything, or it's part into part. Especially since caster-monsters have their classes baked in, so we don't even know what level their casting ability is.

 

[Li Shenron]

I'd probably agree but it's one of those areas where Polymorph becomes confusing. When you turn into a Vampire, Hag, Drow Priestess or Illithid, you're not turning into just a Vampire, you're turning into a Vampire 2/Wizard 7, Drow 1, Cleric 7 or a Hag 3/Sorcerer 2. These creatures are clearly learned creatures even if they have an innate connection to magic. You're essentially gaining class features in addition to racial ones.

I suspect that the 5e spells don't mention this, but IMHO they should be limited to turning into a bare average specimen creature, not a specific individual. In general I wouldn't let the spell turn you into a Drow Priestess, just a Drow without class levels. They are already ultra-versatile spells anyway.

 

[Sunseeker]

I suspect that the 5e spells don't mention this, but IMHO they should be limited to turning into a bare average specimen creature, not a specific individual. In general I wouldn't let the spell turn you into a Drow Priestess, just a Drow without class levels. They are already ultra-versatile spells anyway.

Now there's where I could see a fair ruling that polymorph altered you beneath your class levels, if it turns you into something that is a playable race. So if a level 18 elf is polymorphed into a bog-standard human, letting them keep their class features won't impact game balance in the slightest.

But this is also a problem with the baked-in class features with some of the creatures in the MM, which IMO, shouldn't have been done.