OD&D Poly spells
Hey folks,
For those who are concerned with Poly Self/Other and are thinking to make house rule mods to it, I thought you might be interested in the way Poly Self and Other work in OD&D:
Polymorph Self
Range: 0 (Caster only)
Duration: 6 turns + 1 turn per level of the caster [1 OD&D turn = 10 minutes]
Effect: Caster may change shapes
This spell allows the caster to change shape, taking the physical form or another living creature. The Hit Dice of the new form must be equal to or less than the Hit Dice of the caster, or the spell will fail.
The caster's armor class, hit points, attack rolls, and saving throws do not change, and he does not gain special abilities (such as ghouls' paralysis) or special immunities of the new form; however, he does gain the natural physical abilities of the new form. For example, a spellcaster polymorphed into a frost giant has the strength of a frost giant and the ability to hurl boulders, but not the immunity from cold. A spellcaster polymorphed into a dragon could fly but would not be able to use any breath weapons or spells.
The spellcaster cannot cast spells while polymorphed into a different form. The spell lasts for the listed duration, or until dispelled, or until the caster is killed. This spell will not enable the caster to take the form of a specific individual (see polymorph other).
Polymorph Other
Range: 60'
Duration: Permanent until dispelled
Effect: Changes one living creature
This spell changes the victim into another living creature. The new form may have no more than twice as many Hit Dice as the original, or the spell will fail. The victim's hit points remain the same; an 8th level prince with 32 hit points could end up as a frong with 32 hit points.
Unlike the polymorph self spell, the polymorph other spell actually turns the victim into the new creature, giving him any and all special abilities of the new form, plus its tendencies and behavior. For example, a hobgoblin polymorphed into a mule with think and act like a mule.
This spell cannot create a duplicate of a specific individual, only a race or monster type. For example, a creature polymorphed into a 9th level fighter will indeed become a human, but not necessarily a fighter and no higher than 1st level.
The victim of this spell may make a saving throw vs. spells to avoid the effect. The effect lasts until dispelled, or until the creature dies.
! It sounds like the psychic warrior is a kick-butt melee warrior, but a simple Negate Psionics, targeted on him, takes down his buffs. Until 16th-level, that is; then a psychic warrior with a Con of 16 can manifest Ablating.
