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<blockquote data-quote="dcollins" data-source="post: 321253" data-attributes="member: 876">I haven't seen polymorphing used in my games, so I don't have first-hand evidence -- however, reading what I see online, I'm totally ready to believe that the spell is broken.I can't think of another spell that was more noticably changed in 3rd Ed. compared to previous editions (raise dead is a close second, for similar reasons). I would guess that this change (and lack of a history of playbalancing) is what caused the need for all those errata'd versions after the fact.If you're looking for options on balancing the spell, I'd recommend the spells as per AD&amp;D:Polymorph Self- Caster can change form throughout duration.- Caster gains creature's shape and movement, but no other abilities whatsoever (attack, magic, etc.)- No other drawbacks.Polymorph Other- On polymorphing, a percentage chance to immediately die (approximately Constitution check, DC 7).- A good percentage chance to permanently lose their mind and take on the mental and personality standard for the monster (100% -5% per Int +/-5% per difference in HD... maybe convert to Int check DC 10 +/-1 per HD change).- Recipient gains all of the creature's abilities in their entirety.- On dispelling of polymorph, an identical percentage chance to die as at the start (Con DC 7).In AD&amp;D, polymorph other was mostly just a spell to take enemies out of a fight. The removal of all those downsides, I think, may have caused the spell to be unbalanced in the current rules.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="dcollins, post: 321253, member: 876"] I haven't seen [i]polymorphing[/i] used in my games, so I don't have first-hand evidence -- however, reading what I see online, I'm totally ready to believe that the spell is broken. I can't think of another spell that was more noticably changed in 3rd Ed. compared to previous editions ([i]raise dead[/i] is a close second, for similar reasons). I would guess that this change (and lack of a history of playbalancing) is what caused the need for all those errata'd versions after the fact. If you're looking for options on balancing the spell, I'd recommend the spells as per AD&D: [i]Polymorph Self[/i] - Caster can change form throughout duration. - Caster gains creature's shape and movement, but no other abilities whatsoever (attack, magic, etc.) - No other drawbacks. [i]Polymorph Other[/i] - On polymorphing, a percentage chance to immediately die (approximately Constitution check, DC 7). - A good percentage chance to permanently lose their mind and take on the mental and personality standard for the monster (100% -5% per Int +/-5% per difference in HD... maybe convert to Int check DC 10 +/-1 per HD change). - Recipient gains all of the creature's abilities in their entirety. - On dispelling of polymorph, an identical percentage chance to die as at the start (Con DC 7). In AD&D, [i]polymorph other[/i] was mostly just a spell to take enemies out of a fight. The removal of all those downsides, I think, may have caused the spell to be unbalanced in the current rules. [/QUOTE]

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