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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(Psi)SeveredHead" data-source="post: 6209116" data-attributes="member: 1165">IMO, it should not. There was an old rule, now seemingly forgotten, that said anything that left a polymorphed creature turned back. So if a creature had black blood and turned into a human, it would bleed black (or red that swiftly turned to black). That would immediately put an end to reproduction that wasn't normally allowed. However dragons were allowed to break the rule, and then all of a sudden strange combos popped up all over the place.In theory a caster could make a version of the spell that could do that, but they'd need to learn about sperm and eggs, which would probably require inventing the microscope and/or performing a series of divinations. The experimentation alone would be difficult.In 2e there was a series of spells (more like rituals) that allowed crossbreeding, and was supposedly responsible for the creation of owlbears and other such creatures. Such spells were more powerful than Alter Self, but alas I don't recall either the names or the exact mechanics.Most PCs are (demi)humans, and are already interfertile with other (demi)humans. So really it seems like an attempt to get (demi)humans to breed with things that are substantially different. In real-life species that aren't connected to each other not only cannot breed at all, but will not be even remotely attracted to each other. D&D already includes rules for creatures such as orcs and humans who aren't likely to be attracted to each other but can still interbreed, which isn't terribly surprising because, appearance aside, humans and orcs are actually very similar.Unless wizards learn about DNA and why mules can't reproduce, or why goat/sheep crosses always miscarry, I don't see any such attempts working. (Indeed, even wizards who could use those 2e spells probably have no real idea why it works. Modern-day embryology often answers questions with "I don't know".)</blockquote>

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