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6 months ago ::
Nov 19, 2012 - 6:33PM
#11
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- Senior Volunteer Community Lead
- Sesquipedalian
Date Joined:
May 20, 2001
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The problem with polymorph giving everything, more than any other spell would. Change to a dragon and expect to fly, cast spells, breathe fire, speak draconic, have all the special attacks...
Why not polymorph into a level 20 wizard with a ring of unlimited wishes?
The easiest fix is to only allow the shape (form) to be taken. No powers or abilities you didn't have before. Sure, you can take the shape of a dragon, but you have to cast a fly spell to be able to fly. And cast another spell to let you comprehend languages. And a third to breathe fire.
Polymorph to a fish, and you'll need some way to breathe water.
Spoiler:
Show
Of the two approaches to hobby games today, one is best defined as the realism-simulation school and the other as the game school. AD&D is assuredly an adherent of the latter school. It does not stress any realism (in the author's opinon an absurd effort at best considering the topic!).
It does little to attempt to simulate anything either. (AD&D) is first and foremost a game for the fun and enjoyment of those who seek the use of imagination and creativity....
In all cases, however, the reader should understand that AD&D is designed to be an amusing and diverting pastime, something which an fill a few hours or consume endless days, as the participants desire, but in no case something to be taken too seriously.
For fun, excitement and captivating fantasy, AD&D is unsurpassed.As a realistic simulation of things from the realm of make-believe or even as a reflection of midieval or ancient warfare or culture or society, it can be deemed only a dismal failure. Readers who seek the later must search elsewhere. - Gary Gygax. 1e DMG.
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6 months ago ::
Nov 19, 2012 - 6:36PM
#12
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Date Joined:
Jan 15, 2009
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The problem with polymorph giving everything, more than any other spell would.
Nod exactly.... only specialists in skin changing should have open and ended form change and is because they have a huge number of specific forms learned taking up all there slots.
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6 months ago ::
Nov 19, 2012 - 6:48PM
#13
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Date Joined:
Feb 22, 2012
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I personally think concentration is enough of a limit on polymorph. The idea was more for those who dont
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6 months ago ::
Nov 19, 2012 - 6:50PM
#14
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Date Joined:
Jan 15, 2009
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How many spells does it functionally duplicate
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6 months ago ::
Nov 19, 2012 - 9:21PM
#15
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How many spells does it functionally duplicate
Spells
Light - Fire Beetle
Spider Climb - Giant Spider/Carnivorous Monkey
Fly - Pegasus, Pteranadon, Griffon
Water Breathing - Fish/Lizard
Invisibility - Any extremely small creature, such as bugs (note that polymorph retains HP, preventing the wizard from getting squished.) Transforming into a common creature like a stray dog may also work.
Feather Fall - Pick a lightweight creature, like a flying squirrel. Cats are not listed as a monster, but as a familiar they have reduced falling damage.
Hold Person/Monster - When on land, target an opponent and polymorph them into a fish.
Not spells:
Acid Spray - Ankheg
Scent - Bloodhound
Darkvision - Several creatures. Griffon, for example.
Petrify - Basilisk
Tenser's Transformation - Allosaurus. With a couple of armor buffs, you'll even be decent in combat.
Enhanced speed - Horse
Save or Die - Transform the target into a creature that can't adequately defend itself on land. A sea sponge is excellent, but other players may have more fun chasing a fish, or beating on a small whale like a pinata.
Skill bonuses - The griffon gets +5 to detect hidden creatures. The snake (in the Find Familiar feat) gets +5 initiative.
Pass through walls/doors - Cockroach, if you can justify finding a single crack in the wall or door you want to pass through
Stretching it
Knock - Bashing the door down is just as noisy as a Knock spell and usually just as effective. An acid spray as an ankheg is quieter, but less likely to succeed.
Web - Giant Spider, limited to single target
Create Rope - Giant spider, using webs. Very limited in application.
Paralysis - Carrion Crawler, though it requires a touch attack first, and the save DC is horrible.
Disguise Self - What better disguise than the real thing? Limited to animals, making it much less useful.
Learn to speak Goblin - In the bestiary, the RAW makes no distinction between abilities based on form and abilites based on equipment or training. Strictly speaking, one of the abilities of the worg form is the ability to speak Common and Goblin, providing a cheezy way to learn a language for one minute. I wouldn't allow it, but that would be a decision based on fluff and not RAW.
Other stuff
Many natural animals have valuable secretions and strange abilities. If you know your zoology, you can get much more from this spell. For example, as cobra, you could milk your own poison. (No cobras in the bestiary, but a Giant Snake or Giant Spider also works.)
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6 months ago ::
Nov 19, 2012 - 9:34PM
#16
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Date Joined:
Jan 15, 2009
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How many spells does it functionally duplicate
Spells
Light - Fire Beetle
Spider Climb - Giant Spider/Carnivorous Monkey
Fly - Pegasus, Pteranadon, Griffon
Water Breathing - Fish/Lizard
Invisibility - Any extremely small creature, such as bugs (note that polymorph retains HP, preventing the wizard from getting squished.) Transforming into a common creature like a stray dog may also work.
Feather Fall - Pick a lightweight creature, like a flying squirrel. Cats are not listed as a monster, but as a familiar they have reduced falling damage.
Hold Person/Monster - When on land, target an opponent and polymorph them into a fish.
Not spells:
Acid Spray - Ankheg
Scent - Bloodhound
Darkvision - Several creatures. Griffon, for example.
Petrify - Basilisk
Tenser's Transformation - Allosaurus. With a couple of armor buffs, you'll even be decent in combat.
Enhanced speed - Horse
Save or Die - Transform the target into a creature that can't adequately defend itself on land. A sea sponge is excellent, but other players may have more fun chasing a fish, or beating on a small whale like a pinata.
Skill bonuses - The griffon gets +5 to detect hidden creatures. The snake (in the Find Familiar feat) gets +5 initiative.
Pass through walls/doors - Cockroach, if you can justify finding a single crack in the wall or door you want to pass through
Stretching it
Knock - Bashing the door down is just as noisy as a Knock spell and usually just as effective. An acid spray as an ankheg is quieter, but less likely to succeed.
Web - Giant Spider, limited to single target
Create Rope - Giant spider, using webs. Very limited in application.
Paralysis - Carrion Crawler, though it requires a touch attack first, and the save DC is horrible.
Disguise Self - What better disguise than the real thing? Limited to animals, making it much less useful.
Learn to speak Goblin - In the bestiary, the RAW makes no distinction between abilities based on form and abilites based on equipment or training. Strictly speaking, one of the abilities of the worg form is the ability to speak Common and Goblin, providing a cheezy way to learn a language for one minute. I wouldn't allow it, but that would be a decision based on fluff and not RAW.
Other stuff
Many natural animals have valuable secretions and strange abilities. If you know your zoology, you can get much more from this spell. For example, as cobra, you could milk your own poison. (No cobras in the bestiary, but a Giant Snake or Giant Spider also works.)
Thank you... direct combat uses are fairly undermined by the concentration element
yes all the enhanced mobility and perceptions and so on and so forth that can be used out of combat or to aid allies in combat.. really makes a better solution pick a beast and learn it like a spell. Learn as many as you can find teachers and scrolls for and the dm treats them as treasure.
I dont see how they can treat this I kind of do anything spell as well 1 spell.
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