Polymorph (D&D spell)

This article is imported from the Hastur wiki. See the import log for details.

Unofficial rules compendium

Transmutation (Polymorph) (Special)
Level: Bard 5, Cleric 6, Druid 5, Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Willing, living, non-elemental creature touched
Duration: 10 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

You change the willing subject into the form of another creature. Swarms, incorporeal, or gaseous creatures are immune to being polymorphed, and a creature with the shapechanger subtype can revert to its natural form as a standard action.

If polymorph is used to transform into a creature with an elemental or alignment subtype, it is a spell of that type. For example, using it to transfer into a cloud giant is an (Air) spell.

The assumed form must abide by the following limitations:

• The same type as the subject or any of the following types: aberration, animal, dragon, fey, giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid, ooze, plant, or vermin.
• No more Hit Dice than your caster level (or the subject’s HD, whichever is lower), to a maximum of 15 HD at 15th level.
• No physical ability score (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution) can be greater than the the subjects original ability score + your caster level.
• Natural armor bonus cannot be greater than your caster level.
• Cannot be smaller than Fine nor more than one category larger than the targets normal size.
• Cannot have the Swarm subtype.
• Cannot be incorporeal or gaseous.
• The creature is a normal example of the type of creature as given in its description. The creature can be an advanced form, as long as it is advanced by hit dice, not level.
• You must be familiar with the kind of creature chosen. Encountering the creature of that kind in the flesh qualifies, as does a roll of the appropriate Knowledge skill at a DC of 10+CR.

The subject’s creature type remains the same, but subtype (if any) change to match the new form. You are free to designate the cosmetic appearance of the assumed shape, choosing the hair color, hair texture, eye color, height, and weight, within the normal range for creatures of that kind. The target is effectively disguised as an average member of the new form’s race. If the target uses this spell to create a disguise, the target gets a +10 bonus on its Disguise check.

The target acquires the physical qualities of the new form while retaining its own mind. This requires some clarification. The following are abilities that do not change and are neither lost nor gained as a result of this spell:

• Class and level (including Hit Dice), base attack bonus, and base save bonuses.
• Feats, including racial bonus feats.
• Skill ranks, not including attribute or racial modifiers.
• Supernatural and spell-like special attacks and qualities, except for those the original form had and which requite a body part that the new form does not have (such as a mouth for a breath weapon or eyes for a gaze attack).
• Damage reduction, magic immunity, regeneration, spell resistance.
• Any ability that involves healing, changing shape, reproduction, or growth
• Any ability that requires a particular state of mind on the part of the assumed shape

Ability scores: The subject gains the Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores of the new form but retains its own Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores.

Hit Points: Hit points are recalculated using the creature's new Constitution score. Any damage taken remains.

Abilities: The target loses all extraordinary racial abilities of its original race and gains all of the extraordinary abilities possessed by the new form except as noted above. It does not gain any supernatural or spell-like abilities. It gains the extraordinary senses of the assumed shape.

Speed: Use the assumed form's mundane movement capabilities, such as burrowing, climbing, walking, swimming, and flight with wings, to a maximum speed of 120 feet for flying or 60 feet for nonflying movement.

Speech and spellcasting: If the new form is capable of speech, the target can communicate normally. The target retain any spellcasting ability the target had in its original form, but the new form must be able to speak intelligibly (that is, speak a language) to use verbal components and must have limbs capable of fine manipulation to use somatic or material components.

Skills: The base creature loses any racial skill bonuses to any Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution-based skills, as well as the Listen, Search, and Spot skills. The creature gains any such racial skill bonus possessed by the assumed shape.

Equipment: When the spell takes effect, the equipment worn or held by the target is affected depending on its nature:

• If the equipment is the proper size and can be used by the new form "as-is", the equipment is unaffected.
• If the equipment is not the proper size, but could otherwise be used, then it grows or shrinks to a usable size. No other aspects of the equipment is altered; the clothing does not change color or texture to make it any more appropriate to the assumed form, for example. When the spell ends, the equipment reverts to its original size, as it does if the creature drops or removes the equipment.
• If the equipment cannot be used by the new form, regardless of size, then it melds into the assumed shape and is nonfunctional. For example, if the assumed shape does not have hands or limbs capable of manipulation, any handheld weapons meld into the body. When the Polymorphed template is lost, any melded equipment reappears, in the same location on your body and unharmed.

Material Component: An empty cocoon.

Animal Shape

Transmutation (Polymorph) (Special)
Level: Druid 5

This is the same as the polymorph spell except as noted, and in that the assumed form can only be of the animal or vermin type and that the maximum HD is 20.

Nature's Shape

Transmutation (Polymorph) (Special)
Level: Druid 7

This is the same as the polymorph spell except as noted, and in that the assumed form can only be of the animal, fey, magical beast, ooze, plant, or vermin type and that the maximum HD is 25.

Legendary Shape

Transmutation (Polymorph) (Special)
Components: V, S
Level: Bard 5

This is the same as the polymorph spell except as noted, and in that the assumed form can only be of the fey, humanoid, giant, or monstrous humanoid type and that the maximum HD is 20.