Notreallyhere77
2011-01-28, 03:46 PM
As most of us know, the polymorph spell is easily subject to abuse. Some DMs prefer to ban it altogether, but I think I may have developed a solution by modifying the spell as follows:
1) The caster, when polymorphed, can only use extraordinary abilities, not supernatural or spell-like abilities (I'm not looking at the spell at the moment, so this may still be part of the actual rules, but since this is a point of centention between myself and a friend, I have chosen to include it), but can use natural attacks as normal.
2) When turning into any creature for the first time, the caster makes a knowledge check to remember any special extraordinary abilites the creature may posess. The caster cannot use abilities that he does not know about. For example, if he rolls poorly on a knowledge check about trolls, he may remember that they have regeneration, but forget about the rend attack, and thus be unable to use it. The claw attacks are availible either way, as it is a natural attack and not an extraordinary ability.
3) If the caster cannot identify the creature he is trying to polymorph into with the above knowledge check, he cannot polymorph into that creature.
4) The normal rules fro retrying knowledge checks apply for this use, but you cannot lose abilities if you roll a lower result on the reroll at higher levels, only gain new ones from rolling higher.
Let me know what you think, as both players and DMs, please.
If your opinions are favorable, I may start implementing this modification as a house rule.
1) The caster, when polymorphed, can only use extraordinary abilities, not supernatural or spell-like abilities (I'm not looking at the spell at the moment, so this may still be part of the actual rules, but since this is a point of centention between myself and a friend, I have chosen to include it), but can use natural attacks as normal.
2) When turning into any creature for the first time, the caster makes a knowledge check to remember any special extraordinary abilites the creature may posess. The caster cannot use abilities that he does not know about. For example, if he rolls poorly on a knowledge check about trolls, he may remember that they have regeneration, but forget about the rend attack, and thus be unable to use it. The claw attacks are availible either way, as it is a natural attack and not an extraordinary ability.
3) If the caster cannot identify the creature he is trying to polymorph into with the above knowledge check, he cannot polymorph into that creature.
4) The normal rules fro retrying knowledge checks apply for this use, but you cannot lose abilities if you roll a lower result on the reroll at higher levels, only gain new ones from rolling higher.
Let me know what you think, as both players and DMs, please.
If your opinions are favorable, I may start implementing this modification as a house rule.