What are some of the best creature to polymorph into?

[Keegan__D]

I just found out about the Polymorph Any Object spell and how to be come anything permanently.
I'm looking for the strongest thing of 15 or fewer hit dice and player-obtainable intelligence (no LA) that would go well with being a 15th level Wizard.

[Optimator]

Google knows.

Here's a good thread. (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=10479.0) And another, less appropriate thread on a similar subject (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19528526/updated_Master_of_Many_Forms_Bible__official_wild_ shape_rules).

[Runestar]

Sarrukh (serpent kingdoms) gives you 30 int.

Must really try it on a wiz15 npc someday. :smalltongue:

[gkathellar]

Twelve-headed cryohydra, for those days when you're done wasting spells on people.


Sarrukh (serpent kingdoms) gives you 30 int.

Must really try it on a wiz15 npc someday. :smalltongue:

Polymorph doesn't alter your mental stats.

[Runestar]

Twelve-headed cryohydra, for those days when you're done wasting spells on people.



Polymorph doesn't alter your mental stats.

No, but polymorph any object does. :smallsmile:

[gkathellar]

No, but polymorph any object does. :smallsmile:

You are correct. Forgot that.

The only flaw in that is that it's hard to get PAO with a permanent duration unless your intelligence score is already around that point.

[Jack_Simth]

You are correct. Forgot that.

The only flaw in that is that it's hard to get PAO with a permanent duration unless your intelligence score is already around that point.
The standard "How to get it permanent" is by interpreting "original state" as listed in the spell to mean "the state immediately prior to this particular casting"

With that interpretation, then you just use Polymorph Any Object twice into the same form. The first may have a duration of only 20 minutes, but it doesn't matter - because the second fits all criteria, and has a Duration Factor in excess of 8 - making it Permanent.

However, if "original state" is interpreted to mean "state without polymorphic effects" then it's a very different situation.

[Safety Sword]

However, if "original state" is interpreted to mean "state without polymorphic effects" then it's a very different situation.

Yes, this would be the reasonable, non-munchkin reading interpretation :smalltongue:

[Runestar]

You are correct. Forgot that.

The only flaw in that is that it's hard to get PAO with a permanent duration unless your intelligence score is already around that point.

It already is permanent. +5 same kingdom, +2 same class, +2 same size for +9 duration.

For a fighter, planetar is a neat choice. :smallsmile:

[graeylin]

Choker's not bad. A little ugly, but you have alter self for that.

And, two standard actions per round. Nice for blowing through your spells...

[Hiro Protagonest]

There's always dragons and hydras.

[gkathellar]

There's always dragons and hydras.

This raises an interesting question. Say you eradicate all of a species, like Vaarsuvius with black dragons. Can people still polymorph into them? Or is the spell's usability dependent on the existence of things to copy?

[Hiro Protagonest]

This raises an interesting question. Say you eradicate all of a species, like Vaarsuvius with black dragons. Can people still polymorph into them? Or is the spell's usability dependent on the existence of things to copy?

Vaarsuvius didn't eradicate all black dragons. :smallconfused:

And I would say you could, you just have to imagine it.

[Hirax]

This raises an interesting question. Say you eradicate all of a species, like Vaarsuvius with black dragons. Can people still polymorph into them? Or is the spell's usability dependent on the existence of things to copy?

That's an interesting question that doesn't really have an answer. My crackpot theory of why you can't turn into hybrid creatures has always been that some metaphysical (or metamagical?) law limits you to only turning into Platonic ideals of a creature, from which you can then freely alter minor features. These Platonic forms are generated by the universe, and not you, you just need to comprehend them to be able to use them.

[Hiro Protagonest]

That's an interesting question that doesn't really have an answer. My crackpot theory of why you can't turn into hybrid creatures has always been that some metaphysical (or metamagical?) law limits you to only turning into Platonic ideals of a creature, from which you can then freely alter minor features. These Platonic forms are generated by the universe, and not you, you just need to comprehend them to be able to use them.

That might be why you cant take templates, like turning into a half-dragon. That, and the designers though transforming into a paragon celestial fiendish half-dragon hydra would make it broken. We all saw how that turned out.

[kardar233]

Keep in mind that normally you need to be an Epic creature (Protean) or take 10 levels in Master Transmogrifist to be able to blend forms.


~EDIT~

That might be why you cant take templates, like turning into a half-dragon. That, and the designers though transforming into a paragon celestial fiendish half-dragon hydra would make it broken. We all saw how that turned out.

Evil Idea #27756: Polymorph to Baby Shump. You win D&D.

[Hirax]

That might be why you cant take templates, like turning into a half-dragon. That, and the designers though transforming into a paragon celestial fiendish half-dragon hydra would make it broken. We all saw how that turned out.

It would also be horrifying to just be able to polymorph into a version of yourself, but with a template. Darn tootin' I'm phrenic, draconic, spellwarped, half-fey, naturally lycanthropic, shadow, firesouled, voidmind, mineral warrior, human half-golem. :smallbiggrin:

[ericgrau]

I just found out about the Polymorph Any Object spell and how to be come anything permanently.
Step back a second. Don't actually do this. The DM is right to chuck his DMG in response.

Ok go ahead with the second question and get some nice forms to temporarily change into. Generally you want something high CR and low HD. Some books put little or no thought into balancing this, hence IIRC war trolls are polymorph's poster boy example of cheesy under-HDed for its power creatures. Dragons OTOH tend to have too many HD. Look for other things that are low HD but not too nuts for your gaming group.

[deuxhero]

There are none (unless you are a Gish or someone have Polymorph access as a non-caster).

There are good creatures to Alter Self into, good things to Polymorph any Object into and there are good creature to Polymorph party members into, but there are not really any good things to Polymorph yourself into.

Polymorph does NOTHING to your squishness.

That said, Hydras for people with bonus damage dice applied to each attack, and strong low HD large things for BSFs