Polymorph & how exactly does a Medusa's gaze attack work?

[MrHackenSlasher]

So I'm a sorceror, and I'm going to be taking the polymorph spell next lvl. I have a very weak party member that I want to actually make useful by polymorphing him. I'm limited to 6-7 HD creatures. I was looking at Medusa which was a 6 HD critter iirc. Any other ideas for good polymorph creatures between 6-7 HD are welcome.

But what I was wondering was... is the Medusa gaze attack on ALL the time? Or does it have to be activated. I don't want my party member turning to look at Us and turning the entire party to stone.

[tyckspoon]

So I'm a sorceror, and I'm going to be taking the polymorph spell next lvl. I have a very weak party member that I want to actually make useful by polymorphing him. I'm limited to 6-7 HD creatures. I was looking at Medusa which was a 6 HD critter iirc. Any other ideas for good polymorph creatures between 6-7 HD are welcome.

But what I was wondering was... is the Medusa gaze attack on ALL the time? Or does it have to be activated. I don't want my party member turning to look at Us and turning the entire party to stone.

Polymorph doesn't grant Supernatural abilities like Gaze attacks, so in this specific case it's an irrelevant question. Polymorph is mostly best applied for physical buffs; good Polymorph forms are creatures with notably high physical scores, unusually nasty natural attacks (you *do* get Extraordinary attacks, so things like poisons, Pounce, and stunning attacks are usually granted), and sometimes interesting movement modes. Creatures of the Giant type are usually pretty safe bets.

In the general case of Gaze attacks, if it comes up again, yes, you can voluntarily turn them off. But if you have it on, everybody in range is subject - your allies get a 50% chance of not having to save (equivalent to them not trying to look at you/you trying not to look at them) but they are still exposed to it.

[Diarmuid]

I imagine it works like all standard Gaze attacks as it doesnt say otherwise:



Gaze (Su): A gaze special attack takes effect when opponents look at the creature's eyes. The attack can have almost any sort of effect: petrification, death, charm, and so on. The typical range is 30 feet, but check the creature's entry for details. The type of saving throw for a gaze attack varies, but it is usually a Will or Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 gazing creature's racial HD + gazing creature's Cha modifier; the exact DC is given in the creature's descriptive text). A successful saving throw negates the effect. A monster's gaze attack is described in abbreviated form in its description. Each opponent within range of a gaze attack must attempt a saving throw each round at the beginning of his or her turn in the initiative order. Only looking directly at a creature with a gaze attack leaves an opponent vulnerable. Opponents can avoid the need to make the saving throw by not looking at the creature, in one of two ways.
Averting Eyes: The opponent avoids looking at the creature's face, instead looking at its body, watching its shadow, tracking it in a reflective surface, and so on. Each round, the opponent has a 50% chance to not need to make a saving throw against the gaze attack. The creature with the gaze attack, however, gains concealment against that opponent.
Wearing a Blindfold: The opponent cannot see the creature at all (also possible to achieve by turning one's back on the creature or shutting one's eyes). The creature with the gaze attack gains total concealment against the opponent.
A creature with a gaze attack can actively gaze as an attack action by choosing a target within range. That opponent must attempt a saving throw but can try to avoid this as described above. Thus, it is possible for an opponent to save against a creature's gaze twice during the same round, once before the opponent's action and once during the creature's turn.
Gaze attacks can affect ethereal opponents. A creature is immune to gaze attacks of others of its kind unless otherwise noted.
Allies of a creature with a gaze attack might be affected. All the creature's allies are considered to be averting their eyes from the creature with the gaze attack, and have a 50% chance to not need to make a saving throw against the gaze attack each round. The creature also can veil its eyes, thus negating its gaze ability.


Edit - I dont see anywhere in there that you can voluntarily turn it on/off.

[Silvanoshei]

I think this is what you want.

Enjoy. (http://community.wizards.com/forum/previous-editions-character-optimization/threads/1096231)

[Anxe]

I imagine it works like all standard Gaze attacks as it doesnt say otherwise:



Edit - I dont see anywhere in there that you can voluntarily turn it on/off.

There's a part at the end about "veiling the eyes" to turn it off. I imagine it'd be covering the hair for a medusa, but same sort of thing.