Polymorph Any Object - Limits of Cosmetic Changes

[Nifft]

Polymorph Any Object: "This spell functions like polymorph, except..."

Polymorph: "This spell functions like alter self, except..."

Alter Self: "You can change into a member of your own kind or (1) even into yourself. (...) You can freely designate (2) the new form’s minor physical qualities (such as hair color, hair texture, and skin color) within the normal ranges for a creature of that kind. The new form’s significant physical qualities (such as height, weight, and gender) are also under your control, but they must fall within the norms for the new form’s kind."

So.

The idea is to PAO a person into him- or herself (per clause 1), but different (per clause 2).

Which of these ought to be legal?
A - Changing minor physical qualities such as hair color, hair texture, or skin color (seems explicitly allowed).
B - Adding or removing cosmetic blemishes like birthmarks, scars, or wrinkles.
C - Fixing defects which have no mechanical impact, such as a single missing finger.
D - Fixing defects which do have a mechanical impact and/or emulating the effects of a regeneration spell.
E - Changing the target's feat selection (e.g. adding or removing the effect of a feat like Dragonwrought).

Note that regeneration is a Divine spell (Cleric 7) of roughly the same level as transmute stone to wood (Druid 7), and PAO explicitly can emulate transmute stone to wood.

IMHO it seems that (E) should NOT be allowed.

(D) seems valid -- albeit questionable, on the basis that the spell ought to say if it can emulate another spell.

(A), (B), and (C) all seem valid.

Thoughts?

[Cruiser1]

IMHO it seems that (E) should NOT be allowed.
(D) seems valid -- albeit questionable, on the basis that the spell ought to say if it can emulate another spell.
(A), (B), and (C) all seem valid.
(D): Polymorph Any Object says which spells it can emulate, and Regeneration is not one of them. Just because PaO can duplicate a few level 7 spells doesn't mean it is the same as Miracle and can duplicate all level 7 spells. Note that if PaO can bring back missing limbs, that's still a temporary effect which can be dispelled, so isn't as good as real Regeneration. Also, if PaO can temporarily bring back missing limbs, it seems like Alter Self can do so to, since the latter spell is based on the former and doesn't say anything different on the matter of missing limbs.

(E): Changing into another race, even with Alter Self, will at least gain or lose racial bonus feats, i.e. that are marked with "(B)". However, PaO isn't Psychic Reformation, so doesn't allow you to rebuild your character (although changes from the spell may affect your build if they remove needed prerequisites for feats, making those feats inactive).

[Nifft]

(D): Polymorph Any Object says which spells it can emulate, and Regeneration is not one of them. Just because PaO can duplicate a few level 7 spells doesn't mean it is the same as Miracle and can duplicate all level 7 spells. Note that if PaO can bring back missing limbs, that's still a temporary effect which can be dispelled, so isn't as good as real Regeneration. Also, if PaO can temporarily bring back missing limbs, it seems like Alter Self can do so to, since the latter spell is based on the former and doesn't say anything different on the matter of missing limbs.

(E): Changing into another race, even with Alter Self, will at least gain or lose racial bonus feats, i.e. that are marked with "(B)". However, PaO isn't Psychic Reformation, so doesn't allow you to rebuild your character (although changes from the spell may affect your build if they remove needed prerequisites for feats, making those feats inactive).

That's correct.

But the question is: where is the line?

You can obviously use PAO to get back your hair that was chopped off.

You can maybe use PAO to get back your pinky finger that was chopped off.

You can probably not use PAO to get back your whole arm that was chopped off, but...

You can certainly use PAO to turn into a whole 'nother creature which has its usual number of arms, and a large Natural Armor bonus, and better base stats than your old form.

So, what is the cut-off?

[SkipSandwich]

That's correct.

But the question is: where is the line?

You can obviously use PAO to get back your hair that was chopped off.

You can maybe use PAO to get back your pinky finger that was chopped off.

You can probably not use PAO to get back your whole arm that was chopped off, but...

You can certainly use PAO to turn into a whole 'nother creature which has its usual number of arms, and a large Natural Armor bonus, and better base stats than your old form.

So, what is the cut-off?


I would go with the interetation that you CAN use PAO to turn into "yourself, but whole" with the caveat that unlike an actual Regeneration, you lose the limb if your shapechange is dispelled. I would rule that Alter Self and even polymorph lack the power to do the same, and that if you are missing significant portions of your body and use either Alter Self or Polymorph to transform into a new form, you are still missing the same bits (I would allow Polymorph to swap mass around though, swapping a missing leg for a missing arm or similar trades).