Polymorph vs polymorph any object as a ring or potion

[wizrdskills]

ok im a bit new at dming and i want to create an evil wizard that has been cursed by lycanthrophy and is turning rats into wererats by either giving them a ring of polymorph/polymorph any object or he feeds them a potion of the same sort. We are playing in 3.5 and im not sure if this is actually do able with a ring that continuously polymorphs/any object and or if the subject would actually turn into the desired form.
Any thoughts, suggestions and or item break downs?

Thank you so much in advance

[Bronk]

ok im a bit new at dming and i want to create an evil wizard that has been cursed by lycanthrophy and is turning rats into wererats by either giving them a ring of polymorph/polymorph any object or he feeds them a potion of the same sort. We are playing in 3.5 and im not sure if this is actually do able with a ring that continuously polymorphs/any object and or if the subject would actually turn into the desired form.
Any thoughts, suggestions and or item break downs?

Thank you so much in advance

Okay, there are several options, keeping in mind that only natural lycanthropes, not afflicted lycanthropes, can spread their lycanthropy, and that polymorph spells can't turn creatures into other creatures that have a template (and lycanthropy is a template).

First, this wizard could be a natural lycanthrope and bite regular humanoids to turn them.

Second, the wizard could be a natural lycanthrope, use Polymorph Any Object to turn rats (or anything else, really) into humanoids, then bite them and curse them with lycanthropy.

Third, the wizard could be an afflicted lycanthrope, use PAO to turn rats (etc.) into humanoids, then, having taken the 'Extra Spell' feat (Complete Arcane, p79), and used that feat to get the spell "Curse of Lycanthropy" (Spell Compendium, p57, normally a 6th level spell from the Pestilence domain), then, cast that spell on the newly minted humanoid, creating 1d6 wererats that way.

Forth, as third, but instead of a wizard, it's a cleric with the Renewal and Pestilence domains, to get the the spells "PAO" and "Curse of Lycanthropy" that way.

Since you mentioned potions, if the wizard also had enough levels of the 'Master Alchemist' prestige class, they could create potions of these two spells, make the rats and then the humanoids helpless, and force the potions down their throats.

Edit: Normally, potions can only be made from spells of up to third level, but the Master Alchemist class allows you to make potions of up to 9th level spells. This allows the potions to be made, and also allows them to be sold afterwards. Your wizard could just by buying these spells in potion form from an unscrupulous dealer.

[Daefos]

Technically, rats cannot be were-rats because the lycanthrope template can only be applied to humanoids and giants, but we'll ignore that because giant rats are a classic.

Potions can only go up to 3rd level spells, so those are right out. And a ring of Polymorph or Polymorph Any Object (I do not recommend letting the latter anywhere near a party that is still threatened by wererats) probably wouldn't work, because for the most part, you can't activate magic items on another creature. So the wizard gives the rat a ring... and nothing happens because it doesn't know to use it. Because it's a dumb rat.

That said, you're the DM, so you can just makes things up. A ring of Polymorph is unviable, but a "cursed" ring that specifically turns things into wererats, and only were-rats, would work better. I think the best solution would be to just have the rat-to-wererat transformation be a unique spell or ritual the wizard has discovered. It's simple, plausible, and doesn't leave a dozen magic were-rat rings laying around for your party to use later.

[emeraldstreak]

Yeah. Don't do it with a portable magic item.

Either give the evil wizard a spell to create his minions, or at most a room-sized artifact.

Giving away rings of PAO is just asking for DM trouble.

[wizrdskills]

thank you for your response this helps alot :)

I will probably either try the alchemist version or have him come up with some wacky ritual that transforms rats into wererats.