polymorph any object "same kingdom"

[newguydude1]

assuming casting twice doesnt work because dm said "original state" means your natural form and not your 1st pao form.
same size and same or lower intelligence is obvious but the other 3 are unclear

Same kingdom (animal, vegetable, mineral) +5
Same class (mammals, fungi, metals, etc.) +2
Same size +2
Related (twig is to tree, wolf fur is to wolf, etc.) +2
Same or lower Intelligence +2

is the same kingdom a complete list? as in everything falls under animal, vegetable, or mineral? so all non-construct creatures fall under animal? because theres no etc. at the end of that list unlike the other two.

shrew and manticore are apparently same kingdom. which supports the "complete list" theory?

[NotInventedHere]

Traditionally speaking, "kingdom" in this context ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_(biology) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_(biology)#Two_kingdoms_of_life) ) would refer to Carl Linnaeus's classifications of things into animals, vegetables, and minerals, which would strongly imply that the example kingdoms are intended to be a complete list. If your DM is feeling particularly pedantic, they may refer you to a more modern "kingdom" list and rule that fungi, protozoa, bacteria and certain types of algae are their own kingdoms. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_(biology)#Seven_kingdoms) However, by any reading of the kingdoms, pretty much any non-Construct, non-Plant, non-Elemental creature will most certainly be in the animal kingdom.

[newguydude1]

Traditionally speaking, "kingdom" in this context ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_(biology) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_(biology)#Two_kingdoms_of_life) ) would refer to Carl Linnaeus's classifications of things into animals, vegetables, and minerals, which would strongly imply that the example kingdoms are intended to be a complete list. If your DM is feeling particularly pedantic, they may refer you to a more modern "kingdom" list and rule that fungi, protozoa, bacteria and certain types of algae are their own kingdoms. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_(biology)#Seven_kingdoms) However, by any reading of the kingdoms, pretty much any non-Construct, non-Plant, non-Elemental creature will most certainly be in the animal kingdom.

ok thats persuasive. thanks. youve been really helpful.

so i guess by that wiki article all elementals and constructs and any other non-undead unliving thing would be under minerals since is the only one thats non-life. then again elementals are living creatures...

[NotInventedHere]

then again elementals are living creatures...
Elementals are living creatures, but they're not exactly made of regular meat. I think real-world taxonomy breaks down a bit when you try to apply it to magical beings of pure flame or air.

[Khedrac]

Elementals are living creatures, but they're not exactly made of regular meat. I think real-world taxonomy breaks down a bit when you try to apply it to magical beings of pure flame or air.

And this is the huge problem with PAO - they classified all the monsters into a type hierarchy but forgot to update PAO from 1st ed which relies on a DM assigning a Linnaen classification to things made from pure elements (elementals) or soul-stuff (most outsiders).
And what about hybrid monsters?