my solution to polymorphers

[plaguezombie]

someone polymorphs, alters self, etc. this is fine besides the fact that they basically are never prepared with what they need to do everything. as a DM this really annoys me. so this is what i want them to do, and you guys tell me if this seems fair. if you don't have the book right in front of you with at least the page turned to the table of contents by your turn, then you can't cast polymorph. this makes it so that the character knows he can't waste time to look through a bunch of books to find something. it also limits the vast power of it.

[Nearly Infinite Productions]

Don't know about "limitting the power" of it, but it sure sounds like it cuts out wasted game time. Gamed once with some joker who would take about half an hour to find just the right monster stats for the situation. The DM had the prerequisite points in "Heartlessness" to do the job, and so he just started skipping the guys turn if he was flipping through the MM with that look on his face.

As far as players polymorphing into crazy things, I've seen DM's rule that the caster needs to have studied the creature to be polymorphed into in order to properly duplicate it. One DM went so far as to require the caster to have touched the creature in the past. Worked fine. Gave Adam something to write down in his character's Notes section.

Also, a general DM quote that solves all issues of whining:
"Talk to the screen."

[Barrok]

Personally with Polymorph/Shapechange you would expect a caster to actually have at least read up on the creature in question, if not actually experienced it. Therefore if its a long running game where the caster tries to imitate a monster you know he has not studied, you could give the spell a certain chance to go awry with unforetold adverse reactions. This is where having a spell fumble table would really come in handy or just make it up on the fly. As I would say that as soon as a spell is cast as long as it isn't countered there will be a certain reaction but then again I am a very evil GM.

[Barrok]

Here is a little rough and tumble method if you know someone is using a polymorph spell without knowledge of the creature.



Roll 1d10

1) Polymorph Enhanced – The target creature is strong than normal and has +2Str and +2 Con

2) Polymorph successful – the spell works perfectly

3) Weakened Creature – The creature is weaker than normal -2Str

4) Unhealthy Creature - The creature is more frail than usual -2Con

5) Fat Creature – The creature is extremely portly, reduce based speed by 10ft

6) Brittle – The creature takes double damage from all bludgeoning attacks

7) Thin Skinned – The creature takes double damage from all piercing and slashing attacks

8) Elemental Frailty – The creature takes double damage from all acid, cold, electricity, fire and sonic sources.

9) Insane – For the duration of the polymorph the creature is counted as Confused.

10) Fatal Inversion – The creature’s internal organs are now on the outside of their body. Messy. Instant death.

[Xaelra]

Here is a little rough and tumble method if you know someone is using a polymorph spell without knowledge of the creature.



Roll 1d10

1) Polymorph Enhanced – The target creature is strong than normal and has +2Str and +2 Con

2) Polymorph successful – the spell works perfectly

3) Weakened Creature – The creature is weaker than normal -2Str

4) Unhealthy Creature - The creature is more frail than usual -2Con

5) Fat Creature – The creature is extremely portly, reduce based speed by 10ft

6) Brittle – The creature takes double damage from all bludgeoning attacks

7) Thin Skinned – The creature takes double damage from all piercing and slashing attacks

8) Elemental Frailty – The creature takes double damage from all acid, cold, electricity, fire and sonic sources.

9) Insane – For the duration of the polymorph the creature is counted as Confused.

10) Fatal Inversion – The creature’s internal organs are now on the outside of their body. Messy. Instant death.
[/b]

I like that. I think I'll use it. But yeah the character has to be prepared for this stuff. The caster in game wouldn't take forever to make up his mind, and neither should the player.

[abcd867]

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