Polymorph: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:15, 2 May 2013

Polymorph
Level	4
School¹	Transmutation
School²	Hexes
Source(s)	Book of Morphology
Casting noise	3
Spell noise	0

This spell randomly alters the form of another creature.

Polymorph is a Transmutations spell which, if used on a natural, demonic, or plant monster, will transmute it into another monster of the same category, usually with the same or slightly higher HD. Some chaotic creatures are special cases: ugly things simply change their color, while shapeshifters and glowing shapeshifters will heal some HP as they change form.

If Polymorph is used by an enemy on a player who fails to resist, the player will suffer a temporal transformation called bad form. Mutation resistance is useless against this, but Magic resistance functions normally. Zin can also protect from this transformations.

Similar effects can be achieved with a wand of polymorph, the attack of a chaos weapon, and some Transmutations miscast effects.

Strategy

Good Targets

This is a partial list of good targets for spells, wands or clouds of polymorph other - that is, monsters which are unlikely to become more powerful when polymorphed.

Electric eel - They'll turn into a less dangerous flying or water-capable creature.
Red wasp - If you lack poison resistance these can be very nasty.
Moth of Wrath - They can turn a crowd of weaklings into a berserk mob.
Boggarts (and other low-HD summoners) - Although fragile, summoners can bring lethal reinforcements into play. Fortunately they have low enough HD that the polymorph results are usually pretty pathetic.
Jelly - Polymorphing is an effective means of avoiding their corrosive attacks.
Harpy - An option if you have issues dealing with very fast monsters.
Oklob plant - Usually turns into a wandering mushroom.
Sigmund (and other well-armed uniques) - If he turns into anything but a humanoid, his branded scythe, spells, and wands will be useless.

Bad Targets

Hydra - These often become storm dragons or guardian serpents. Even if you have problems with hydras, these alternatives are worse.
Slugs - They have very high HD. An elephant slug has nearly the same HD as an ancient lich. The results will not be pretty.
Adders or other inoffensive creatures - you'd really rather have a boggart?
Worms - They may hit hard early on, but they're slow and you'll soon outgrow them. But they do have fairly high HD, and a human hits harder and is much faster.
Slime creatures - A single one can turn into a giant orange brain or a storm dragon. Larger versions can turn into multiple such creatures.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-#REDIRECT [[Polymorph Other]]
+{{Spell
+|name=Polymorph
+|level=4
+|school1={{Transmutations}}
+|school2={{Hexes}}
+|school3=
+|castingnoise=3
+|spellnoise=0
+|sources=<div>
+* [[Book of Morphology]]
+</div>
+}}
+{{flavour|This spell randomly alters the form of another creature.}}
+'''Polymorph''' is a [[Transmutations]] spell which, if used on a [[:Category:Natural_holiness|natural]], [[:Category:Demonic_holiness|demonic]], or [[:Category:Plant_holiness|plant]] monster, will transmute it into another monster of the same category, usually with the same or slightly higher [[HD]]. Some chaotic creatures are special cases: [[ugly thing]]s simply change their color, while [[shapeshifter]]s and [[glowing shapeshifter]]s will heal some HP as they change form.
+If Polymorph is used by an enemy on a player who fails to resist, the player will suffer a temporal transformation called  [[bad form]]. [[Mutation resistance]] is useless against this, but [[Magic resistance]]  functions normally. [[Zin]] can also protect from this transformations.
+Similar effects can be achieved with a [[wand of polymorph]], the attack of a [[chaos]] weapon, and some [[Transmutations]] miscast effects.
+==Strategy==
+===Good Targets===
+This is a partial list of good targets for spells, wands or clouds of polymorph other - that is, monsters which are unlikely to become more powerful when polymorphed.
+*[[Electric eel]] - They'll turn into a less dangerous flying or water-capable creature.
+*[[Red wasp]] - If you lack poison resistance these can be very nasty.
+*[[Moth of Wrath]] - They can turn a crowd of weaklings into a [[berserk]] mob.
+*[[Boggart]]s (and other low-HD summoners) - Although fragile, summoners can bring lethal reinforcements into play. Fortunately they have low enough HD that the  polymorph results are usually pretty pathetic.
+*[[Jelly]] - Polymorphing is an effective means of avoiding their corrosive attacks.
+*[[Harpy]] - An option if you have issues dealing with very fast monsters.
+*[[Oklob plant]] - Usually turns into a [[wandering mushroom]].
+*[[Sigmund]] (and other well-armed uniques) - If he turns into anything but a humanoid, his branded [[scythe]], [[spell]]s, and [[wand]]s will be useless.
+===Bad Targets===
+*[[Hydra]] - These often become [[storm dragon]]s or [[guardian serpent]]s. Even if you have problems with hydras, these alternatives are worse.
+*Slugs - They have very high HD. An [[elephant slug]] has nearly the same HD as an [[ancient lich]]. The results will not be pretty.
+*[[Adder]]s or other inoffensive creatures - you'd really rather have a boggart?
+*[[Worm]]s - They may hit hard early on, but they're slow and you'll soon outgrow them. But they do have fairly high HD, and a [[human (monster)|human]] hits harder and is much faster.
+*[[Slime creature]]s - A single one can turn into a [[giant orange brain]] or a [[storm dragon]]. Larger versions can turn into '''multiple''' such creatures.