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Kaladorm
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1176 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Apr 2006 : 21:15:17
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I can already see some scribes cringing at this title :)
I've read a little about the reasoning for polymorph changes on the wizards website, I've also tried following the link they give to the errata, but cannot for the life of me find in plain speech what the exact changes are
Any help appreciated 
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BlackAce
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
358 Posts |
Posted - 23 Apr 2006 : 23:24:22
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I think this is the Key part.
quote:
The latest errata doesn’t seek to “fix” polymorph. Instead, it seeks to end polymorph’s stranglehold on other elements of the game—from class features (the druid’s wild shape) to related spells (animal shapes, baleful polymorph) to the many monsters who use powers based on the same effect (such as the succubus and yuan-ti)—by revising those elements so that they can function without referring to the problematic polymorph spell. This means that players and DMs who don’t mind their spellcasters using the polymorph spell can continue to use it as written in their home games, but the number of times they come across the spell in other aspects of the game will greatly diminish.
Translated that's; "Rather than alter 'Polymorph', we're going to alter the things that polymorph affects, so it impacts on our ability to design stuff less."
Basically, they're saying it's a hassle on designing things that involves shape change (or something a player could shape change into) because of the way it impacts on encounters and player abilities.
Imagine a player polymorphing into a really powerful mob and turning your DM's challenging encounter into an easy slaughter, your DM is not going to be happy and the designers are not going to be happy either. So they always have to take polymorph into account when designing.
Needless to say with the broad scope polymorph has that's a real pain in the backside. This is supposed to be the first step to addressing that.
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2006 : 01:27:22
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Essentially what they were saying, and they were pretty obtuse about it, is that for tournaments they are going to scrap polymorph . . . doesn't exist anymore. For future supplements they are going to do their level best not to refer to it anymore, but its in the SRD and the PH 3.5 if you don't have a problem with it.
I would say (Much as I hate to invoke the hated name of that which has not been confirmed), its a pretty clear indication if 4th edition happens with the same management in place, polymorph as a general spell is probably not going to make the transition.
Oddly enough, I have never really had a problem with this spell in my campaigns. If anyone abused it, it was probably me (as the DM). At worst, in previous editions I had some players use it for desperation escapes ("hey, I can fly now" or "hey, I can breathe water and swim" and you can't) or for a REALLY desperate way to get back 1d12 hit points.
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Arivia
Great Reader
Canada
2965 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2006 : 01:35:25
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quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Essentially what they were saying, and they were pretty obtuse about it, is that for tournaments they are going to scrap polymorph . . . doesn't exist anymore. For future supplements they are going to do their level best not to refer to it anymore, but its in the SRD and the PH 3.5 if you don't have a problem with it.
This is pretty much correct; near everything that referred to polymorph no longer does by errata. The fix is optional: DMs can just ban polymorph and the rest of that family(which might just be shapechange and alter self), without worrying about other references. |
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Polymorph
