[AD&D Gamebook] The Sorcerer's Crown (Kingdom of Sorcery, book 2 of 3)
- Thread starter Joshua Randall
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Joshua Randall
Legend
In AD&D rules, the target of the spell gets “Saving Throw: Neg.” Which means that if the target makes its save, the spell has no effect.
Magic-users in AD&D had save vs. Spell as one of their better saves, starting at 12+ on d20 being a success at levels 1-5 and improving to 10+ at levels 6-10. So if Arno is 9th level as we suspect, he has a 55% chance to shrug off our Polymorph Other.
However, if he fails the save, Arno must then make a System Shock roll to see if the stress of the Polymorph straight up kills him. Let’s assume Arno has a perfectly average 10 Constitution. This gives him a 70% System Shock Survival chance.
So our chance to snuff Arno instantly with Polymorph Other is .45 X .30 = 0.135 or 13.5% — not great, but not negligible.
If Arno fails the save but succeeds at the System Shock roll, there’s still a chance his mind will become that of whatever we turn him into. The base chance is 100% but you subtract 5% for each point of intelligence. If we assume Arno matches our INT 19 then he’d subtract 95% and have only a 5% chance to believe he’s a caterpillar in this example.
Although even a caterpillar that retains its Arno-level INT and knowledge is still… a caterpillar, which is not going to be much of a threat physically. (It would retain Arno’s hit points so we’d need to whack it several times, but what’s it going to do: inch away as fast as it can?)
So if we fail to snuff Arno instantly with the combo of failed save + failed System Shock roll, we still effectively save-or-die him on the failed save. Meaning that 45% of the time against an assumed Arno as 6th-10th level magic-user, Polymorph Other is lethal!
It really is a ridiculously powerful spell for 4th level.
Joshua Randall
Legend
INT test [to turn Rufyl into a Dragon Turtle], and this time it’s a hard one.
(78) if 25 or more.
(109) if less.
---
We roll boxcars and prove we may not be Landor himself, but we are still THE Carr Delling, descendant of an ARCHMAGE whose power filled the GODS THEMSELVES with fear!
With a result of 31 on our INT test we turn triumphantly to (78).
---
Rufyl begs us not to go through with this. Dalris warns us this is no mere “conjuring illusion”.
We tell them both to STFU so we can concentrate, and we order Rufyl to make himself visible so we can focus our energies on him.
We glance at the war galley: “[we] can see the faces of the marines at the rail.” We clear our thoughts and translate our father’s words:
Forces of nature, hear my command!
I, Carr, mage of Wealwood thus demand
That the mortal form of this beast be free
To assume whichever form I decree!
Rufyl’s body goes limp, “entering a dangerous nether state of existence on some other plane that will last until the spell is complete.” We have to specify minute details about the current and proposed shapes of Rufyl. We hope our description of a Dragon Turtle, which we’ve read about but never seen, is accurate enough.
A grappling hook snags our boat just as we complete the spell. Rufyl’s shape quivers and cracks. We (including Dalris) try to shut out his mental screams of anguish. A hard shell begins to protrude from Rufyl’s back.
“You idiot!” Dalris screams. “A full-grown dragon turtle is bigger than this boat! You should have placed Rufyl in the water.”
Yup. We should have. A monstrously large webbed flipper suddenly protrudes outwards and pins us to the deck. Dalris tries to drag us free, but the massive shell explodes in a final surge of growth, crushing us both.
Your spell was successful, but only the transformed Rufyl is alive to know it. ✠
DEATH COUNT: 5
(78) if 25 or more.
(109) if less.
---
We roll boxcars and prove we may not be Landor himself, but we are still THE Carr Delling, descendant of an ARCHMAGE whose power filled the GODS THEMSELVES with fear!
With a result of 31 on our INT test we turn triumphantly to (78).
---
Rufyl begs us not to go through with this. Dalris warns us this is no mere “conjuring illusion”.
We tell them both to STFU so we can concentrate, and we order Rufyl to make himself visible so we can focus our energies on him.
We glance at the war galley: “[we] can see the faces of the marines at the rail.” We clear our thoughts and translate our father’s words:
Forces of nature, hear my command!
I, Carr, mage of Wealwood thus demand
That the mortal form of this beast be free
To assume whichever form I decree!
Rufyl’s body goes limp, “entering a dangerous nether state of existence on some other plane that will last until the spell is complete.” We have to specify minute details about the current and proposed shapes of Rufyl. We hope our description of a Dragon Turtle, which we’ve read about but never seen, is accurate enough.
A grappling hook snags our boat just as we complete the spell. Rufyl’s shape quivers and cracks. We (including Dalris) try to shut out his mental screams of anguish. A hard shell begins to protrude from Rufyl’s back.
“You idiot!” Dalris screams. “A full-grown dragon turtle is bigger than this boat! You should have placed Rufyl in the water.”
Yup. We should have. A monstrously large webbed flipper suddenly protrudes outwards and pins us to the deck. Dalris tries to drag us free, but the massive shell explodes in a final surge of growth, crushing us both.
Your spell was successful, but only the transformed Rufyl is alive to know it. ✠
DEATH COUNT: 5
Joshua Randall
Legend
Commentary:
Another death mostly due to WIS 3 and, apparently, INT negative infinity. What kind of idiot doesn’t account for the fact that the Polymorph Other is going to cause Rufyl to grow by an order of magnitude? (Dragon Turtles are “up to 30’ dia[meter]” according to the AD&D Monster Manual.)
“You should have placed Rufyl in the water.”
When you realized that, Dalris, why didn’t you say something useful instead of insulting us?
Rufyl’s body goes limp, “entering a dangerous nether state of existence on some other plane that will last until the spell is complete.”
I have no idea where the gamebook author is going with this sentence. Clearly Rufyl’s body does NOT enter some other state of existence on another plane, given that it explosively grows into a Dragon Turtle.
We have to specify minute details about the current and proposed shapes of Rufyl.
This sentence, which seems to be common knowledge about how polymorph works in D&D, is neither in the AD&D PH spell description nor the DMG’s notes on the spell.
The PH states that the spell “completely alters the form and ability, and possibly the personality and mentality, of the recipient”, gives rules for the System Shock roll and the mental change percent chance, and uses examples of turning an orc into a white dragon or a fighter into a blue dragon.
The DMG reminds us that henchmen and hirelings will not willingly agree to be subjected to this spell and carves out an exception for shapechangers (such as lycanthropes) who will only be affected for 1 round rather than permanently.
The concept that the magic-user needs intimate familiarity with the intended polymorph shape must have been in the mid-‘80s zeitgeist or in some Dragon Magazine article, because it’s not in the AD&D rules as written.
---
In any event, 13-year-old Joshua was extremely disappointed that his impeccable logic about how to find a waterborne Marid ended in everyone’s death.
What if we instead Polymorph Rufyl into a flying creature to carry us to safety?
Another death mostly due to WIS 3 and, apparently, INT negative infinity. What kind of idiot doesn’t account for the fact that the Polymorph Other is going to cause Rufyl to grow by an order of magnitude? (Dragon Turtles are “up to 30’ dia[meter]” according to the AD&D Monster Manual.)
“You should have placed Rufyl in the water.”
When you realized that, Dalris, why didn’t you say something useful instead of insulting us?
Rufyl’s body goes limp, “entering a dangerous nether state of existence on some other plane that will last until the spell is complete.”
I have no idea where the gamebook author is going with this sentence. Clearly Rufyl’s body does NOT enter some other state of existence on another plane, given that it explosively grows into a Dragon Turtle.
We have to specify minute details about the current and proposed shapes of Rufyl.
This sentence, which seems to be common knowledge about how polymorph works in D&D, is neither in the AD&D PH spell description nor the DMG’s notes on the spell.
The PH states that the spell “completely alters the form and ability, and possibly the personality and mentality, of the recipient”, gives rules for the System Shock roll and the mental change percent chance, and uses examples of turning an orc into a white dragon or a fighter into a blue dragon.
The DMG reminds us that henchmen and hirelings will not willingly agree to be subjected to this spell and carves out an exception for shapechangers (such as lycanthropes) who will only be affected for 1 round rather than permanently.
The concept that the magic-user needs intimate familiarity with the intended polymorph shape must have been in the mid-‘80s zeitgeist or in some Dragon Magazine article, because it’s not in the AD&D rules as written.
---
In any event, 13-year-old Joshua was extremely disappointed that his impeccable logic about how to find a waterborne Marid ended in everyone’s death.
What if we instead Polymorph Rufyl into a flying creature to carry us to safety?
I foretell another humiliating death. I suppose we also get insulted if we had failed the roll, but I hope, at least, that failing also leads to death in the Dragon Turtle attempt? Succeeding at a roll should never be worse than failing.
Given Carr's performance, and Dalris comments, I am starting to think we are closer to Rincewind than Rhialto.
Given Carr's performance, and Dalris comments, I am starting to think we are closer to Rincewind than Rhialto.
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Joshua Randall
Legend
On a failure we don’t even get the spell off successfully: we put Rufyl into the comatose-and-partially-on-another-plane trance (completely made up for this gamebook), then bumble around until we all get shot to death by angry archclericy marines.
I meant to comment before: if they are close enough that we can see their faces when we start the spell, and if the spell apparently takes a long time to cast (which it doesn’t: casting time 4 segments by-the-book, or basically “your action on your turn” if cast as a scroll), then what are the enemy doing while Carr laboriously arranges Rufyl in just the right spot, pronounces the words of a 4-stanza poem, thinks deep thoughts about Dragon Turtle anatomy, etc?
So “Dragon Turtle” is one of those choices where you’re dead as soon as you make it, and the dice decide the details of your death.
I meant to comment before: if they are close enough that we can see their faces when we start the spell, and if the spell apparently takes a long time to cast (which it doesn’t: casting time 4 segments by-the-book, or basically “your action on your turn” if cast as a scroll), then what are the enemy doing while Carr laboriously arranges Rufyl in just the right spot, pronounces the words of a 4-stanza poem, thinks deep thoughts about Dragon Turtle anatomy, etc?
So “Dragon Turtle” is one of those choices where you’re dead as soon as you make it, and the dice decide the details of your death.
Joshua Randall
Legend
Hahahahaha!
Perhaps Carr should have attended the same prestigious magical academy as (contact)’s character Jespo Crim from the Liberation of Tenh story hour.
Joshua Randall
Legend
What if we instead Polymorph Rufyl into a flying creature to carry us to safety?
---
3
We state that our only chance is to get off this “scow” before the marines board it, and thus we will transform Rufyl into a Roc.
Tears spring to Dalris’s eyes and she begs us not to risk Rufyl’s life because only “experienced” magic-users ever try to polymorph things. We respond that Landor polymorphed Rufyl many times and that we’re going to read Landor’s incantation exactly as written.
Once again Rufyl mentally protests, once against we tell him to quiet down so we can concentrate, and this time the INT test is slightly easier:
(129) if 24 or more;
(109) if less.
---
Commentary:
… our only chance is to get off this “scow” before the marines board it …
Not only do we once again insult the boat that Dalris’s kinsman kindly provided, we remain incredibly self-centered. The “scow” has a cannonball hole in it and might sink. Furthermore, it’s about to be boarded by a bunch of angry marines.
We essentially condemn everyone on the boat to death the moment we take off. Which is exactly on brand for typical gamebook “heroes”.
… she begs us not to risk Rufyl’s life because only “experienced” magic-users ever try to polymorph things.
We’re 6th level, only one below being naturally able to cast Polymorph Other (a 4th level spell cast-able at 7th magic-user level). It’s not like we are toying with powers far beyond our ken.
---
3
We state that our only chance is to get off this “scow” before the marines board it, and thus we will transform Rufyl into a Roc.
Tears spring to Dalris’s eyes and she begs us not to risk Rufyl’s life because only “experienced” magic-users ever try to polymorph things. We respond that Landor polymorphed Rufyl many times and that we’re going to read Landor’s incantation exactly as written.
Once again Rufyl mentally protests, once against we tell him to quiet down so we can concentrate, and this time the INT test is slightly easier:
(129) if 24 or more;
(109) if less.
---
Commentary:
… our only chance is to get off this “scow” before the marines board it …
Not only do we once again insult the boat that Dalris’s kinsman kindly provided, we remain incredibly self-centered. The “scow” has a cannonball hole in it and might sink. Furthermore, it’s about to be boarded by a bunch of angry marines.
We essentially condemn everyone on the boat to death the moment we take off. Which is exactly on brand for typical gamebook “heroes”.
… she begs us not to risk Rufyl’s life because only “experienced” magic-users ever try to polymorph things.
We’re 6th level, only one below being naturally able to cast Polymorph Other (a 4th level spell cast-able at 7th magic-user level). It’s not like we are toying with powers far beyond our ken.
Joshua Randall
Legend
A roll of 2, 3 barely gets us to 24.
129
We command Rufyl to show himself so we can see his shape. The sight of a miniature Draco conflagratio horribilis draws the attention of the marines on the nearby war galley who shout to each other “Kill it and its friends!” but make no move to do so. [Even though on the failed roll, they immediately riddle everyone’s body with crossbow bolts.]
We chant our cool verbal component again…
Forces of nature, hear my command!
I, Carr, mage of Wealwood thus demand
That the mortal form of this beast be free
To assume whichever form I decree!
Rufyl goes limp, “entering a dangerous phase of the spell when he exists only on another plane.” [Still not remotely true to the AD&D version of polymorph.]
When we complete the spell, Rufyl’s body “begins to swell as if an egg were hatching inside his chest. Suddenly, there’s a gruesome rending sound as the scales split and a huge feathered creature emerges, growing ever larger.”
We expect to hear Rufyl’s thoughts, but the transformation seems to have damaged his telepathy. Dalris asks Rufyl to “squak three times if you can understand me”, which the roc does. We hope the spell didn’t alter Rufyl’s personality or intelligence.
We ask Rufyl to Roc to fly us to land. He encircles us loosely with his talons, “forming two secure cages for [us] to ride in.” He leaps into the air and soars away from the angry shouts of the galley “as [we] fly towards Saven.”
Turn to (99).
---
Commentary:
The sight of a miniature Draco conflagratio horribilis draws the attention of the marines…
Fakus Latinus in the original text. Because all worlds use the same dead language for precise nomenclature.
When we complete the spell, Rufyl’s body “begins to swell as if an egg were hatching inside his chest. Suddenly, there’s a gruesome rending sound as the scales split and a huge feathered creature emerges, growing ever larger.”
I did not recall the extreme body horror of the polymorph transformations in these books. Gnarly!
129
We command Rufyl to show himself so we can see his shape. The sight of a miniature Draco conflagratio horribilis draws the attention of the marines on the nearby war galley who shout to each other “Kill it and its friends!” but make no move to do so. [Even though on the failed roll, they immediately riddle everyone’s body with crossbow bolts.]
We chant our cool verbal component again…
Forces of nature, hear my command!
I, Carr, mage of Wealwood thus demand
That the mortal form of this beast be free
To assume whichever form I decree!
Rufyl goes limp, “entering a dangerous phase of the spell when he exists only on another plane.” [Still not remotely true to the AD&D version of polymorph.]
When we complete the spell, Rufyl’s body “begins to swell as if an egg were hatching inside his chest. Suddenly, there’s a gruesome rending sound as the scales split and a huge feathered creature emerges, growing ever larger.”
We expect to hear Rufyl’s thoughts, but the transformation seems to have damaged his telepathy. Dalris asks Rufyl to “squak three times if you can understand me”, which the roc does. We hope the spell didn’t alter Rufyl’s personality or intelligence.
We ask Rufyl to Roc to fly us to land. He encircles us loosely with his talons, “forming two secure cages for [us] to ride in.” He leaps into the air and soars away from the angry shouts of the galley “as [we] fly towards Saven.”
Turn to (99).
---
Commentary:
The sight of a miniature Draco conflagratio horribilis draws the attention of the marines…
Fakus Latinus in the original text. Because all worlds use the same dead language for precise nomenclature.
When we complete the spell, Rufyl’s body “begins to swell as if an egg were hatching inside his chest. Suddenly, there’s a gruesome rending sound as the scales split and a huge feathered creature emerges, growing ever larger.”
I did not recall the extreme body horror of the polymorph transformations in these books. Gnarly!
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