D&D 5E Ghost possession rules vs polymorphed and beast shape

[Luke Haverland]

Hey guys. I'm running an encounter in SKT with the Uthgardt ghosts and was wondering the rules on possession of a polymorphed or beast shaped PC. We had to quit mid fight because it got too late and the ghost is up next in initiative. I understand it can't cast spells or use class features, but if the target is already shape changed in some way, what do you do? Maybe concentration would be broken for polymorph, but canceling beast shape technically is part of the class feature. Any thoughts? Does the shape change drop automatically when the PC becomes possessed? Thanks in advance!

 

[Herobizkit]

The description of the Ghost's possession power has the answers, I think. The solution comes in the form of the host becoming incapacitated as a result of the possession.

If the possessed creature is maintaining a polymorph spell, their concentration is broken and the subject reverts to its normal form.

If a Druid falls Unconscious (ie. is incapacitated), they also revert to their normal form.

 

[Hriston]

If a Druid falls Unconscious (ie. is incapacitated), they also revert to their normal form.

Incapacitated doesn't mean you're unconscious though, so as a result of ghost possession the druid is incapacitated in beast-form.

 

[jaelis]

And in fact the possession ends if the druid drops to zero hp and wild shape ends.

 

[Luke Haverland]

Ok. So given that all incapacitation does is prevent actions and reactions, would concentration necessarily end? Or is it because the player, who is still aware, would know to break concentration for the good of the party? Since concentration doesn't require an action or reaction to drop or maintain, would incapacitation actually matter?

If the ghost possesses a Druid in wild shape, the ghost is not actually possessing the Druid body, but the body of the bear e.g., which then causes possession to drop once the wild shape, not the druid's, hp goes to 0. Is that right? Or should the Druid just get an additional savings throw to force the ghost out at that time?

 

[jaelis]

The concentration rules call out that it ends if you're incapacitated.

And yes, if the animal form is reduced to zero hp the ghost is forced out. Since that's what the possession rules say

 

[Harzel]

The ghost's Possession ability specifically can target only a humanoid. Thus in the case of a beast shaped Druid or any non-humanoid resulting from Polymorph, I would probably say that the ghost could not, and would not attempt to, possess it.

For True Polymorph, though, the result could be a humanoid. In that case, if the polymorphed creature was the caster, then as [MENTION=60210]jaelis[/MENTION] notes, the caster is incapacitated, concentration drops, and the form reverts. If the polymorphed creature is not the caster, then nothing special would happen until the caster drops concentration or the spell duration expires. Either way, I think I would rule that when the form reverts, then if the creature was originally humanoid, possession would continue, if not, then the ghost would be forced out.

 

[jaelis]

The ghost's Possession ability specifically can target only a humanoid. Thus in the case of a beast shaped Druid or any non-humanoid resulting from Polymorph, I would probably say that the ghost could not, and would not attempt to, possess it.

Good catch. I tend to forget that creature type really changes with things like polymorph and wild shape, but JC has indeed confirmed that it does.