D&D 5E Polymorph and Questions

[1nsanem1nd]

Hello,


I've been running a wizard in a recent campaign with my friends. Now at a point where can I pick the polymorph spell but once I started digging into the spell I started to have a lot questions. Doing some searching I could find some answer but not a lot of agreement on what the best course of action was. Right now I'm more concerned with the RAW version, but please let me know what you think RAI should be.


Also, according to the Sage Advice I did read you can cast polymorph on yourself and maintain concentration. I saw that question come up in the past.


1. Arcane Ward - If a wizard has this spell inplace before the polymorph does any damage go towards that first then to the hp created from the polymorph spell?


2. Mage Armor - Does mage armor stack with the AC of the beast when in polymorph shape? Assuming that you had mage armor up before casting polymorph.


3. Concentration - If you cast polymorph on yourself and take damage. Does this require a concentration check every time you take damage while in the beast form? Does the concentration check use your CON check or that of the beast?


Lastly, what are some fun things you've seen done with Polymorph spell?


Sage Advice - August 2015

Critical Role Episode 31, Part 1. (I know Critical Role does more of homebrew ruleset but thought I post the link anyways. Its fun to watch the video but not taking it seriously.)
Skip to about: 15:00

 

[mellored]

1: I don't see arcane ward. But if you mean the abjuration wizard feature, yes it blocks damage first, before any HP, THP, or beast HP.

2: No. You can choose mage armor OR the beast's AC. Most of the time it will still be an upgrade. A brown bear for example, has 11 AC with 10 dex. So you could choose his 11 AC, or mage armors 13+0 = 13 AC. Net bonus of +2 AC.

3: Yes. The beast's Con is your Con, so you use that. Which could be better or worse. Some beasts may also have improved Con saving throws to use.


Bonus: Cast fly, then cast polymorph to turn into a whale at 300'. Also fun to see the DM struggle about what to do when you turn a creature into a bug and have someone eat it.

 

[1nsanem1nd]

1: I don't see arcane ward. But if you mean the abjuration wizard feature, yes it blocks damage first, before any HP, THP, or beast HP.

2: No. You can choose mage armor OR the beast's AC. Most of the time it will still be an upgrade. A brown bear for example, has 11 AC with 10 dex. So you could choose his 11 AC, or mage armors 13+0 = 13 AC. Net bonus of +2 AC.

3: Yes. The beast's Con is your Con, so you use that. Which could be better or worse. Some beasts may also have improved Con saving throws to use.


Bonus: Cast fly, then cast polymorph to turn into a whale at 300'. Also fun to see the DM struggle about what to do when you turn a creature into a bug and have someone eat it.

Thank you!!! That was very helpful.

For #2 is it okay if you explain more on how you came up with how I could either use natural AC or the Mage armor AC? Need to be able to explain to my DM.

Also.... You just gave me an idea for million more ideas for polymorph with that whale idea!

 

[Sunseeker]

Bonus: Cast fly, then cast polymorph to turn into a whale at 300'. Also fun to see the DM struggle about what to do when you turn a creature into a bug and have someone eat it.

As always, it immediately reverts to it's normal form. I hope you've got a big stomach.

 

[pming]

Hiya!

For #2, Armour Class is determined in 5e by and "either, or" dichotomy; it's not an "additive/subtractive" method. So, if you have three things that change your AC, they will usually be listed as "Your AC is 11 + Dex", "Your AC becomes 12 + Dex", or "You have an AC of 16". If you have a Dexterity bonus of +3, you would have AC 14 or AC 15 or AC 16. You wouldn't add all the 'bonuses' together and end up with AC 22.

Only rarely does something directly say or indicate that you get a flat 'bonus to AC' (say, the Shield spell). Those rare instances that do just add a flat bonus are usually very powerful or very specific to when and how long you get that bonus.

As for Polymorph, just remember that your DM's adjudication is part of the spells balance. In other words, if you think you've found some way to "instantly kill someone" or "instantly win this challenge", prepare to be disappointed (well, if you have a DM who actually gives a damn about his campaign and whatnot). Or...prepare to have the same tactics used against you. e.g., if your DM lets you get away with instantly killing someone who ingests a polymorphed creature, be prepared for him to just say "Oh, 1nsanem1nd, I almost forgot. Sometime after finishing dinner you explode. Make a new character". because somebody had cast polymorph on an ogre, turning it into a small hookworm, then placing it via Mage Hand into your cup of mead. Same with the whole "whale from the sky" idea. Whatever your PC can do, and NPC or monster can do to. And the DM has an infinite amount of them vs. your single player character. Just sayin'...

PS:My House rule on the swollowed-polymorphed-creature is basically to treat it as if it was a failed Teleport spell with damage inflicted on both creatures (so, take 3d10 force damage and 'pops out' at some random location near the creature that swollowed it). So, still useful for harming/hurting someone...via that person suddenly seeing a pissed off Ogre appear next to him by the cook fire!

^_^

Paul L. Ming

 

[jaelis]

Just to be a wet blanket: nothing in the rules indicates that an eating-size bug would actually count as a 'beast' for the purpose of the spell. A DM could rule that only creatures in the PHB or MM are valid forms. Your best bet then is probably a frog or scorpion, but you can't obviously swallow either whole.

(This isn't totally unreasonable, you have to draw a line somewhere or else let people turn into bacteria or whatever.)

 

[famousringo]

Just to be a wet blanket: nothing in the rules indicates that an eating-size bug would actually count as a 'beast' for the purpose of the spell. A DM could rule that only creatures in the PHB or MM are valid forms. Your best bet then is probably a frog or scorpion, but you can't obviously swallow either whole.

(This isn't totally unreasonable, you have to draw a line somewhere or else let people turn into bacteria or whatever.)

You've crushed my dreams of Polymorphing one of the soldiers in a goblin horde into an Ebola outbreak.

 

[ehenning]

Another small point: fly is a concentration spell, so you couldn't have it and Polymorph at the same time.

 

[spectacle]

Another small point: fly is a concentration spell, so you couldn't have it and Polymorph at the same time.

That's the entire point, having a whale suddenly fall out of the sky is tons of fun for everyone except whoever is directly beneath it.

 

[ehenning]

That's the entire point, having a whale suddenly fall out of the sky is tons of fun for everyone except whoever is directly beneath it.

OMG. Totally missed that! Yes, that would be awesome!