Undoing Baleful Polymorph.

[Winterthorn]

Hi folks, another question today:

A LG cleric PC in my game was turned into a small viper by a Yuan-ti abomination (failed the Fort save, but passed the Will save). The spell is "Permanent" like a Wall Of Stone is, but is appears in the rules that Dispel Magic should undo this unfortunate turn of events. However, that would mean one could use Dispel Magic on any "Permanent" spell such the Wall of Stone spell... Is that true? (I suspect there are rules problems and game logic issue lurking here... the Dispel Magic remedy also seems too easy to me.) Perhaps I missed something?

I told my players that based on their character knowledge, it would seem best to slay their Yuan-ti foe and the ensorcellment would be automatically reversed (a classic remedy in magic lore)... I was hoping that before the next game session (in 2 weeks) you folks could advise on this particular case.

Thanks again,

W

 

[Jdvn1]

There's a difference between Permanent and Instantaneous.

Baleful Polymorph is Permanent. That means magic holds it in place, kind of. So the magic can be undone via Dispel.

Wall of Stone is Instantaneous. That means, basically, the magic merely creates something, and there's no magic after the spell is cast. Since there's no magic, can't be dispelled.

 

[Winterthorn]

There's a difference between Permanent and Instantaneous.

Baleful Polymorph is Permanent. That means magic holds it in place, kind of. So the magic can be undone via Dispel.

Wall of Stone is Instantaneous. That means, basically, the magic merely creates something, and there's no magic after the spell is cast. Since there's no magic, can't be dispelled.

I just reread the Wall of Stone spell myself and you are correct: Wall of Stone is Instantaneous. I wonder why I thought it was Permanent -- perhaps because the result of that spell is rather "permanent". Bad comparison on my part.

I'll rethink this issue... I'll have the PC's reroll their knowledge (arcana) and give them a better answer.

Thanx.

-W.

 

[Jdvn1]

You could create a more powerful Baleful Polymorph spell or add some new metamagic feat that makes it stick longer or something.

It's a cool idea, so tell me what happens.