Recently while browsing through the Core I realized that my dragon disciple character would be able to polymorph into a dragon permanently by obtaining a scroll of Polymorph Any Object and casting it on herself. It is a perfect fit for her given her story background and motivations, but my GM questions the legitimacy of the tactic. After a discussion this evening we have agreed that my character will not pursue that path because he is not comfortable with it. However... he did encourage me to post here because his opinion could possibly be swayed by the opinions of the experienced folks here. I'll do my best to briefly represent our thoughts on the matter, and he can certainly clarify his position if he needs to.
We are playing with Core and APG, he likes to play RAW as much as possible with only very few house rule exceptions.
Main Points:
GM - I would need to cast from a scroll since I will not likely get level 8 spells. He feels that the mechanic that allows casters to use higher level spells than they would normally have access to was not originally intended to provide low level characters early access to such high level spells.
ME - There is a very explicit mechanic that allows a caster of any level to attempt to use a scroll to cast a spell of any level. It is a purely mathematical formula as presented in Core. His take on it, while it certainly could be legitimate in any given setting, is imposing a limitation on the mechanic that is not supported by the text detailing scroll usage. The penalties for a failed check are also very clear. (Note that the earliest that I could attempt this would be level 13 as a sorcerer 3/barbarian 2/dragon disciple 8)
GM - Polymorph Any Object would not allow a permanent casting of Form Of The Dragon 1. Form Of The Dragon 1 has a specific duration, and because it is not a spell that can be affected by Permanency, it can't be made permanent. If Form Of The Dragon had been intended to have a permanent option to it, they would have included a mechanic whereby it can be made permanent.
ME - Such a mechanic was included, it is Polymorph Any Object.
Which brings up one final question. According to the section describing the polymorph subschool, you can only be affected by one polymorph at a time. If while under the effects of a permanent Form Of Dragon, I cast Alter Self, is the permanent polymorph suppressed for the duration of the Alter Self or is it completely negated?
What about a wizard with a Permancy and Enlarge Person who then uses Alter Self? Are all "permanents" equal?
So what are your thoughts on this? Is this a legitimate tactic? Is this a loophole that was never intended for this purpose? A worthy goal for one who feels like a dragon trapped in a woman's body? A game breaking exploit?
My GM and I appreciate your thoughts.
