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I have a question about this spell.
Here is what the Beta says:
School transmutation (polymorph); Level sorcerer/wizard 8
casting
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M/DF (mercury, gum arabic, and smoke)
effect
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one creature, or one nonmagical object of up to 100
cu. ft./level
Duration see text
Saving Throw Fortitude negates (object); see text; Spell
Resistance yes (object)
description
This spell functions like greater polymorph, except that it
changes one object or creature into another. The duration
of the spell depends on how radical a change is made from
the original state to its enchanted state. The duration is
determined by using the following guidelines.
Changed Subject Is: Increase to Duration Factor1
Same kingdom (animal, vegetable, mineral) +5
Same class (mammals, fungi, metals, etc.) +2
Same size +2
Related (twig is to tree, wolf fur is to wolf, etc.) +2
Same or lower Intelligence +2
1 Add all that apply. Look up the total on the next table.
Duration Factor Duration Example
0 20 minutes Pebble to human
2 1 hour Marionette to human
4 3 hours Human to marionette
5 12 hours Lizard to manticore
6 2 days Sheep to wool coat
7 1 week Shrew to manticore
9+ Permanent Manticore to shrew
If the target of the spell does not have physical ability
scores (Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution), this spell grants
a base score of 10 to each missing ability score. If the target
of the spell does not have mental ability scores (Intelligence,
Wisdom, or Charisma), polymorph any object grants a score of
5 to such scores.
Damage taken by the new form can result in the injury or
death of the polymorphed creature. In general, damage occurs
when the new form is changed through physical force.
A nonmagical object cannot be made into a magic item with
this spell. Magic items aren’t affected by this spell.
This spell cannot create material of great intrinsic value,
such as copper, silver, gems, silk, gold, platinum, mithral, or
adamantine. It also cannot reproduce the special properties
of cold iron in order to overcome the damage reduction of
certain creatures.
This spell can also be used to duplicate the effects of
baleful polymorph, polymorph, flesh to stone, stone to flesh,
transmute mud to rock, transmute metal to wood, or transmute
rock to mud.
Does this mean if a PC dies and is reincarnated as a different species, say a Dwarf coming back as a Lizardfolk, will this spell permenantly change the Lizardfolk back into a Dwarf and give him back all his Dwarven abilities?
While polymorph any object could be used to change a lizardman into a dwarf with a duration of "permanent", it would grant only the abilities granted by the spell alter self. Not to mention that "permanent" is only permanent until dispelled.
If you want an "instantaneous" transformation from one race to another that really does grant all the racial abilities, I believe that a wish can be used for this purpose.
Note: We should probably change durations of "permanent" to "unlimited." That way, we could avoid the conundrum of "permanent isn't really permanent, but instantaneous is."
Wait a minute. If we did that, we'd have to rename the permanency spell. The unlimited duration spell? Doesn't quite have the same ring to it.