| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Since Polymorph Any Object is an often debated spell, I tried to find and list all creatures types with their appropriate transformation spells and the duration according to the duration factor. If a creature type was not covered by a spell I tried to find something as close as possible.
If you notice any errors or if I overlooked a spell or a creature type, please tell me.
Basis for calculation is a medium humanoid with average (10) intelligence.
Since Polymorph Any Object is a level 8 spell, I excluded all spells of level 8 and 9 (such as Form of the Dragon III and Undead Anatomy IV) because it would make those spells obsolete.
Also I assumed you want to change into the maximum size allowed by the spell. Smaller sizes could increase the duration factor (DF) by 2.
I also added some notes how relations could be added to increase the DF by 2.
Type: Animal, Spell: Beast Shape IV
Duration:
For a mammal -> Permanent (DF=9: Same Kingdom, Same Class, Lower Intelligence)
For all others -> 1 week (DF=7: Same Kingdom, Lower Intelligence)
Relation: Animal Domain, Wild Shape ability, Aspect of the Beast feat, Beast totem Rage power and similar abilities/feats
Type: Magical Beast, Spell: Beast Shape IV
Duration:
Stupid Beast -> 1 week (DF=7: Same Kingdom, Lower Intelligence)
Intelligent B. -> 12 hours (DF=5: Same Kingdom)
Relation: Aspect of the Beast feat, Beast totem Rage power and similar abilities/feats.
If you can argue that a creature like a unicorn is a mammal then the DF increases by 2.
Type: Dragon, Spell: Form of the Dragon II
Duration:
Stupid Dragon -> 1 week (DF=7: Same Kingdom, Lower Intelligence)
Intelligent D. -> 12 hours (DF=5: Same Kingdom)
Relation: Dragon Bloodline, Dragon Disciple Class and similar abilities/feats
Type: Humanoid, Spell: Alter Self or Giant Form I
Duration:
Humanoid -> permanent (DF=9: Same Kingdom, Same Class, Related)
Often they will have the same size and intelligence as well giving it a DF of 13.
Relation: Already related.
Type: Elemental, Spell: Elemental Body IV
Duration:
Elemental -> 1 hour (DF=2: Lower Intelligence)
I classified an elemental as a mineral since they are made of Stone, Air, Water etc.
Relation: Elemental Bloodline, Player race with ties to elemental planes, Horizon Walker class features and similar abilities/feats.
Type: Plant, Spell: Plant Shape III
Duration:
Plant -> 1 hour (DF=2: Lower Intelligence)
Relation: Plant Domain and similar abilities/feats.
Type: Monstrous Humanoid, Spell: Monstrous Physique IV
Duration:
Stupid Monster -> 1 week (DF=7: Same Kingdom, Lower Intelligence)
Intelligent M. -> 12 hours (DF=5: Same Kingdom)
Relation: Drawing a blank here, but since it is a monstrous humanoid, they could count related due to the humanoid shape.
Type: Undead, Spell: Undead Anatomy IV
Duration:
Stupid Undead -> 1 week (DF=7: Same Kingdom, Lower Intelligence)
Intelligent U. -> 12 hours (DF=5: Same Kingdom)
Relation: Death Domain, Undead Bloodline and similar abilities/feats.
I am not sure how to classify Undead. An animated human is still a mammal right? Or does it count as mineral now?
Type: Vermin, Spell: Vermin Shape II
Duration:
Vermin -> 1 week (DF=7: Same Kingdom, Lower Intelligence)
Relation: Desert Druid or Blight Druid Archetypes and similar abilities/feats.
.
.
.
The following creature types have no special polymorph spell.
Type: Construct, Spell: Iron Body?
Duration:
Construct -> 1 hour (DF=2: Lower Intelligence)
Relation: Artificer Domain and similar abilities/feats.
Iron Body is not too bad a replacement for this, but is also a level 8 spell. So allowing it’s effect to be covered by PAO would make it obsolete.
Type: Ooze, Spell: Fluid Form?
Duration:
Ooze -> 1 hour (DF=2: Lower Intelligence)
Relation: Another blank. There is not much love for oozes.
Fluid Form is actually more of a water elemental spell than anything else. Still it is the closest I found to an actual ooze.
Type: Fey, Spell: No reference spell
Duration:
Stupid Fey -> 1 week (DF=7: Same Kingdom, Lower Intelligence)
Intelligent Fey -> 12 hours (DF=5: Same Kingdom)
Relation: Fey Bloodline, Gnome Magic and similar abilities/feats.
Small characters can have the advantage here since Fey creatures are often small. However a Fey’s main assets are their spell-like abilities, which you can’t get via polymorph.
Type: Aberration, Spell: No reference spell
Duration:
Stupid Aberration -> 1 week (DF=7: Same Kingdom, Lower Intelligence)
Intelligent Aberration -> 12 hours (DF=5: Same Kingdom)
Relation: Aberration Bloodline and similar abilities/feats.
Since Aberrations usually represent twisted versions of other creature types just use the appropriate spell and work from there.
Type: Outsider, Spell: No reference spell
Duration:
Stupid Outsider -> 1 week (DF=7: Same Kingdom, Lower Intelligence)
Intelligent Outsider -> 12 hours (DF=5: Same Kingdom)
Relation: Horizon Walker class features and similar abilities/feats.
An outsider can be almost anything. Often the differences are mostly spell-like abilities and such. Just like with Aberrations, use the creature type closest and work from there.