I'm building a Transmuter BBEG and I've run into a problem with PAO, namely: How the heck does it work?
When cast on a creature, I gather it works like Greater Polymorph, and would be limited by the constraints of that spell as to what types and sizes it can transform into. Which cuts a lot of utility out of the spell.
What I don't understand is how does it work when you cast it on an object. The spell description specifies the base stats for an object that has none, which I imagine would then be further modified as per Greater Polymorph, so I can change a pebble in to a Medium Red Dragon with rather pitiful stats: Str 14 Dex 10 Con 12 Int 5 Wis 5 Cha 5, 14 AC and only a handful of abilities, pretty weak compared to Summon Monster VIII.
But the big question is: how many Hit Dice would this Dragon have? Objects have hit points, so maybe I can have those carry over (which raises its own problems: Pebble into Dragon - 20 hp, boulder into Dragon - 2,000 hp). But I still need HD for basically everything else.
Any ideas on how to run this? If there's not a RAW answer, House Rule suggestions would be welcome too.
Or maybe I'll just reflavor SMVIII.
In the case of object to creature we used either the base creature stats or improvised via animate object values. In the case of a creature like a dragon, which has a whole range of HD we ruled that a caster cannot make something with more HD than he himself has caster levels (an 18th level wizard was limited to 18 HD dragons made from sticks).
Using the base creature clears up the stat problem, too.
The main problem was (and is) to avoid all the kinds of abuse some players will try while keeping it somewhat useful. Back in the day of 1E the spell had no limits and had to be completely houseruled. The favorite creatures were all those which the current version in Pathfinder cannot do (aberrations mostly...rustmonsters, beholders, medusas and the like).