Defining objects "of great intrinsic value" in Polymorph Any Object

[Ravingdork]

Polymorph any object makes it clear that you cannot transform objects and creatures into objects of "great intrinsic value," such as copper, silver, gems, silk, gold, platinum, mithral, or adamantine. Where does one draw the line though? What qualifies?

Could someone change a room full of air into a room full of several hundred doses of burnt othur fumes? Or a pool of water into a pool of king's sleep? Burnt other fumes are normally valued at 2,100gp/dose on the black market, whereas king's sleep is worth 5,000gp. Do they qualify as "objects of great intrinsic value?" If so, why?

How is this different from transforming a tree into a bridge? Or a boulder into a castle? Bridges and castles are quite expensive and have great intrinsic value.

What is and is not considered an object of great intrinsic value for the purposes of spells and effects like polymorph any object?

Author's note:

I waited for seven years for clarifications from Paizo, only to have them mark the Clarity on Polymorph Any Object thread as "answered in the errata," which is blatantly untrue.

I'm not giving up. Please FAQ this post, and others like it, so we can finally get some answers.

[James Risner]

Ask your GM.

In general, if your GM thinks you are trying to profit, then it is a value of "great intrinsic value".

[Reverse]

Presumably, you're trying to cross the bridge or hide in the castle, rather than sell it off for a profit.

In a universe where gold is so common that seashells are used for currency instead, you couldn't polymorph something into seashells, but could do gold.

Ask yourself: Is this object for a profit? Then it doesn't work.

[Alderic]

Judging from the list, what's important is the value of the material, not the form it takes.
Bridge made of stone ? You're fine.
Want a bridge of gold ? You're out of luck.

[Saldiven]

James Risner wrote:

Ask your GM.

In general, if your GM thinks you are trying to profit, then it is a value of "great intrinsic value".

I agree with this.

I think it's left deliberately vague so as to allow a GM flexibility in what is or isn't permitted based on the circumstances at hand.