This is regarding the fourth level spell polymorph. Regarding the polymorphed creature's mind and disposition, the spell description says:
The target's game statistics, including mental ability scores, are replaced by the statistics of the chosen beast. It retains its alignment and personality.
"Personality" seems vague, especially if the new form is a beast known for being indiscriminately aggressive and combative. Given the (assumed) diminished mental capacity of the changed creature, how well can the polymorphed creature discern friend from foe? Can it even make that distinction?
Would a human fighter polymorphed into a giant shark, or a giant snapping turtle, for instance, be able to distinguish between allies and enemies? What does a giant snapping turtle with the "personality" of a human fighter act like? Would the giant snapping turtle simply snap at whatever is near, or would it be able to choose its targets based on relationships it has when in true (human) form?
Has Crawford, Mearls, or anyone else in the know clarified or commented on this?
So far as I know, absolutely everyone plays this as the same character, just with a new statblock. Certainly we know by RAW that the spell doesn't modify your memories, although your new Int score reflects your new capacity to recall them, so it would be inappropriate to suddenly forget who your friends are, etc.
1 Intelligence doesn't remove the ability to identify friends and foes. Even the dumbest of animals are capable of that. Compare Feeblemind:
On a failed save, the creature's Intelligence and Charisma scores become 1. The creature can't cast Spells, activate Magic Items, understand language, or communicate in any intelligible way. The creature can, however, Identify its friends, follow them, and even protect them.
Keep in mind that the beasts still have a decent Wisdom score.
It just means it acts however the character would act as that animal (and guarantees the player doesn't lose control of the character).
Your example has 2 problems that make it hard to answer. 1) turtles don't have many ways to emote, so personality will mostly come down to what it eats, bites, and faces. 2) "human fighter" is not s personality, I couldn't tell you how they act as a human let alone polymorphed.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
This is regarding the fourth level spell polymorph. Regarding the polymorphed creature's mind and disposition, the spell description says:
"Personality" seems vague, especially if the new form is a beast known for being indiscriminately aggressive and combative. Given the (assumed) diminished mental capacity of the changed creature, how well can the polymorphed creature discern friend from foe? Can it even make that distinction?
Would a human fighter polymorphed into a giant shark, or a giant snapping turtle, for instance, be able to distinguish between allies and enemies? What does a giant snapping turtle with the "personality" of a human fighter act like? Would the giant snapping turtle simply snap at whatever is near, or would it be able to choose its targets based on relationships it has when in true (human) form?
Has Crawford, Mearls, or anyone else in the know clarified or commented on this?
So far as I know, absolutely everyone plays this as the same character, just with a new statblock. Certainly we know by RAW that the spell doesn't modify your memories, although your new Int score reflects your new capacity to recall them, so it would be inappropriate to suddenly forget who your friends are, etc.
1 Intelligence doesn't remove the ability to identify friends and foes. Even the dumbest of animals are capable of that. Compare Feeblemind:
Keep in mind that the beasts still have a decent Wisdom score.
It just means it acts however the character would act as that animal (and guarantees the player doesn't lose control of the character).
Your example has 2 problems that make it hard to answer. 1) turtles don't have many ways to emote, so personality will mostly come down to what it eats, bites, and faces. 2) "human fighter" is not s personality, I couldn't tell you how they act as a human let alone polymorphed.