Quote from __0__ >>

The whole "Turn myself into a dragon and ably polymorph between forms to retain class levels" thing has one simple flaw: you turn into a different creature, and thus cease to be what you were before. If you used any impermanent method of turning back, you would only seem to be what you were, but you do not become them. The Change Shape trait doesn't make you become a different creature, rather look like it. But, one who is a spellcaster and turns into a dragon might have the Dragon Innate Spellcasting trait, as the DM sees fit. You would just have the different dragon version of spellcasting, with the advantage that spells like Resurrection don't cost you material components (due to the fact that it is Innate Spellcasting).

 It depends on the DM actually.

Quote from cbcplteenzone >>

Then years later some unknowing adept casts a spell to color the gila monster pink as a prank, and another unknowing and well meaning adept casts dispel to remove the silliness, and a FREAKING Tarrasque bursts out of its flesh and begins to destroy the city.

 LOL but oh no

The fact that a level 14 Artificer can cast this spell if it's on a spell scroll makes me happy.

Become a Devkarin Lich so you get all those awesome spells and legendary actions :D 

I have a really cool idea for a plot hook involving True Polymorph;

A powerful wizard casts TP on the immortal lich Bob, turning him into a statue of silver. Then, the statue is melted down and the silver is turned into 10 swords(or similar). Since the 10 swords are separate, you'd have to dispel the magic on all 10 of them to return Bob to life. Ensue a campaign where the PCs must protect the 10 Kings of the Realms who wield these legendary Bob-swords from an evil Bobist cult.

Hypothetical scenario: if a high-level magical battle ended with the defeated party being True Polymorphed into an animal rather than killed, would said animal be smart enough to start following an adventurer around and/or act just "off" enough to make them suspect that there's more to it than meets the eye?

I can't help but compare the description of this spell to the one for Feeblemind, which states that even with a pitiful INT score of 1, "The creature can, however, identify its friends, follow them, and even protect them." I checked the stats for a few random animals for fun and I could name a fair few that are smarter than 1.

I'm sorry, I'm very new to the game and a friend and I just got it into our heads to DM for each other in a 1-on-1 fashion, we're having a blast, but I need to know if this idea is feasible.

A group of Elvish Archwizards could use this to create an actual army out of brooms and doors and boulders over the course of a few weeks if they tranced multiple times a day

Quote from SimplyMe514 >>

Hypothetical scenario: if a high-level magical battle ended with the defeated party being True Polymorphed into an animal rather than killed, would said animal be smart enough to start following an adventurer around and/or act just "off" enough to make them suspect that there's more to it than meets the eye?

I can't help but compare the description of this spell to the one for Feeblemind, which states that even with a pitiful INT score of 1, "The creature can, however, identify its friends, follow them, and even protect them." I checked the stats for a few random animals for fun and I could name a fair few that are smarter than 1.

I'm sorry, I'm very new to the game and a friend and I just got it into our heads to DM for each other in a 1-on-1 fashion, we're having a blast, but I need to know if this idea is feasible.

100% absolutely, it retains alignment and personality.

Masterplan:

1. Turn into Orcus

2. Become 20th level wizard

3. Kill real Orcus + claim wand

4. Use special powers to summon lichs

5. Polymorph lichs into iron golems (Golems follow their creators ever command)

6. Profit

Quote from ScourgeoftheWastes >>

Masterplan:

1. Turn into Orcus

2. Become 20th level wizard

3. Kill real Orcus + claim wand

4. Use special powers to summon lichs

5. Polymorph lichs into iron golems (Golems follow their creators ever command)

6. Profit

 Orcus has too high of a challenge rating to turn into. The CR must be equal or less than the target's CR (or level if it has no CR), basically meaning a 20th level wizard could turn into a 20 CR level thing, and Orcus is CR 26 :(

Also saw someone mention turning Tiamat into a psuedodragon (after getting her to use up resistances and such) and keep her as a new pet. Problem is, That's still a smart creature, and it's still Tiamat, she'd very likely know what you did to her, and simply find away to hurt her self enough to revert back (ex. fly 200 ft into the air and free fall). So unless you keep her on a short chain and force feed her, etc, you're just gunna have Tiamat again real soon. :)

Although speaking of iron golems, they are immune to "magic or effects" that would alter their form. So if you True Polymorph a big bad into an iron golem and make it permanent, so it's an iron golem for all intents and purposes, then kill it, would it stay an iron golem? I get in most other cases it would revert to it's true form, but wouldn't this count as an "effect" that would alter the iron golem's form? #ReadingTooDeep

If you turn a powerful creature into lets say a piece of Adamantine, and then forge it into a weapon. Could you create a sentient Weapon in this way? A player recently presented me with the idea he wanted to turn one of their recurring rivals/enemies into a Sentient Weapon, and I was thinking on ways to make that possible.

I mean it doesn't though??

“Choose one creature or nonmagical object that you can see within range. You transform the creature into a different creature, the creature into a nonmagical object, or the object into a creature (the object must be neither worn nor carried by another creature). The spell lasts for the duration, or until the target drops to 0 hit points or dies. If you concentrate on this spell for the full duration, the spell lasts until it is dispelled.”

I guess, “persistent” should be the technical verbiage. Then again, maybe not.

So question for turning an object into a creature would that work on a ship? If so what happens to the crew and cargo

Shapechange Mentions specifically that you can't use the creature's Legendary Actions, or Lair Actions ... however, True Polymorph mentions no such limitations, does that mean that you can use Legendary Actions (and Lair Actions, if somehow you had a lair ... perhaps if the True Polymorph became permanent or something)?

Warrior: How do we kill Tiamat?

Wizard: Ok, circle up everyone, I'm turning us all into dragons.

The bestiary states that when a creature assumes the form of another, it has no lair or legendary actions. However, it is vague on legendary resistances.

what level do you have to be to use the True polymorph spell?

The casting time is one action, but if you concentrate for the duration of the spell it becomes permanent. only if you intend to make the object/creature a permanently different creature or object must you concentrate. that's how the spell was intended.

So, True Polymorph.
I'm not trying to turn into a Dragon & still be Hgh Level Wizard at the same time (Though, I could use the Dragon transformation in a pinch to aid in battle, then revert back later through Dispell Magic)
[Keep in mind, even without Legendary or Lair Actions, Adult Dragons aren't to be taken lightly. It'd still be good to have the option when, say, fighting another Dragon or the BBEG.]

My real goal with True Polymorph is actually tied to a role play matter and the backstory for a character I'm thinking up.

So, my character has a sibling, let's say, this sibling is a Level 12 Human Male with the stats to match.
My character's sibling would rather be Female.
My current plan is to use True Polymorph to turn this human with a Male body into a human with a Female body, but the same memories, level, stats, and skills. (same eye color & hair color are ideal, but not necessary) [I was originally considering Wish, but that feels less geared to my character's goals & riskier than this.]
{Added bonus, most of the targets I'd use this method on would be willing if I offered, so no concerns about WIS saves when they want it}

Would the rules permit that?
Cause if so, I'm about to be one of the biggest Trans-Allies in all the Realm(s).