Dragon Talk: Sage Advice on Polymorph, 10/2/17
Why Role-playing Games Stack Exchange recommends it
RPG Stack Exchange answerers cite it as a designer-level source for how Polymorph replaces a stat block, what survives the change, and how repeated castings stack.
Recommended by 0 people across 0 different months, 2018 to 2019.
What it is
A 51-minute episode of the official Dungeons & Dragons livestream and podcast Dragon Talk, recorded 2 October 2017. Rules designer Jeremy Crawford gives Sage Advice on how Polymorph differs from other shapeshifting spells such as Wild Shape, and touches on how stacked castings of the same spell interact.
What people said
Cites ZwiQ · 2018-01 · Role-playing Games Stack Exchange · on “Can True Polymorph create rare inks?”
Problem You seem to be attacking the problem from the wrong direction. Let me illustrate with a concrete example: Consider that the rare ink is really the blood of a red dragon. You are able to form the whole dragon with polymorph, but you can't form a vial of its blood (because say blood is not a discrete object)? How does that make sense? Well, it does and doesn't. It does make sense from the point of view of the game mechanics. Yet, it does not make sense from the metaphysical self-consistency of the game's multiverse. The only thing you can say that this is magic in a fantasy world. Taking this as a clue, why don't we stick to something fantastic? Solution This brings us to how we could
Cites GcL · 2018-11 · Role-playing Games Stack Exchange · on “If you cast a spell with different effect options twice on the same creature, do multiple castings of the spell stack?”
Effects do not stack Your citation of the relevant rules is spot on. The effects will not stack. Most recent replaces previous Relevant Sage Advice interview with Jeremy Crawford (~25:30) [this video] regarding person under the effect of a spell ( true polymorph ) and that spell being superseded by a subsequent casting of the same spell. "The next one on the stack replaces the previous one on the stack unless the previous one ... is more powerful." As pointed out by Rubiksmoose [LINK] , the most recent errata for the Player's Handbook [LINK] clarifies: Combining Magical Effects (p. 205). In the first paragraph, the following sentence has been added to the first paragraph: “Or the most recent effe
Cites GcL · 2018-11 · Role-playing Games Stack Exchange · on “How do two castings of Mirror Image interact when one starts losing illusory duplicates?”
The most potent casting or most recent would be in effect until it ends. Then the previous casting is in effect. When the most recently cast mirror image runs out of images, it stops affecting the target. The previously cast instance of the spell is then in effect assuming it still has time on it's duration. Casting the same spell multiple times Relevant Sage Advice interview with Jeremy Crawford (~25:30) [this video] regarding person under the effect of a spell (true polymorph) and that spell being superseded by a subsequent casting of the same spell. "The next one on the stack replaces the previous one on the stack unless the previous one ... is more powerful." As pointed out by Rubiksmoose [LI
Cites Quadratic Wizard · 2019-05 · Role-playing Games Stack Exchange · on “What is and is not "personality" for the purpose of Polymorph?”
It's largely up to DM's interpretation. "Personality" isn't a game term per se. It retains the ordinary meaning of that word and is adjudicated by the individual DMs in the event that a question arises. The closest thing to a definition is in PHB p. 123, Personal Characteristics , which states: Fleshing out your character's personality— the array of traits, mannerisms, habits, beliefs, and flaws that give a person a unique identity —will help you bring him or her to life as you play the game. Four categories of characteristics are presented here: personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws. Beyond those categories, think about your character's favorite words or phrases, tics and habitual ge
Cites Foo Bar · 2019-05 · Role-playing Games Stack Exchange · on “What is and is not "personality" for the purpose of Polymorph?”
It's well understood that "___ Polymorph" spells overwrite pretty much everything in a stat block (or character sheet) with numerical functionality, including languages, proficiencies, and named features. Everything except "alignment and personality". What does "personality" mean? A very inclusive option would be "any knowledge or memory that doesn't have a predefined quantified effect". A very exclusive option would be "personality traits, flaws, bonds, & ideals exactly as written, plus relationships & emotions, but otherwise tabula rasa as befitting a creature who just sprang into existence". As pointed out, " What defines a PC's consciousness of self, memories and knowledge? [LINK] " is i
Cites ZwiQ · 2019-08 · Role-playing Games Stack Exchange · on “Can a polymorphed creature use class features that don't require speech or hand gestures?”
There is a detailed discussion of this and similar issues at Dragon Talk issue of October 2, 2017 [this video] , where Jeremy Crawford clearly states that you can maintain concentration but you cannot use any class features whatsoever , as your stat block is completely replaced. You put aside your character sheet and just take the relevant beast's page from the Monster Manual . It is also mentioned that polymorph and the druid's Wild Shape should not be compared; they should be read separately from each other and not in relation or contrast to one another. Finally, regarding the sentences in polymorph that mention actions, hands, and speech: The relevant segment begins around 15:40 in the video.