Many of these varieties of Polymorph (Self) have a Fixed variety, which allows polymorph to a fixed form which may only be changed in the details, such as clothing, or things like hair, skin tone, apparent ill health, or the apparent presence of wounds. For example, Polymorph to Humanoid might have as one of its Fixed varieties Polymorph to Lizardman, but the exact details of the lizardman could be changed. Creating one of these Fixed spells is typically a far more simple spell research task than creating a new spell, as long as at least one Fixed Polymorph spell, and the non-Fixed version of the spell, is known from some source.
2nd
1 Fixed Polymorph to [set]
3rd
1 Polymorph to [set]
2 Polymorph to Inanimate (Seeming) [set]
3 Polymorph to Inanimate (True) [set]
4 Fixed Polymorph
5 Growth
6 Diminution
4th
1 Polymorph
2 Polymorph to Inanimate (Seeming)
3 Polymorph to Inanimate (True)
5th
1 Universal Polymorph
7th
1 Shapeshift
Fixed Polymorph to [set]: is a version of 'Polymorph to [set]' where there is only one form. Changing the form requires spell research. Examples include: Polymorph to Human, Polymorph to Lizardman, Polymorph to (Domestic) Cat, etc. Otherwise as Polymorph Self. Duration: as Polymorph Self.
Level: 2nd.
Polymorph to [set]: is a restricted Polymorph Self spell, which can only take the shape of a restricted set of forms. Changing the set of forms requires spell research. So, this is really a group of spells, not a single spell. Examples include: Polymorph to Humanoid, Polymorph to Related, Polymorph to Domestic Animal, etc. For example, the set of humanoid is (humanoids 4' to 8' tall), domestic animals is (cat, dog, rat, bird; not horse), hunting animals is (hound, hawk; not horse), canidoids is (dog, wolf, jackel, dire wolf), felinoid is (cat, cougar, jaguar, panther, tiger, lion), etc. Other set of forms might be classical familiars, or something like wolf-morphs which is (man, man-wolf, wolf). Polymorph to Related would be a spell where the shapes allowed depended on the base shape of the spell caster, e.g. if human humanoids, if dragon lizardoid. Duration: as Polymorph Self.
Level: 3rd.
Polymorph to Inanimate (Seeming) [set]: is a restricted 'Polymorph to Inanimate (Seeming)' spell, which can only take the shape of restricted set of forms. Changing the set of forms requires spell research. So, this is really a group of spells, not a single spell. Examples include: Polymorph to Blades (Seeming), Polymorph to Armour (Seeming), etc. For example, the set of blades is (dagger to great sword; not spears/pole arms), armour is (cloth to plate; not shields), light is (match, torch, lamp, lantern), digging tools is (trowel to mattock). Duration: as Polymorph Self.
Level: 3rd.
Polymorph to Inanimate (True) [set]: is a restricted 'Polymorph to Inanimate (True)' spell, otherwise as a 'Polymorph to Inanimate (Seeming) [set]'. Duration: as Polymorph Self.
Level: 3rd.
Fixed Polymorph: is a restricted Polymorph Self spell, which can only take a single Polymorph Self form. Changing the form requires spell research. The advantage of this effect over 'Fixed Polymorph to [set]' is that this effect allows modifications of the form assumed, after casting, to copy something. Copying is best achieved by having the original to hand, or by using some form of improved memory of it. By contrast, 'Fixed Polymorph to [set]' gives a generic form, which can't be modified once it has been assumed. Details, such as clothing, or things like hair, skin tone, apparent ill health, or the apparent presence of wounds, can also be easily changed. Duration: as Polymorph Self.
Level: 3rd.
Growth: as a potion, a full dose will cause height to change to 30'. Partial doses will cause a proportional change, eg: a third 10', two thirds 20'. Combined with Polymorph, 60' is the limit. All equipment also gets larger. The only advantage this would seem to give, other than impressing people, is a movement rate equivalent to a giant that size, and presumably a longer reach. There is no increase in combat capabilities, though may well now be easier to be targetted by more people. If DMs want to give more strength when grown, i.e. at least enough for normal movement, then +25 extrapolated STR for 30' height, which is 2.5 AD&D STR; if a character has less than 15 STR then gain AD&D STR 20 (Stone Giant), 15+ STR then gain AD&D STR 21 (Frost Giant); partial doses proportionally less, e.g. +5 STR for 10', +15 STR for 20'. DMs might want to base the growth on the initial size (i.e. small things end up smaller, big things larger), in which case for basic human this is x6 height with a limit of 30' (assuming humans are between 5' and 6'6" tall); ogres might end up 55' tall (assuming ogres are between 8' and 10' tall). This would appear to be a specialised Polymorph which just increases size. Duration: as Polymorph Self.
Level: 3rd.
Diminution: as a potion, a full dose will cause height to change to 6 inches. Partial doses will cause a proportional change, eg: a third 30 inches, two thirds 12 inches. Combined with Polymorph, half an inch is the limit. All equipment also gets smaller. The only advantage this would seem to give, other than hiding from people, is the ability to get into really small places. There is no change in combat capabilities, though arguably armour class should be improved by small size, maybe by up to +3, more for attacks by large creatures, and there is no reference to any change in movement abilities. If DMs want to give less strength when shrunk, i.e. reduced strength so normal movement remains the same, then -25 extrapolated STR for 6 inches height, which would give someone normally with 10 STR a STR of -15, enough to maybe move a sword from a treasure hoard around with about a much difficulty as they might normally carry a man in a 'firemans lift', and someone with Hill Giant STR a STR of 3; partial doses proportionally less, e.g. -5 STR for 30 inches, -15 STR for 12 inches. DMs might want to base the shrinking on the initial size (i.e. small things end up smaller, big things larger), in which case for basic human this is x1/12 height with a limit of 6 inches (assuming humans are between 5' and 6'6" tall); kobolds might end up 3 inches tall (assuming kobolds are between 2'6" and 3'3" tall). This would appear to be a specialised Polymorph which just decreases size. Duration: as Polymorph Self.
Level: 3rd.
Polymorph: is the standard Polymorph Self spell. This allows taking any shape, bar the non-corporeal, but the combat abilities (or mind or personality) are not acquired. The shape's mode of physical locomotion, such as flight is gained, as is the shape's breathing, such as waterbreathing. Enough strength is acquired for normal movement (if DMs want to quantify this say +10 extrapolated STR for every x2 height). Under AD&D there are size limits between a hippo and a wren, making taking dragon shape impractical (but, note combination with Growth, above); and DMs may wish to assume (pseudo) mass limits between x32 and x1/20,000. Also gained is any voice or sound production capabilities of the shape. Hybrid shapes can not be taken, such as adding functional wings to a shape which has never been encountered with them. DMs may allow the breathing capability to extend to creatures that live in very hostile environments, such as within solid rock, vacuum, or sulphur fumes near volcanos. [[The implication is that your own form gets stretched, etc, and a solid illusion is generated over that to fill in the details, so this is not a true taking of the shape assumed. Also, that a true change in weight does not occur, otherwise a shape as large as an ogre would have the strength of an ogre, and would at least be more effective at throwing its weight around. The other implication is that taking a smaller size does not reduce the true weight, unless reducing weight is any easier than increasing it. So, to avoid large sizes blowing away in the wind, and small sizes sinking into soft ground, and being incapable of flying on small bird wings, there must be some sort of pseudo-mass change, which roughly matches the size taken. This pseudo-mass applies when moving around normally, but not when attacking. So, smaller sizes do just the same damage, even though they should have nothing like the heft of a human, and larger sizes do no more damage than the base human shape. This might have some interesting implications, though, when it is something like a dragon that has Polymorph'd, though in human form it is unlikely they can fit as much in their mouth to bite. Some DMs might consider that the spell is far more sophisticated than the average 4th level magic-user spell, and was probably derived from some other school of magic entirely, e.g. the primordial shape altering magic of Faeries, and hence the details of it are far more difficult to change with spell research.]]
Level: 4th.
Polymorph to Inanimate (Seeming): is a relative of Polymorph Self which instead allows inanimate forms, but these are just a seeming; it is a change of just form not function. The form taken looks and feels very realistic, unless and until it is actually used. No matter what form is taken this form only has the powers that the (natural) creature that used the spell has, e.g. turn into dagger, only injure if had claws/teeth. On the other hand, the form has all the normal senses of the creature without any visible sensory organs, and can move slowly without any limbs (assume a quarter normal move, 3" for humans), and even slowly fly if the creature can normally fly. DMs will need to rule exactly what happens if take say the form of a dagger, and then someone tries to sharpen it, but it is unlikely to be pleasant. As a rule taking forms which are in several pieces is not allowed, such as a bag of coins, though the DM might allow the mass of coins to move around and chink, problems occur when one is attempted to be removed (the coins might come out in a mass, which turns into a naked magic-user, the bag turning into their clothes and all their equipment). Duration: as Polymorph Self.
Level: 4th.
Polymorph to Inanimate (True): is a relative of Polymorph Self which instead allows the taking of true inanimate forms. The form has the full abilities of the thing turned into, but limited senses, i.e. only have one sense/speech without a visible organ, and can't move unless have limbs or magical movement. For example: turn into a dagger, and can injure as a dagger, can hear without an ear (single sense), can see through eye-like pommel gem, but can't speak, and can't move. A chair even though it has legs cannot move, a doll with movable limbs could; speech might be the thing that the doll can do without a visible organ. However, don't need to eat/drink, breathe, sleep or age, but are susceptible as the thing is, e.g. a dagger might rust, and a wooden doll get woodworm. Don't gain any magical powers (for example can't take the shape of a 'magic' dagger), and can't take a shape which 'creates' magical materials, such as mithral (DM might allow these if have a magic item to copy, or say equal weight of mithral initially, but these will disappear while in the form). It is possible to take a form which is in several pieces, but if the pieces are separated, for example a dagger from a sheath, then there will be a strain put on the spell, and it will break if a part is moved more than three feet away from the rest, or any parts become separated by more than six feet, forcing back to own form, without any parts missing, and needing to make a system shock roll or be stunned and incapable for 1D3 rounds. Something like a Permanent spell might strengthen the spell enough so that parts can be separated, but if this happens then, until all the parts are reunited, there is not usually any way of returning to own form, even when the spell duration ends, or even with dispel; a Heal combined with a dispel might do, a Limited Wish would almost certainly work (and note that the Permanent spell will likely need to be undone first). DMs may find indefinate duration versions of this spell, maybe with elaborate rituals to undo them, useful for plot purposes; a 5th level spell might give an 8hr/one day duration, a 6th level spell one day per level, and a 7th level spell indefinate duration (an 8th level spell might allow parts to be freely separated, as well as giving indefinate duration). One problem of taking an inanimate form like this is that without the normal rhythms of life even a strong and disciplined mind may totally loose track of the passing of time. Creatures which are magical in some way can carry their magical properties over into the form taken, though typically much weakened, for example a dragon's magical flight, a liche's paralysing touch, a demon's resistance to magic. DMs may allow the enchanting of the inanimate form, for example a magical dagger, but returning to own form will destroy the enchantment, unless something ingenious has been done. Duration: as Polymorph Self.
Level: 4th.
Universal Polymorph: combines Polymorph, 'Polymorph to Inanimate (Seeming)', and 'Polymorph to Inanimate (True)', allowing the taking of practically any form. Also allows hybrid shapes to be taken, such as adding functional wings to a shape which has never been encountered with them, given some thought, study, and maybe some experimentation; learning a NWP, 'Hybrid Shapes', would help. Duration: as Polymorph Self.
Level: 5th.
Shapeshift: a limited Shape Change spell. The shape, all non-spell abilities, knowledge and general mental attitudes are gained. Too long in the form will cause to become like the creature, maybe even forgetting own shape. If the shape is a compatible variety of magic-user then any remaining spells may be automatically moved over into its mind (and even moved back later, when return to own shape), but no extra spells per day will be gained by this process. All objects carried which are not desired to be about the shape vanish, and are unaccessable until return to own form. Typically the shape when taken will be fully healthy, fit, and rested (unless it was wounded last time it was used, and not healed), even if own shape is exhausted. Detected only by an 11th+ level Detect Magic (or equivalent); the manikin version is even less easy to detect than this, as it is actually an alternate true form. Duration: indefinate.
Level: 7th.
(c) Rory O. McLean, 1980 - Apr. 2005
Permission granted to use for non-profit making purposes