Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mirror-Image 01-06-04, 05:37 PM	imagine human str 10 a 1) 2 points ability damage -> str 8 2) casts polymorph self and changes his form into something with str 14 will the penalty/damage still apply? new str 12 [ 14-2] or will the str be 14 ? b) 1)polymorphed -> str 14 2)2 points abiliy damage -> str 12 3)polymorph spell ends -> returning to natural form str 10 or 8 ?
Seeker95 01-06-04, 07:08 PM	My ruling: The damage does not affect your new form. The damage is still there when you return to your normal form.
Sproik 01-06-04, 07:26 PM	My immediate reaction is to have the damage to the ability remain - however, on reflection I would go with the more complicated rule of having the ability damage scale to the new ability score. For example, an elf (Str +0) turns into a big monster (Str +10). The elf had 2 points of strength ability damage. The new form has 6 points of ability damage. Of course, I may be a masochist.
Inigo Carmine 01-06-04, 07:39 PM	I have to agree with seeker (not for the first time I believe), that ability damage would not effect your new form. ability damage is instantaneous. There's no magical effect keeping it like that. You are suddenly not stronger, and it's going to take a few days of good rest to get back to where you were. (This refers to physical stats only of course. being polymorph shouldn't effect your 3 mental stats). I would say that an ability penalty would be carried over. This is not an instaneous effect. it is a lingering magic spell/curse upon you.
Sproik 01-06-04, 07:59 PM	However, this ruling would mean you could cure ability damage by casting Polymorph (at least for the duration of the spell), which is something that the spell actually specifies it cannot do.
BW0222 01-06-04, 09:19 PM	>ability damage is instantaneous No. The PHB and DMG make the rulings on "ability damage" and "ability drained" extremely clear. They are conditions (see DMG p300). They only goes away with time or magic. Polymorph says it heals hp as rested for a day and specifically that is does not restore temporary ability damage ... "(though this healing does not restore temporary ability damage ..". Ability damage is a temporary effect which does not go away unexcept under specific conditions -- polymorph isn't one of them. Ability loss is a permanent condition which is only removed via specific spells. If you have a 10 str and take 2 points of str ability damage, your strength is still 10. However, your current strength is 8. Just like when you have 10hp, take 2hp of damage, your current hp are 8. When you polymorph and your strength becomes 18, you still have 2 points of str ability damage, and your current strength is 16. Same effect if you take ability lose when in a polymorphed form. I've spent a day wildshaping from a polar bear into a grizzly bear, back into a polar bear in order to retain enough hp, because I didn't have enough to survive a drop to a 2 Con thanks to someone hitting me with an empowered poison spell. Thanks, Brett