"She turned me into a newt!"

1E Player

So, Captain Jimlad Oarson, Swashbuckling extraordinaire, has been turned into a rat.

Let's get one thing straight here: It's not anybody's fault he turned into a rat. When the party started investigating those missing children, they had no way of knowing a coven of hags were involved, so it was perfectly reasonable upon uncovering a coven of hags to walk up and ask them if they knew anything about it instead of attacking or ambushing them. It wasn't anyones fault that they summoned some skeletons to block the way while cackling madly about how delicious the children were in their first turn, then worked together to cast Baleful Polymorph on the most obvious threat in the second before the party reached them. I certainly can't blame the DM for choosing to use the spell - no real human could possibly resist trying to cast that on a party member given the option.
Ultimately though, it doesn't matter whether or not anybody is at fault, the Captain failed his first save and succeeded his second, and is now distinctly rat-shaped.

In a lucky turn of events, as I looked down in horror at my character sheet and all the bonuses that would need recalculating, another player's internet crapped out and the session was put on hold, so I came to ask you guys to check I'm doing it right.

Jimlad's character sheet Rat statblock

So Baleful Polymorph functions as Beast Shape III except it turns permanently turns someone else into a small or smaller animal. As a polymorph spell, BP is subject to the usual polymorph conditions.

So Jimlad gains:

  • +4 Dex, -2 Str, +1 Natural Armour from Beast Shape (tiny animal)
  • Low-light vision, scent, 15' base speed, 15' climb, 15' swim, and a bite attack from being a rat
  • +2 AC, +2 Attack, -2 CMB, +8 Stealth from being Tiny

And Jimlad loses:

  • Precise Strike from Swashbuckler (it seems to be the only thing that specifies it can't be used with natural weapons)
  • Darkvision, Energy Resistance, Burning Hands SLA, Fire in the Blood, and Mostly Human from being Ifrit
  • Armour and Shield Bonus from polymorphing

Is there anything I've missed, or included when I shouldn't have? I know he can be turned back with dispel or another polymorph, but it's not every day you get turned into a rat and the DM wants to let Slashing Grace apply to my bites, so I figure I should have some fun with it (at least until the party's Cait Sith starts salivating).

Posted Jan 12, 2021, 2:38 PM UTC

194
shinychris•

You actually keep your SLAs since they are racial abilities that don’t rely on your shape. You’re a rat-shaped flame thrower now.

21
EdymnionYou can reflavor anything.•

I think you've got it covered.

But if you want to really ham this up?

Anthropomorphic Animal -> Feeblemind -> Awaken, and slap a Permanency on the Anthropomorphic Animal.

Or just have him turn into a Ratfolk.

6
BlinkingSpirit•

Rats are pretty nimble with their paws. I'm sure the DM could be convinced to allow you to wield a tiny sized rapier, so you can still use your class abilities as a swashbuckler.

4
zook1shoe•

lay down in a rat-shaped mold, someone casts reach Transmute Flesh to Ooze...

now you're a jello rat

2