Polymorph question

Can a wizard polymorph into a mariltih without seeing one? What is the basis for the spell? Does it require a mage to actually see and observe a creature she polymorphs to? or does the spell itself polymorph the wizard? If so, does that mean the hit-die of a marilith the wizard transformed to is equal to the casters level?

[Chronomancer]

A Wizard can't use Polymporph to become a Marilith, wether he has seen one or not does not matter.

The new form may be of the same type as the subject or any of the following types: aberration, animal, dragon, fey, giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid, ooze, plant, or vermin. The assumed form can’t have more Hit Dice than your caster level (or the subject’s HD, whichever is lower), to a maximum of 15 HD at 15th level.

Marilith is an Outsider AND it has 16 HD. Both these circumstances disqualify it as a possible form. The Rules are not clear on the subject if the wizard has to have seen the creature he wants to polymorph into. It was that way in AD&D 2nd, but as there's no such entry in the spell description I assume that a wizard does not need to have seen the new form.
To transform into a Marilith you'd have to use a Polymoprh any Object spell.

[Ivellius]

Originally Posted by junyap

Can a wizard polymorph into a mariltih without seeing one? What is the basis for the spell? Does it require a mage to actually see and observe a creature she polymorphs to? or does the spell itself polymorph the wizard? If so, does that mean the hit-die of a marilith the wizard transformed to is equal to the casters level?

That's where house rules come into play. My guess is that the wiz doesn't have to see a creature he's polymorphing into, but he has to have an idea what he is transforming into. There is a verbal component for the spell so I imagine he has to say a name of the beast or describe it during the casting time. Also the PHB states

Originally Posted by PHB

The new form MAY be of the same type as the subject OR any of the following types...

So a wiz can polymorph into any creature of less HD than his lvl.
Polymorph any obj. polymorphs any obj into any other.

[Chronomancer]

No he can't polymorph into what he wants. He MAY refers to: He is ALLOWED to polymorph into the listed types and not into anything he likes.

Polymorph any Object polymorphs creatures and in addition objects, whatever the caster choses. You could also name the spell: Polymorph anything.
See PHB page 263.

[Ivellius]

My mistake. I thought that all types are listed in polymorph spell.

[Chronomancer]

No problem, but I quoted the allowed types in the post before yours. Thought you had read it.

Note that aasimars, tieflings, and other outsiders can assume outsider forms. This is one of the biggest avenues for abuse of Alter Self, Polymorph, and similar spells.

[Medesha]

Also the divine disciple prestige class, high-level monks, and the fiend form spell from Magic of Faerun allow outsider polymorphing.

[Ivellius]

The best polymorphs for medium sized mage are planetar and some golem, adamantine I think. I searched the whole book ( mm1 )

[Chronomancer]

Golems are of type: Construct. Nope, not working.
Planetars are of type: Outsider. Nope, not working. (Except you are an Outsider yourself as stated earlier. Planetouched for example)

[Ivellius]

I used Any Obj. that time.

[Chronomancer]

In this case you should aim for more power, since there's absolutely no limit. Titan for example. Or a Nightshade. Nightcrawler and Nightwalker are some of the most dangerous monsters. Nighcrawlers for example can swallow 2 huge sized creatures. Check these babies out. MM I, p 195+

Nice. Thanks for clarifying that up, you guys. Also, on the polymorph subject, the spell says that a mage can transform into the creature that was listed with it but only up to an HD equal to the mages caster level, up to 15HD. How does this work if a mage transforms into a dragon? (dragon was on the list btw) Does the mage transform into a wyrmling (15HD or less)? or does the mage transform into an adult dragon (which he likes to do) but have a hitdie that's equal to his caster level? I'm confused on this. Although I can make up house rules. I'd still want to follow the book.

[Chronomancer]

He transforms into the dragon that matches the hit dice. Take a Black Dragon. With the 15 HD limit he can transform into a juvenile with 13 HD, but not into a young adult with 16 HD. The 15 HD are only the allowed maximum at caster lvl 15. When the HD of the desired creature are lower than the allowed amount for that wizard, no problem. When they are higher it does not work.

[Ivellius]

But when you have 15 HD, thus lvls of wiz. you can cast polymorph any obj. witch has no limit in HD or type.