[RPG] How does the Polymorph spell affect procreation

dnd-3.5epolymorphspells

The Polymorph spell alters the body of one willing target, changing it into a different creature- Potentially from a different type.

If someone were to breed whilst under the effect of this spell, what would the result be? Would the child be born as if the polymorphed parent were truly a member of the race they turned into? Or as if they had always been their original race?

Considering that there is no way that I know of to let a single casting of polymorph last long enough to carry a pregnancy to full term: What are the effects of a woman being imregnated whilst polymorphed, or polymorphed whilst pregnant?

Best Answer

The DM decides if it's possible to procreate while affected by polymorph

This isn't explicitly covered by the official rules. It remains unmentioned by, for example, Skip Williams's four Rules of the Game Web columns on "Polymorphing Revisited." Hence the only thing the reader does have to work with officially is just one phrase.

The 4th-level Sor/Wiz spell polymorph [trans] (Player's Handbook 263) says that it's like the 2nd-level Sor/Wiz spell alter self [trans] (PH 197) except where noted, and one way that's not noted is that the spell alter self says the following: "Any part of the body… that is separated from the whole reverts to its true form." By extension, then, this applies equally to the spell polymorph.

Thus, with that in mind, the DM must rule—at some point during procreation—what the alter self spell's description means exactly when the spell alter self says (and, by extension, the spell polymorph inherits) that "part of the body… that is separated from the whole reverts to its true form."

This reader can offer two options, and given its vagueness, other options are likely:

  • If the DM rules that during procreation the creature loses part of its body, then—unless the creatures are mundanely compatible—, no offspring will result.
  • If the DM rules that during procreation the creature doesn't lose part of its body, then—even if the creatures aren't normally mundanely compatible—, offspring may result.

While I'm certain some 3rd-party supplements delve into this area more deeply, the official rules would see the DM decide if a creature that's affected by a polymorph spell can procreate with a creature of the form assumed pretty much on the basis of that one phrase above from the spell alter self alone.

This DM generally veers toward the spells alter self et al. allowing procreation because more plots are down that road, but this player certainly wouldn't leave a campaign if a DM ruled otherwise.