Avlis Polymorph Item Property Merging

The custom merging system for item properties is used with certain forms of polymorph on Avlis. The system primarily applies to Druids and Shifters, who merge item properties when they polymorph. It also includes other property-merging versions of polymorph.

Standard polymorph effects and spells do not use this system, as the polymorph effect itself doesn't merge any item properties.

System description

Spells and abilities that use item property merging

• Druid: Wild Shape and Elemental Shape.
• Shifter: Greater/Infinite Wildshape, Humanoid Shape, Construct Shape, Dragon Shape, Undead Shape, and Outsider Shape.
• AMS Transmutants.
• Psion: Metamorphosis.

Note: This list does not include custom rewards, or specific creature/item implementations. All Avlis polymorph item property merging has been standardized, and uses the same system.

Beamdog polymorph changes

The Beamdog .37 update patch revised how polymorph effects are applied.

[Click here to show/hide the changes by update]

.37-5

### Added

- EffectPolymorph can now have a customized polymorph removal VFX and can set an ability modifier and caster level for the 3 polymorph spells cast from it

### Fixed

- Polymorph: The save DC for the 3 polymorph spell-like abilities is now set to 10 + Innate Spell Level + Ability Modifier (the ability to use is set in EffectPolymorph or defaulting to the class who used the polymorph ability/spell, falling back to class slot 0 if necessary).
- Polymorph: The caster level of the 3 polymorph spell-like abilities is tied to the caster level of the polymorph effect by default, rather than being based on class slot 0 of the character.
- Polymorph: Clientside Levelups are disabled while polymorphed, and serverside now correctly validates against pre-polymorph racial type and statistics in case of legacy clients (although with certain custom content this fallback may still be buggy).
- Polymorph: bonus spell slots should no longer be lost or unreadied while polymorphed.
- Polymorph: Dying while polymorphed now properly applies pre-polymorphed item effects such as ability bonuses.
- Polymorph: Save games no longer re-apply temporary HP on each load of the game/re-entry into MP server.
- Polymorph: Save games now save out the state of the creatures pre-polymorph making valid BICs in save game files.
- Polymorph: Creature weapon proficiency is applied as a bonus feat effect not as an actual feat addition.
- Polymorph: Polymorph-applied items are saved to the BIC consistently on logout/save game and reused when polymorph is applied on load/login rather than fresh items being applied.
- Polymorph: Loading a save game when polymorphed no longer causes extra OnPlayerEquip/Unequip events to fire (note: logging into an MP game still has odd events fire, excepting the OnPlayerUnEquip no longer fires for the player's items when the polymorph effect loads, due to the order of BIC -> temporary user resource data).
- Polymorph: The effect is no longer removed and reapplied on BIC export, meaning linked effects do not end, and events for item equips do not fire unnecessarily on saving the game or exporting player BIC.
- Polymorph: NATURALACBONUS is now actually a base natural AC change rather than a dodge AC effect, replacing NPCs' base natural AC if present when polymorphed (PCs do not get any base natural AC so this is a slight buff).

.37-8

### Fixed

- Polymorph: Fixed bonus spell slots being lost when using Shifter polymorph abilities.

.37-15

### Fixed

- Quickbar slots with equipped items are saved correctly during polymorph.
- EffectPolymorph: nSpellAbilityCasterLevel now is consistent across both ResistSpell, GetCasterLevel.

When Avlis updated to .37, all polymorph item property merging was standardized, using a new system.

Which item properties merge, and how

[Click here to show/hide which item properties merge, and how]

- Weapon(s) to form weapon -

• Only ranged weapon properties are merged to a form's ranged weapon, and only melee weapons properties are merged to a form's melee weapon.
• Ranged weapons always have basic unlimited ammunition added if the original doesn't have it. Otherwise, the original version is merged if it is permanent.
• Only permanent mighty can be merged between ranged weapons.
• Mighty and unlimited ammo are not merged with any other items.

- Merging by property -

Stacking properties that do not stack on the same item

These are not merged to a form's claws/bite.
These are merged directly to a form's weapon (do not stack if more than one is merged to it).
These are combined on the form's hide with 1 total for each modifier of ability, skill, save vs. element/universal, and save vs. all/fort/will/reflex. The universal/all saves are different even though they act the same.

• Bonus/Penalty to Ability
• Bonus/Penalty to Saves (against element/universal)
• Bonus/Penalty to Saves (all/fort/will/reflex)
• Bonus/Penalty to Skills

Stacking properties that can stack on the same item

These are not merged to claws/bite.
These are merged directly to a form's weapon or hide

• Regeneration - Technically, regeneration doesn't stack, and each instance is applied separately.
• Damage Immunity/Vulnerability

Properties that will only be merged to a form's weapon or claws/bite

• Weight Reduction
• Damage Melee
• Damage Ranged
• Holy Avenger
• Keen
• Vampiric Regeneration
• Vorpal
• Wounding
• Weight Increase

AC properties are merged as permanent linked effects to preserve the AC type

They are removed when the polymorph is removed.
More than one linked effect of the same type are sorted out by stacking rules (best bonus minus best penalty, and the rest are ignored).
This does not merge vs. race/alignment AC properties. These cannot be done as an applied effect. Also, there isn't an AC decrease vs. X effect to merge.

Note: AC reduction modifiers are merged as negative Dodge AC (as was done before the update). Other AC effect types do not work properly when combined with positive values, and Dodge AC has an uncapped range in the negatives. The downside to this is how dodge AC is not applied when flatfooted, etc., which will also skip applying negative modifiers.

• AC Increase/Decrease
• AC Increase vs. Bludgeoning/Piercing/Slashing/All (all is different here, even though it has the same effect)

Never merged

• Boomerang
• Cast Spell
• Dancing Scimitar
• Double Stack
• Enhanced Container: Bonus Slot
• Enhanced Container: Weight
• Thieves' Tools
• Use Limitation: Alignment Group
• Use Limitation: Class
• Use Limitation: Racial
• Use Limitation: Specific Alignment
• Use Limitation: Terrain
• Trap
• Poison
• Monster Damage
• Healer's Kit
• Visual Effect (too unpredictable on different items)
• Use Limitation: Gender

Anything else is merged directly as a non-stacking property

This includes item properties like bonus spell slots, or any other item property not specifically mentioned. Some won't be useful, since a polymorphed form cannot activate them or cast spells, but they all get copied over to the form's hide claws/bite/weapon, and stacking limits sort out the mess.

Note: Property merging to items is also limited by itemprops.2da item restrictions (e.g., perma-haste from a weapon or bracers/gloves cannot be added to claw/bite creature items, though the hide is fine).

Polymorph item merging differences after the .37 Beamdog update

Item merging before .37 was handled by several different scripts in Avlis. They were similar (in most cases), but there were some differences. Most of those differences were maintained in the new system (e.g., psionic metamorphosis will still merge weapon properties from both hands, instead of a single weapon), though there were a few changes.

See: Which item properties merge, and how for more details.

[Click here to show/hide notable differences between the old and new systems]

Before .37	After .37	Notes
All item properties were permanent for the duration of the polymorph.	Temporary item properties retain their durations, spell ID, and creator (in case the caster rests), except combined stackable effects, and will expire normally.	Combined stackable effects are stacking item properties that do not stack on the same item (bonus/penalty to abilities/saves/skills).
Stacking item properties that do not stack on the same item (including AC) were applied as permanent combined effects, not item properties.	Stacking item properties that do not stack on the same item are combined as permanent item properties on the form's hide (except AC, which is handled separately), with 1 total for each increase and decrease modifier.	Survivalist Rations that apply these kinds of item properties are not merged/combined because of their temporary durations (combining them as permanent effects would be too much of an improvement). If they are changed to effects, they will not have this problem.
Regeneration and Damage Immunity/Vulnerability were combined as single totals and applied as one effect for each.	Regeneration and Damage Immunity/Vulnerability are applied as separate item properties, and IG stacking handles the rest.
AC item properties were merged as permanent linked effects to preserve the AC types. IG stacking sorted out the rest.	This is the same as before, but see the notes for specific changes.	AC increase vs. a physical type now work vs. the specific type of damage, not all. Also, AC decreases now use Dodge AC, as several specific types do not work when combined on items.
Ride skill item properties did not merge.	Ride skill item properties now merge.

What merges with each form

The tables below show forms that use the new Avlis polymorph property merging system and what they merge.

Header meanings

[Click here to show/hide the header meanings]

• Class - The class that uses it (item/NPC scripts use NA).
• Level - Minimum level they can use that form (item/NPC scripts use NA).
• Feat/Ability - Which feat or ability allows using the form.
Note: This may also be a psionic power, or a script name for the ones not gained as a class feat/ability.
• Form - The form name.
• Spell ID - Row number in spells.2da (item/NPC scripts use NA).
• Poly ID - The polymorph.2da row number for the form.
• Merge Weapons - Does this form merge properties from equipped weapon(s) directly to an equipped weapon on the polymorphed form (see below for more details)?
• Merge Armor - Does this form merge properties from equipped armor, helm, and shield to the form's hide?
• Merge Items - Does this form merge properties from other equipped items to the form's hide?
• Weapon - Does this form have an equipped weapon in the left hand? This lists the type if there is one.
Note: This doesn't enable merging to it, but at least one weapon is required for "Merge Weapons" to do anything (some classes can merge from/to dual weapons, but not all).
• Merge To Unarmed - How does this form merge properties to its claw/bite items (see below for more details)?
Note: If a form does not have claw or bite items equipped, there is nothing to merge to in those cases. Special attacks (like an elemental slam) don't get properties merged.

"Merge Weapons" value meanings

• Yes - Always merge properties from equipped weapon(s) directly to an equipped weapon on the polymorphed form, not to claws/bite. This should never be 'Yes' if the form does not have an equipped weapon.
• No - Do not try to merge properties from an equipped weapon to the form's weapon. They may still be merged from equipped weapon(s) depending on the "Merge To Unarmed" value, which can merge properties from either bracers/gloves or equipped weapon(s) to claws/bite.

"Merge To Unarmed" value meanings

• No - Do not merge anything to claws/bite.
• 1 - Merge weapon properties to claws/bite.
• 2 - Merge bracer/glove properties to claws/bite.
• 3 - Merge weapon properties to claws/bite if a weapon is equipped. Otherwise, merge bracer/glove properties to claws/bite.

Note: If Merge to Unarmed has a value other than No, but is red (e.g., 3), it is ignored because Merge Weapons is Yes. Nothing ever merges to claws/bite when Merge Weapons is Yes.

Tables

- Wild Shape -

Class	Level	Feat/Ability	Form	Spell ID	Poly ID	Merge Weapons	Merge Armor	Merge Items	Weapon	Merge To Unarmed
Druid	5	Wild Shape	Brown Bear	401	21	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	12	Wild Shape	Dire Brown Bear	401	33	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	5	Wild Shape	Panther	402	22	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	12	Wild Shape	Dire Panther	402	34	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	5	Wild Shape	Wolf	403	23	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	12	Wild Shape	Dire Wolf	403	35	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	5	Wild Shape	Boar	404	24	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	12	Wild Shape	Dire Boar	404	36	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	5	Wild Shape	Badger	405	25	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	12	Wild Shape	Dire Badger	405	37	No	Yes	No	No	No

- Elemental Shape -

Class	Level	Feat/Ability	Form	Spell ID	Poly ID	Merge Weapons	Merge Armor	Merge Items	Weapon	Merge To Unarmed
Druid	16	Elemental Shape	Huge Fire Elemental	397	13	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	20	Elemental Shape	Elder Fire Elemental	397	17	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	16	Elemental Shape	Huge Water Elemental	398	14	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	20	Elemental Shape	Elder Water Elemental	398	18	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	16	Elemental Shape	Huge Earth Elemental	399	15	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	20	Elemental Shape	Elder Earth Elemental	399	19	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	16	Elemental Shape	Huge Air Elemental	400	16	No	Yes	No	No	No
Druid	20	Elemental Shape	Elder Air Elemental	400	20	No	Yes	No	No	No

- Greater Wild Shape -

Class	Level	Feat/Ability	Form	Spell ID	Poly ID	Merge Weapons	Merge Armor	Merge Items	Weapon	Merge To Unarmed
Shifter	1	Greater Wild Shape I	Wyrmling: Red	658	54	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Shifter	1	Greater Wild Shape I	Wyrmling: Blue	659	53	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Shifter	1	Greater Wild Shape I	Wyrmling: Black	660	56	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Shifter	1	Greater Wild Shape I	Wyrmling: White	661	52	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Shifter	1	Greater Wild Shape I	Wyrmling: Green	662	55	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Shifter	3	Greater Wild Shape II	Harpy	672	60	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Shifter	11	Greater Wild Shape II	Epic Harpy	672	97	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Shifter	3	Greater Wild Shape II	Gargoyle	678	65	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Shifter	11	Greater Wild Shape II	Epic Gargoyle	678	98	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Shifter	3	Greater Wild Shape II	Minotaur	680	66	Yes	Yes	Yes	Battleaxe	3
Shifter	11	Greater Wild Shape II	Epic Minotaur	680	96	Yes	Yes	Yes	Greataxe	3
Shifter	5	Greater Wild Shape III	Basilisk	670	61	No	Yes	No	No	3
Shifter	15	Greater Wild Shape III	Epic Basilisk	670	99	No	Yes	No	No	3
Shifter	5	Greater Wild Shape III	Tlincalli Warrior	673	62	Yes	Yes	Yes	Greataxe	3
Shifter	15	Greater Wild Shape III	Tlincalli Warrior Mage	673	100	Yes	Yes	Yes	Greataxe	3
Shifter	5	Greater Wild Shape III	Manticore	674	58	No	Yes	No	No	3
Shifter	15	Greater Wild Shape III	Epic Manticore	674	101	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Shifter	10	Greater Wild Shape IV	Medusa	679	64	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Shifter	10	Greater Wild Shape IV	Mind Flayer	691	68	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Shifter	10	Greater Wild Shape IV	Dire Tiger	694	69	No	Yes	No	No	3

- Construct Shape -

Class	Level	Feat/Ability	Form	Spell ID	Poly ID	Merge Weapons	Merge Armor	Merge Items	Weapon	Merge To Unarmed
Shifter	10	Construct Shape	Stone Golem	738	91	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Shifter	10	Construct Shape	Demonflesh Golem	739	92	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Shifter	10	Construct Shape	Iron Golem	740	90	No	Yes	Yes	No	3

- Dragon Shape -

Class	Level	Feat/Ability	Form	Spell ID	Poly ID	Merge Weapons	Merge Armor	Merge Items	Weapon	Merge To Unarmed
Druid/Shifter	21/10	Dragon Shape	Ancient Amber Dragon	707	72	No	Yes	No	No	3
Druid/Shifter	21/10	Dragon Shape	Ancient Coal Dragon	708	71	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Druid/Shifter	21/10	Dragon Shape	Ancient Gravel Dragon	709	73	No	Yes	No	No	3

- Humanoid Shape -

Class	Level	Feat/Ability	Form	Spell ID	Poly ID	Merge Weapons	Merge Armor	Merge Items	Weapon	Merge To Unarmed
Shifter	7	Humanoid Shape	Lupin	682	59/70	Yes	Yes	Yes	Scimitar	3
Shifter	17	Humanoid Shape	Epic Lupin	682	105/106	Yes	Yes	Yes	Scimitar	3
Shifter	7	Humanoid Shape	Lizardfolk Whipmaster	683	82	Yes	Yes	Yes	Whip	3
Shifter	17	Humanoid Shape	Epic Lizardfolk Whipmaster	683	104	Yes	Yes	Yes	Whip	3
Shifter	7	Humanoid Shape	Kobold Commando	684	83	Yes	Yes	Yes	Shortsword	3
Shifter	17	Humanoid Shape	Epic Kobold Commando	684	103	Yes	Yes	Yes	Shortsword	3

- Outsider Shape -

Class	Level	Feat/Ability	Form	Spell ID	Poly ID	Merge Weapons	Merge Armor	Merge Items	Weapon	Merge To Unarmed
Shifter	10	Outsider Shape	Azer Chieftain	733	85/86	Yes	Yes	Yes	Waraxe	3
Shifter	10	Outsider Shape	Rakshasa	734	88/89	Yes	Yes	Yes	Staff	3
Shifter	10	Outsider Shape	Death Slaad Lord	735	87	No	Yes	No	No	3

- Undead Shape -

Class	Level	Feat/Ability	Form	Spell ID	Poly ID	Merge Weapons	Merge Armor	Merge Items	Weapon	Merge To Unarmed
Shifter	10	Undead Shape	Risen Lord	704	75	Yes	Yes	Yes	Staff	3
Shifter	10	Undead Shape	Vampire	705	74/77	No	Yes	Yes	No	3
Shifter	10	Undead Shape	Spectre	706	76	No	Yes	No	No	3

- AMS Transmutant -

Class	Level	Feat/Ability	Form	Spell ID	Poly ID	Merge Weapons	Merge Armor	Merge Items	Weapon	Merge To Unarmed
Wiz/Sorc	1	AMS Transmutant	Huge Fire Elemental	10	13	No	Yes	No	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	1	AMS Transmutant	Huge Air Elemental	456	16	No	Yes	No	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	2	AMS Transmutant	Minotaur	9	66	Yes	Yes	Yes	Battleaxe	3
Wiz/Sorc	2	AMS Transmutant	Dire Tiger	13	69	No	Yes	No	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	2	AMS Transmutant	Dire Bear	49	33	No	Yes	No	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	2	AMS Transmutant	Succubus	354	32	No	No	No	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	2	AMS Transmutant	Mind Flayer	356	68	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	2	AMS Transmutant	Doom Knight	355	28	No	Yes	No	Longsword	No
Wiz/Sorc	2	AMS Transmutant	Risen Lord	527	75	Yes	Yes	Yes	Scythe	No
Wiz/Sorc	4	AMS Transmutant	Boar	4	24	No	Yes	No	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	4	AMS Transmutant	Gargoyle	387	65	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	4	AMS Transmutant	Manticore	388	58	No	Yes	No	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	4	AMS Transmutant	Basilisk	389	61	No	Yes	No	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	4	AMS Transmutant	Minotaur	390	66	Yes	Yes	Yes	Battleaxe	No
Wiz/Sorc	4	AMS Transmutant	Quasit	391	31	No	No	No	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	6	AMS Transmutant	Elder Earth Elemental	74	19	No	Yes	No	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	6	AMS Transmutant	Elder Earth Elemental	485	19	No	Yes	No	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	6	AMS Transmutant	Cow	486	27	No	No	No	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	6	AMS Transmutant	Elder Air Elemental	2129	20	No	Yes	No	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	9	AMS Transmutant	Ancient Coal Dragon	392	71	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	9	AMS Transmutant	Epic Minotaur	393	96	Yes	Yes	Yes	Greataxe	No
Wiz/Sorc	9	AMS Transmutant	Epic Manticore	394	101	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	9	AMS Transmutant	Epic Gargoyle	395	98	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Wiz/Sorc	9	AMS Transmutant	Mithril Golem	396	93	No	Yes	Yes	No	No

- Psionic Metamorphosis -

Psion Metamorphosis ignores polymorph.2da Merge* values, and only enables merging with higher psion levels.

• Merge Weapons is No by default, regardless of the polymorph.2da MergeW value.
* Merge Weapons will only be Yes if the form has an equipped weapon, and the psion is level 16+, or level 12+ with a successful concentration check.
• Merge Armor is No by default, regardless of the polymorph.2da MergeA value.
* Merge Armor will only be Yes if the psion is level 8+, or with a successful concentration check.
• Merge Items is No by default, regardless of the polymorph.2da MergeI value.
* Merge Items will only be Yes if the psion is level 12+, or level 8+ with a successful concentration check.
• Merge To Unarmed is No by default.
* If the form does not have an equipped weapon, Merge To Unarmed will be 3 if the psion is level 16+, or level 12+ with a successful concentration check.

Class	Level	Feat/Ability	Form	Spell ID	Poly ID	Merge Weapons	Merge Armor	Merge Items	Weapon	Merge To Unarmed
Psion	1	Metamorphosis	Umber Hulk	1874	5	No	No (Yes*)	No (Yes*)	No	No (3*)
Psion	12	Metamorphosis	Shield Guardian: Black	1874	1015	No	No (Yes*)	No (Yes*)	No	No (3*)
Psion	12	Metamorphosis	Shield Guardian: Fatal	1874	1016	No	No (Yes*)	No (Yes*)	No	No (3*)
Psion	12	Metamorphosis	Shield Guardian: Knight	1874	1017	No	No (Yes*)	No (Yes*)	No	No (3*)
Psion	1	Metamorphosis	Troll	1875	4	No	No (Yes*)	No (Yes*)	No (Yes*)	No (3*)
Psion	12	Metamorphosis	Troll Warrior	1875	1011	No (Yes*)	No (Yes*)	No (Yes*)	Battleaxe	No
Psion	1	Metamorphosis	Giant Spider	1876	3	No	No (Yes*)	No (Yes*)	No	No (3*)
Psion	12	Metamorphosis	Wraith Spider	1876	1013	No	No (Yes*)	No (Yes*)	No	No (3*)
Psion	1	Metamorphosis	Brown Bear	1877	21	No	No (Yes*)	No (Yes*)	No	No (3*)
Psion	12	Metamorphosis	Brown Bear	1877	1012	No	No (Yes*)	No (Yes*)	No	No (3*)