While True Polymorphed, say into a dragon, can you get pregnant? If so, what happens when you revert form? I am a player in a D&D game that wants to know.
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asked Aug 28, 2017 at 17:40
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3\$\begingroup\$ related: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/97594/… \$\endgroup\$– SzegaCommented Aug 28, 2017 at 18:19
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3 Answers
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A precedent exists for the answer to possibly be 'yes', but this is still very much a case-by-case/DM's choice basis.
The entry on half-dragons in the Monster Manual cites that they come from (in some cases) a coupling between a dragon polymorphed into another form and another creature (presumably one compatible with the polymorphed form). This would imply that, for dragons at least, pregnancy is a possibility and results in a hybrid between their true form and the form of the partner.
It does not delve into the topic of what that pregnancy is like as it shifts between forms, however, so that's up to your DM if you wish to broach that topic with them.
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6\$\begingroup\$ Aren't half-dragons always dracopaternal? That was the case in older editions, at least. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Aug 30, 2017 at 8:56
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2\$\begingroup\$ @WeckarE. From what I can tell, the 5e MM doesn't go into it, nor does it use any language that would suggest one way or the other that the dragon could only be the mother/father. Though, logistically, I could understand that being the case. :-P \$\endgroup\$– CTWindCommented Aug 30, 2017 at 16:29
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\$\begingroup\$ Many dragons are capable of changing shape innately, which is likely where half-dragons come from. This is an entirely different ability than True Polymorph. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Apr 3, 2020 at 2:17
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\$\begingroup\$ @EttinaKitten I disagree that it's entirely different- the description for 5e dragons' Change Shape ability refers to the means by which they change as 'magically polymorph'ing themselves, implying the nature of the transformation is similar to how polymorph transforms a creature to me even if they aren't directly using the spell. \$\endgroup\$– CTWindCommented Apr 3, 2020 at 2:37
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\$\begingroup\$ @CTWind "magically polymorphing" doesn't imply it's anything like the spell. If it was intended to be like the spell, it would explicitly say "as the spell true polymorph". \$\endgroup\$ Commented Apr 3, 2020 at 14:25
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Only your DM knows
The rules of D&D 5e do not cover pregnancy. It is a story element, not a game mechanic. As such, it is entirely decided by each DM.
Do dragons even "get pregnant" in your DM's world? The Monster Manual mentions eggs, but are they laid fertilized, or is that done afterwards? Do dragons even have 2 sexes? We can safely say that they don't follow our world's rules of physics, why would they follow its biological trends?
Without input from your DM, we can't even have a useful discussion about how pregnancy interacts with various spells. This isn't even just the case with dragons. How does interracial mating between different humanoids work in your DM's world? We don't know.
You'll have to ask your DM.
answered Aug 28, 2017 at 18:15
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22\$\begingroup\$ "The rules of D&D 5e do not cover pregnancy." That may be my new favorite sentence \$\endgroup\$ Commented Aug 29, 2017 at 13:12
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If there is a mention of the occurrence in any literature that is core, then it sets the stage to argue for the possibility with your DM. You should be able to keep it in the story and have your DM roll up specs for duration, gestation, and complications via chance modifiers, based on assumptions and preferences, unless you are just leaving it a backstory element to explain a hybrid PC who is easily more functionally creatable by listing balanced abilities that he/she would agree to allow them to have. Wouldn't bring it to a convention without a ton of research and the precedence citation (such as the entry on Half-Dragons) but in personal home games it should be totally fine.
