Ring of polymorph control
As its name suggests, the ring of polymorph control is a ring that grants polymorph control when worn.
If you are wearing (or have eaten) this ring and something causes you to polymorph, then you will be asked "Become what type of monster? [type the name]". You can then choose to polymorph into a monster.
Rings of polymorph control will also allow you to decline a change in form brought upon by lycanthropy.
Polymorph into your own species will cause you to "feel like a new (wo)man!" or whatever species, and cause random change to your scores. There is a chance that this will happen in spite of polymorph control, even if a different monster is chosen.
Limitations of controlled polymorph
Certain monsters are off-limits to polymorph[1]; these include:
- any monsters that have been genocided
- all unique monsters
- the base player race monsters (human, dwarf, elf, gnome, orc), which exist to provide corpses when zombies and mummies are killed and for bones piles. Non-human variants generated as monsters (i.e. dwarf lord, Elvenking) are permitted, as are the functionally-human Keystone Kops.
- anything represented by @, except the Elven variants mentioned above
- the greater angelic beings: Angels, ki-rin, and Archons. Couatl and Aleax are permitted.
- "limited-edition" monsters: Nazgul and erinys
- ghosts and shades
- natural shapeshifters: doppelgangers, chameleons, and sandestins
- water demons, mail daemons, djinni, and krakens
Polymorph into your own species is permitted in spite of the above list.
References
- ↑ mondata.h#line77; see also monst.c