Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Steidas 05-22-07, 05:01 PM	Can one is weapons while in Bear Shape? Do you keep the ones you had after morphing? Can you pick up and use a weapon AFTER morphing?
Terronus 05-22-07, 05:21 PM	I think a more important question is, what weapons would you use (or pick up) as a bear? There is a weapon property in complete adventurer that lets your weapons shift size when you change shape (perhaps a pair of spiked gauntlets?); otherwise the answer is no.
Enialis_Gryphon 05-22-07, 05:27 PM	Bears don't have hands, so couldn't hold the weapon properly to make use of it.
Steidas 05-22-07, 05:44 PM	Hmm... it really confuses me to look at the Were-bear. He doesn't have hands either but can hold a Waraxe.
rampant 05-22-07, 05:47 PM	Complete warrior has the stats for a bear warrior. If it says you can't use weapon then you can't. Otherwise check the transformed stats see if the sample character can still use his non-natural weapons in the bear form stat block.
Steidas 05-22-07, 05:52 PM	Well, what do you know, it actually CAN use weapons. Thanks rampant, I hadn't checked the stats block for the pre-created character.
bobothechimp 05-22-07, 06:13 PM	The pre-created character's stat block is describing the character while not raging or in bear form. You cannot use weapons while in bear form. The description of the ability states that it works as Polymorph, except in the specified ways, none of which deal with the use of weapons. So let's look at Polymorph. The description of Polymorph states that it works as Alter Self, except in the specified ways, none of which deal with the use of weapons. So let's look Alter Self. When the change occurs, your equipment, if any, either remains worn or held by the new form (if it is capable of wearing or holding the item), or melds into the new form and becomes nonfunctional. A bear is incapalble of holding a weapon, so it melds into the new form and becomes nonfunctional.
Steidas 05-22-07, 06:22 PM	The pre-created character's stat block is describing the character while not raging or in bear form. You cannot use weapons while in bear form. The description of the ability states that it works as Polymorph, except in the specified ways, none of which deal with the use of weapons. So let's look at Polymorph. The description of Polymorph states that it works as Alter Self, except in the specified ways, none of which deal with the use of weapons. So let's look Alter Self. When the change occurs, your equipment, if any, either remains worn or held by the new form (if it is capable of wearing or holding the item), or melds into the new form and becomes nonfunctional. A bear is incapalble of holding a weapon, so it melds into the new form and becomes nonfunctional. Once again, the Were-bear example. WHERE does it say that a bear can't hold a weapon? WHERE does it say that a were-bear in bear form can hold a weapon?
Arcane Guyver 05-22-07, 06:23 PM	A bear is incapalble of holding a weapon, so it melds into the new form and becomes nonfunctional. Yup. The aforementioned werebear can use weapons only because it's in it's hybrid form. If you want to do more damage as a bear, try taking Improved Natural Attack (claw). It'll only function in bear form, but...
Steidas 05-22-07, 06:29 PM	Yup. The aforementioned werebear can use weapons only because it's in it's hybrid form. If you want to do more damage as a bear, try taking Improved Natural Attack (claw). It'll only function in bear form, but... Could you please quote or link me a specific rule where it states that? I have a really "by-the-word" DM and I'm right before a horrible battle against two of these guys.
Enialis_Gryphon 05-22-07, 07:03 PM	Then ask him to produce "by the word" rules that state a bear CAN use weapons, even though they don't have apposable thumbs. In fact, they have paws, the kind made for walking and digging. Of course, you could always go with common sense...
bobothechimp 05-22-07, 07:07 PM	Once again, the Were-bear example. WHERE does it say that a bear can't hold a weapon? WHERE does it say that a were-bear in bear form can hold a weapon? WHERE does it say that a dead character can't take actions? WHERE does it say that a barbarian can't destroy the moon with his mind?
Enialis_Gryphon 05-22-07, 08:21 PM	:heehee Funny AND well said. Bravo, bobthechimp.
Cartigan 05-22-07, 08:26 PM	Once again, the Were-bear example. WHERE does it say that a bear can't hold a weapon? WHERE does it say that a were-bear in bear form can hold a weapon? If I recall my lycanthrope rules correctly, there is a halfway state that keeps enough humanoid characteristic to wield weapons. I don't think the full morph can.
Treantmonklvl20 05-22-07, 09:14 PM	Once again, the Were-bear example. WHERE does it say that a bear can't hold a weapon? WHERE does it say that a were-bear in bear form can hold a weapon? MM 3.5 pg 171 shows the were-bear cannot hold a weapon in bear form. on pg 170 under the general listing for lycanthropes it states "A lycanthrope in animal form fights like the animal it resembles." It resembles a bear. Check the Black and Brown bear entries, neither talk about a bear picking up a sword (so sad, I've seen this topic before too...what a dumb mental picture.) Werebear in BEAR form lists ONLY natural attacks. Werebear in humanoid form and in hybrid form (half bear/half humanoid) list weapon attacks. Bear Warrior's transformation to Bear form functions like polymorph except that it is a free action (rage) and stats are dealt with differently (as a rage bonus). Polymorphing into a bear means you can't use weapons (the post be Steidas quotes the specific rules for you). A Bear Warrior can use weapons, but when he rages, he polymorphs into a bear, therefore using the natural attacks of a bear. Bear warriors do not have a hybrid form. (though I figure they should at high levels...honestly, the PrC is pretty weak past level 5). Want to pump up your Bear Warrior? Check out Vow of Poverty from BoED, or multiclass with Frenzied Berserker, or both!!! (which is what I did with my current character...not there yet, but soooooooon.)
ninjarabbit 05-22-07, 09:18 PM	The solution is to take the improved unarmed strike and the multiattack feat.
Azoriel 05-22-07, 09:23 PM	Can one is weapons while in Bear Shape? Do you keep the ones you had after morphing? Can you pick up and use a weapon AFTER morphing? As mentioned by everyone else, bear warriors in bear form are as capable of wielding weapons as standard bears are (i.e. they cannot). Werebears are different in that they have a hybrid form that can use weapons, though they still cannot use weapons in animal form. (This irks me somewhat, since they didn't have a hybrid form in previous editions, but oh well.) If you just can't get the idea of a sword-totting bear warrior out of your head, you can try to convince your DM to port over the "opposable" weapon enchantment from Masters of the Wild. (It's 3.0, but probably not imbalanced to have in 3.5.)