Apes and weapons? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Apes and weapons? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
TheLazyLeper
10-20-04, 12:48 PM If a druid wild shapes into the form of an ape, can it still use weapons? It has anthropomorphic thumbs, and that seems to be the necessary thing to grip a weapon, but I wasnt sure about any Living Greyhawk rulings about this. For that matter, how about other items? Would magic items like medallions and bracers and gloves and such adjust in size and shape to the new form, as it suggests on page 213 of the DMG "Many magic garments are made to be easily adjustable, or they adjust themselves magically to the wearer"? Thanks again. :confused:
TrojanAx
10-20-04, 02:29 PM This is similar to a similar question I have about robes and bears. Magic robes do as you said adjust slightly to fit the wearer. And a bear has human like shape (more like a dwarf actually, large arms and stubby legs). I have no current answer, but this seems like the kind of question this dorky guy named Ross would ask from where I am from :-P
SteveMND
10-20-04, 03:15 PM I'm fairly certain these are answered in the most recent LGCS, although IIRC they are 'hidden' in the description of Polymorph (where it talks about what forms can wield/use what).
Cardinal Teplin
10-21-04, 10:57 AM (LGCS)...Where it says cloaks, amulets and weapons can resize and be used, and everything else falls off or is absorbed.

Of course, this doesn't stop you using an item you pick up after you change shape as long as the creature can weild it. For this we need to look in the dMG under item slots, and then make some intelligent guesses as to what a creature could credibly wear. I'd personally rule against snakes using bows, for example, or manta rays wearing amulets, or lions wearing rings, but DMs do vary.

Your ape appears to be ok though. He has hands, he can weild a weapon, and the weapon resizes to fit him when he changes. So does his cloak, and his amulet. Everything else won't stay when he changes, and may well not fit once he's changed size.

This is a controvertial area, and you'll hear many different opinions, many of which might claim to be definitive.
SteveMND
10-21-04, 11:57 AM And like most 'grey areas' in LG, I wouldn't plan on it being your character's 'ace-in-the-hole' or even a regular part of his standard operating procedure. Gray areas, by definition, will vary from table to table.
TheLazyLeper
10-21-04, 03:17 PM Thanks for the help guys! One more question: What about gloves? the hands are very similar, and it might come into play with combat reflexes and gloves of dexterity?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TheLazyLeper 10-20-04, 12:48 PM	If a druid wild shapes into the form of an ape, can it still use weapons? It has anthropomorphic thumbs, and that seems to be the necessary thing to grip a weapon, but I wasnt sure about any Living Greyhawk rulings about this. For that matter, how about other items? Would magic items like medallions and bracers and gloves and such adjust in size and shape to the new form, as it suggests on page 213 of the DMG "Many magic garments are made to be easily adjustable, or they adjust themselves magically to the wearer"? Thanks again. :confused:
TrojanAx 10-20-04, 02:29 PM	This is similar to a similar question I have about robes and bears. Magic robes do as you said adjust slightly to fit the wearer. And a bear has human like shape (more like a dwarf actually, large arms and stubby legs). I have no current answer, but this seems like the kind of question this dorky guy named Ross would ask from where I am from :-P
SteveMND 10-20-04, 03:15 PM	I'm fairly certain these are answered in the most recent LGCS, although IIRC they are 'hidden' in the description of Polymorph (where it talks about what forms can wield/use what).
Cardinal Teplin 10-21-04, 10:57 AM	(LGCS)...Where it says cloaks, amulets and weapons can resize and be used, and everything else falls off or is absorbed. Of course, this doesn't stop you using an item you pick up after you change shape as long as the creature can weild it. For this we need to look in the dMG under item slots, and then make some intelligent guesses as to what a creature could credibly wear. I'd personally rule against snakes using bows, for example, or manta rays wearing amulets, or lions wearing rings, but DMs do vary. Your ape appears to be ok though. He has hands, he can weild a weapon, and the weapon resizes to fit him when he changes. So does his cloak, and his amulet. Everything else won't stay when he changes, and may well not fit once he's changed size. This is a controvertial area, and you'll hear many different opinions, many of which might claim to be definitive.
SteveMND 10-21-04, 11:57 AM	And like most 'grey areas' in LG, I wouldn't plan on it being your character's 'ace-in-the-hole' or even a regular part of his standard operating procedure. Gray areas, by definition, will vary from table to table.
TheLazyLeper 10-21-04, 03:17 PM	Thanks for the help guys! One more question: What about gloves? the hands are very similar, and it might come into play with combat reflexes and gloves of dexterity?