Anthropomorphic Animal: "You transform the touched animal into a bipedal hybrid of its original form with a humanoid form, similar to how a lycanthrope's hybrid form is a mix of a humanoid and animal form. The animal's size, type, and ability scores do not change. It loses its natural attacks except for bite (if it had one as an animal), all types of movement other than its land speed, and special attacks that rely on its natural attacks. One pair of its limbs is able to manipulate objects and weapons as well as human hands do; limbless animals like snakes temporarily grow a pair of arms. The creature's Intelligence increases to 3, and it gains the ability to speak one language you know. It is not considered proficient in any manufactured weapons. It can attack with unarmed strikes, dealing unarmed strike damage for a creature of its size (unless it has a bite attack, which is a natural attack)."
If a snake is anthropomorphized, can it wear boots?
If an eagle is anthropomorphized, can it wear rings or gloves?
If those answers are yes, can they wear magical items of those same types? (IE: Does the new bipedal hybrid of animal and humanoid grant the normal humanoid-shaped body magic item slots?)
With an intelligence of 3, and knowing a language, could it activate command-word magic items? (Assuming it was told what the command word was, and either wanted to or was told to activate it, using a handle animal check if necessary)
The FAQ on Intelligent Animals mentions two roadblocks to intelligent animals wielding weapons: physical ability (lack of thumbs) and choice (why use stick when have good claws?). If the limbs are able to manipulate objects as well as human hands, then physical ability is taken care of. As for choice, it's not only intelligent, it knows a language (even though intelligent animals are capable of learning language, the FAQ says they often don't have the correct anatomy of speech, and often won't care to learn - the spell takes care of both of those) so if a trusted ally asks it to wear an item or wield a weapon, (using a handle animal check if needed) is there anything prohibiting it from doing so? (Remember, proficiency doesn't prohibit use, it just applies a penalty.)
Yes. If there is a positive point to this spell, this is it.
RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
|
Anthropomorphic Animal: "You transform the touched animal into a bipedal hybrid of its original form with a humanoid form, similar to how a lycanthrope's hybrid form is a mix of a humanoid and animal form. The animal's size, type, and ability scores do not change. It loses its natural attacks except for bite (if it had one as an animal), all types of movement other than its land speed, and special attacks that rely on its natural attacks. One pair of its limbs is able to manipulate objects and weapons as well as human hands do; limbless animals like snakes temporarily grow a pair of arms. The creature's Intelligence increases to 3, and it gains the ability to speak one language you know. It is not considered proficient in any manufactured weapons. It can attack with unarmed strikes, dealing unarmed strike damage for a creature of its size (unless it has a bite attack, which is a natural attack)."
If a snake is anthropomorphized, can it wear boots?
If an eagle is anthropomorphized, can it wear rings or gloves?
If those answers are yes, can they wear magical items of those same types? (IE: Does the new bipedal hybrid of animal and humanoid grant the normal humanoid-shaped body magic item slots?)
With an intelligence of 3, and knowing a language, could it activate command-word magic items? (Assuming it was told what the command word was, and either wanted to or was told to activate it, using a handle animal check if necessary)
The FAQ on Intelligent Animals mentions two roadblocks to intelligent animals...
Well, there are a couple things to consider here. First, if you anthropomorphize a snake, does it grow legs, or does it just sort of "stand up" using its tail like a naga, and grow arms that can manipulate items? I would say boots would not work for most anthropomorphized animals, since their feet wouldn't necessarily need to turn into human-shaped feet. (An anthropomorphized horse would probably still have hooves on its back legs, right?)
So I would say no, no boot slot. If the slot definitely makes sense, though, they should gain it. Ring slots, for example, should be fine, since it says that they can now manipulate items as well as human hands, so they should in theory have fingers. A neck slot will almost always make sense. Same for a cloak. Probably gloves. Body slot would almost certainly not work.
I'd say in this case it's gotta be a case of common sense coupled with asking your DM.
I say it gives all humanoid body slots for magic items and takes away other restrictions to non-humanoid anatomy.
Snakes would become more like serpentfolk ("yuan-ti").
Magic boots automatically resize. Otherwise a half-orc would not be able to give his Boots of Elvenkind to a halfling.
This seems to be RAI. Otherwise, this spell is completely worthless except as a debuff to strip animals of most natural attacks.
I would make this into a collar the animal can wear and control at will.
|
|
I think it depends on your dm, though. There is a lot of Furry Art -- sorry to bring this up -- that displays anthro-animals that are either plantigrade (walks like us) or digitigrade (anatomically configured to walk on toes).
What is interesting that this spell can create minotaurs, naga, and gnolls. Just cast it on a hyena, instant gnoll. Cast it on a bull, and you have a minotaur (a probably large one, but a one non-the-less).
When considering the above, what do you think? Do you think Druids should get this spell? I wonder if wizards experimented with it first. What do you think?
|
RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
|
I say it gives all humanoid body slots for magic items and takes away other restrictions to non-humanoid anatomy.
Snakes would become more like serpentfolk ("yuan-ti").
Magic boots automatically resize. Otherwise a half-orc would not be able to give his Boots of Elvenkind to a halfling.
This seems to be RAI. Otherwise, this spell is completely worthless except as a debuff to strip animals of most natural attacks.
I would make this into a collar the animal can wear and control at will.
It doesn't actually say that snakes grow legs, but it does explicitly say that they grow arms. This to me suggests that the intention of the spell was to let animals use weapons, not to gain all humanoid body slots. Like I said, personally I think some body slots definitely make sense, but others would be too awkward.
It doesn't actually say that snakes grow legs
How else do they become bipedal?
It doesn't actually say that snakes grow legsHow else do they become bipedal?
Exactly what I was thinking. I think the line about snakes and arms was to clarify that they don't just grow legs but arms as well.
|
It doesn't actually say that snakes grow legsHow else do they become bipedal?
Exactly what I was thinking. I think the line about snakes and arms was to clarify that they don't just grow legs but arms as well.
Being Bipedal does not mean you have feet just that you have two legs. As has been mentioned by GM Elton, being bipedal could simply mean you walk on toes, hooves or two slithering tentacles.
Also since it does specifically state that it gives you arms means it has a precedent in the spell of explicitly granting limbs so if it doesn't say it gives you a physical feature it probably doesn't.Going simply by Raw all this spell does is make your critter stand up on it's hind limbs and makes one set of their appendages more flexible. (it doesn't give them hands or thumbs it just makes their paws/wings/flippers more flexible.
It's still a horrible spell and more of a nerf then anything else and one I will continue using as a debuff against Animal companions.
Being Bipedal does not mean you have feet just that you have two legs.
World English Dictionary
biped (ˈbaɪpɛd)—n 1. any animal with two feet
—adj 2. having two feet
Science Dictionary American Heritage
biped (bī'pěd')
An animal having two feet, such as a bird or human.
Going simply by Raw all this spell does is make your critter stand up on it's hind limbs and makes one set of their appendages more flexible. (it doesn't give them hands or thumbs it just makes their paws/wings/flippers more flexible.
Flexible enough to be able to manipulate objects and weapons as well as human hands? How can you use an Emei Piercer without a finger?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
If a snake is anthropomorphized, can it wear boots?
"There's a snake in my boots!"
|
|
Being Bipedal does not mean you have feet just that you have two legs.World English Dictionary
biped (ˈbaɪpɛd)
—n 1. any animal with two feet—adj 2. having two feet
Science Dictionary American Heritage
biped (bī'pěd')
An animal having two feet, such as a bird or human.Going simply by Raw all this spell does is make your critter stand up on it's hind limbs and makes one set of their appendages more flexible. (it doesn't give them hands or thumbs it just makes their paws/wings/flippers more flexible.Flexible enough to be able to manipulate objects and weapons as well as human hands? How can you use an Emei Piercer without a finger?
What I get for using wikipedia for a word definition, it links to bipedalism which is specifically movement on two legs.
Biped is two feet, and this spell is neither since it is Bipedal but still irrelevant.As for using the emei piercer.. Magic? The spell doesn't grant fingers just
One pair of its limbs is able to manipulate objects and weapons as well as human hands do
.
Weird and non-sensical but that's magic for you.
Biped is two feet, and this spell is neither since it is Bipedal but still irrelevant.
How is that irrelevant?
The spell makes the animal bipedal. Bipedal is an adjective for biped. Biped means two feet. (Literally: Bi=two, ped=foot) If it has feet, why can't it wear boots?
As for using the emei piercer.. Magic? The spell doesn't grant fingers justOne pair of its limbs is able to manipulate objects and weapons as well as human hands do
Wouldn't the same magic that lets it wear a weapon on a finger that doesn't exist also let it wear a ring on a finger that doesn't exist? Because Magic?