Plant Shape -> Yellow Musk Zombie?

[Chris P. Bacon]

Hey you lovely people you,

So, I'm thinking of playing a Wood Oracle in an upcoming game (not PFS or anything), and I have some questions related to using the Tree Form mystery:

1. While looking for good medium plant creatures to emulate, it dawned on me that I could just turn into a Yellow Musk Zombie. Is this actually kosher, considering they're basically zombies? I mean, they seem to qualify in that they have the Plant type and all, but it feels weird. Thoughts?

2. Since I'd essentially be in humanoid form (with bonus pretty flower on my head), would I still be able to cast spells with verbal and somatic components?

3. Yellow Musk Zombies come with a slam attack. Does this require my arms to be freed up, or can the slam be a kick or a headbutt, similar to an unarmed strike? Do both arms need to be free, or just one?

If #1 and #2 work out (I don't really care that much about #3, but it's worth asking as I won't turn down a free slam added to my weapon routine), then Tree Form seems totally worth it. Basically I'm picking up +2 Str, +2 Con, +2 Natural Armor, and Darkvision for 9+hours a day, at the cost of looking kinda gross (potentially an upgrade, since I'm taking the wasting curse lol). Plus DR 5/Slashing at 13th. Yes please!

The Mandragora also seems pretty great (small size, but great movement modes, decent natural attacks, 10' reach, and that poison is fantastic) but I'm wary about somatic components. Thoughts on that for bonus points?

Thanks in advance!

[HectorVivis]

#1/ I'm not totally sure, but Yellow Musk Zombies are still creatures with template, so you won't be able to shape into one.

#2/ I'm curious.

#3/ IIRC, a slam is made with your hands/primary limbs.

[Fomsie]

You could be a Yellow Musk Creeper, not the Zombie. The Zombie is a body infected by the plant. You can become a plant. You should be able to make the zombies, however.

#2: Not Applicable, but even if it were, it would depend greatly on the state of the corpse.

#3: As stated, slams are made with the arms except in special situations.

[James Risner]

Chris P. Bacon wrote:

1. Yellow Musk Zombie

2. Since I'd essentially be in humanoid form ... cast spells with verbal and somatic components?

3. can the slam be a kick or a headbutt, similar to an unarmed strike?

1) Can't be templates. Zombie is a template. Yellow Must Zombie also isn't a Plant type creature.

2) No language line so no casting.

3) No, Slam is a natural weapon that uses and "expends" use of a limb.

Fomsie wrote:

You should be able to make the zombies, however.

No, since you don't get Create Yellow Musk Zombie or Pollen Spray abilities.

[Chris P. Bacon]

Thanks for the replies, guys. That's more or less what I had imagined.

[Darthslash]

If you found a corpse laying around, I would allow you to infect the corpse as a yellow musk plant. But not just wild shape into one by youself.

[Darthslash]

Here is another plant creature I like to use on occasion:

Wheedwhip

[James Risner]

Darthslash wrote:

Wheedwhip

Just being clear you don't get any of these:

dig in, poisonous, languid whip, stench, Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse, or camouflage.

[Darthslash]

Yup yup. I just like it for its 3 poison attacks. And its a good poison too.