Druid and Dire Template

[Leucrotta63]

When a Druid reaches sufficient level to be able to turn into Size: Huge animals, is there any rule prohibiting simply applying the Dire Creature Template to an existing (non-Dire) animal and using that?

The Dire template specifically says it can be added to any animal that is not already Dire, but that still leave the door open to quite a few.

I have a Feral Hunter with the Wild Shape class ability who just hit 8th level and has access to Huge animals, and has a preference for changing into feline forms, but there is a distinct lack of any size Huge cats (except the Warcat, which comes with its own set of problems, such as no access to the Rend ability via Wild Shape).

Even a so-called 'Dire Tiger' in the Bestiary is no better than a standard Tiger as far as base damage for natural attacks, movement speed, or anything else that Wild Shape would give, so that's hardly worth using. Taking a regular Tiger and applying the Dire Creature Template is MUCH better (speed 50', claws doing 2d6/bite 3d6, etc), so that seems a no-brainer.

[Drahliana Moonrunner]

Yes, the rule is that you can not add templates of any kind to the shapes you take when you wildshape.

[bigrig107]

To more specifically point out said rule...

MagicChapter, CRB wrote:

Polymorph spells cannot be used to assume the form of a creature with a template or an advanced version of a creature.

As the druid's wild shape ability functions as Beast Shape, the rules for Polymorph abilities apply, even this one.

[Milo v3]

Well for one, Dire Template isn't official Pathfinder material.

Two, "Polymorph spells cannot be used to assume the form of a creature with a template or an advanced version of a creature."

Three, Wildshape "functions like the beast shape I spell, except as noted here."

[Leucrotta63]

bigrig107 wrote:

To more specifically point out said rule...

MagicChapter, CRB wrote:

Polymorph spells cannot be used to assume the form of a creature with a template or an advanced version of a creature.

As the druid's wild shape ability functions as Beast Shape, the rules for Polymorph abilities apply, even this one.

Aw crap. Well, I guess Warcat it is, then, if I want a Huge feline, though I really wish they would address the omission of Rend from the list of abilities gained at Beast Shape III. I see no good reason to deny that ability to a Druid's Wild Shape when it seems relatively fitting to animal shapes that may have it.

[Cantriped]

To paraphrase my wife's most frequent complaint: Pathfinder puts things into strangely shaped boxes.