Beast Shape

[Pex]

My Dark Tapestry Oracle will soon be able to polymorph himself into small and medium size animals. Though not exclusively, I'm mainly using the Many Forms revelation as a simple buff. I intend to fight as I normally do when not polymorphed - morningstar and shield. I want to polymorph into primates allowing me to grip my weapon and shield but also to have hands to enable spellcasting when necessary since I don't have a Natural Spell option like druids. I will have Silence Spell feat.

My first thought was a gorilla. Checking the Beastiary I see it is a large animal, so not an option. Is it legal to say I polymorph into a young gorilla? I accept that if for whatever reason I attack with my new natural weapons it is a lower damage die, but "gorilla" is really for a cosmetic effect. Are chimpanzees and orangutans in another Bestiary? Are they normally medium size?

[Yanisa]

Well Young is a template, and the long winded polymorph (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic#TOC-Transmutation) rules don't allow you to shape change into a polymorphed creature.

Unless otherwise noted, polymorph spells cannot be used to change into specific individuals. Although many of the fine details can be controlled, your appearance is always that of a generic member of that creature's type. Polymorph spells cannot be used to assume the form of a creature with a template or an advanced version of a creature.

However, I found chimpanzees (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/animals/primates/primate-chimpanzee) and orangutans (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/animals/primates/primate-orangutan) but the lack of source confused me until I noticed this part in the Gorilla entry.

This stat block can generally be used for any of the larger types of primates, such as gorillas—for smaller apes like orangutans and chimpanzees, apply the young simple template. Even smaller primates should use the stats for monkeys found on page 132.
And if your DM allows these variants, it's a non RAW breaking way of playing a a young gorilla.:smalltongue:

Bestiary two also has Baboons (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/animals/primates/primate-baboon), but they are small.

[Pex]

Thanks.

It doesn't have to be a gorilla; it's just what I thought of first. A chimpanzee or an orangutan will do. Also funny and fitting to the character. As long as it's officially a medium animal the DM of this campaign will accept it. He's quite the Rules Lawyer. :smallbiggrin:

It's my optimization that gets him. I waiting for the look on his face when I become a flying chimpanzee. :smallamused: