Magic Monkey

[Kilmore]

Okay, in responding to another thread, I figured out that a chimpanzee would be a good animal for a druid to turn into using Wild Shape, as it would allow him to continue to use spells with somatic components. But what about the verbal component? The Polymorph Other spell, which is the spell representing Wild Shape, sez that you can cast spells with verbal components if you have a "humanlike voice".

Question is, could a chimp be considered to have a "humanlike voice?" Any biologists out there that can tell me if a chimp's voice is capable of the same types of sounds as a human. And if not, is it possible for that druid to "program" his spells so that the verbal component is utterable in both human and chimp form?

BTW, I know a chimp is not a monkey.

 

[Thanee]

Just get Natural Spell (MotW) and spare yourself the trouble!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Dingleberry]

In addition to providing the Natural Spell feat Thanee mentions, the revised description of the Wild Shape ability on page 11 of MotW strongly implies that even a form with prehensile hands cannot use somatic components. Further, it specifically states that a wildshaped druid's lack of a humanlike voice prevents casting spells with verbal components.

 

[AuraSeer]

Question is, could a chimp be considered to have a "humanlike voice?" Any biologists out there that can tell me if a chimp's voice is capable of the same types of sounds as a human.

No. Other primates have different vocal apparatus than humans do. That's why researchers teach them sign language instead of English.

And if not, is it possible for that druid to "program" his spells so that the verbal component is utterable in both human and chimp form?

I believe there's a feat for that: Natural Spell.