Character Class: Orangutan

So I was working on some new grapple rules to represent ground fighting. In the process, I saw that Every Which Way But Loose was on TV, and it got me thinking about how awesome orangutans would be at adventuring. They would totally rule. 

Racial Character Class: Orangutan
(For AD&D, compatible with most OSR games)
Hit Dice: 1d10
Combat Progression: Fighter
Save: Rogue
Weapons Allowed: Any bludgeon
Armor Allowed: Up through chain mail, shields
XP Advancement: As Thief

Orangutan is both a race and a class. You can't be an orangutan druid or an orangutan rogue or whatever, you're just an orangutan. You have to have a minumum Strength score of 15, and a minimum Dexterity of 12. After deciding on chosing to play an Orangutan, raise your final Strength score by two points, and lower your wisdom by two points.

Orangutans can not speak. They can communicate in a rough fashion through pointing and gesturing, but this is only suitable for transmitting the most crude and basic information. Adventuring parties that spend more than a few days with an orangutan learn to communicate fairly easily, allowing the orangutan to take part in group discussions or warn of danger.

They can communicate enough to purchase gear (assuming they are allowed into a shop unattended), although they will likely be charged extra by greedy merchants. While they cannot wear standard armor, they can commission custom armor at three times the normal cost.

Ready for adventure!

Special Abilities:

Thief Skills: Orangutans can use a number of thief skills, and count as a thief of the same level when moving silently, hiding in shadows and listening for noises. Orangutans can climb walls as well, although they do not need to roll to see if they can climb something stupid like a brick wall or a tree. You could make them roll to climb, like, the sorcerer-king's obsidian tower I guess. If you wanted to. They're pretty good at climbing though. Orangutans do not learn to disarm traps, pick pockets, pick locks, or read languages, nor do they deal any special damage when attacking from stealth.

Orangutan about to climb a wall

Sidekick Status: Orangutan's are not natural leaders, and often gravitate towards a strong Fighter in the party. An orangutan can never have henchmen, build a castle, or hire human/demihuman hirelings. Orangutans looks really cute when they buy war dogs, however. 

Or baby tigers :3

Monkey Strength: Orangutans can use two-handed weapons in one hand. Alternatively, Orangutans can fight with their bare hands, which deal d6 bludgeon and slashing damage.  At level five, the orangutan gets an additional unarmed attack each turn on the same target, which deals an additional d6 damage. Additionally, during a grapple, an orangutan may re-roll any grapple related dice, including damage, although you must use your second result, even if it is lower.

An orangutan helping his party carry home treasure