Awakenings [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Awakenings [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
UnrelentingHoror
10-16-06, 09:12 PM I keep seeing reference to the awaken animal and awaken undead spells. Where exactly are those located and how do you figure out the LA of beings awkened in such a way to be used as possible PC races?
Artector
10-16-06, 09:17 PM Awaken is a druid spell. Its in the SRD.
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/awaken.htm

Awaken undead is probably in something like the Libris Mortis.

As for characters: ECL=HD+LA. (Effective Character Level = Hit Dice+Level Adjustment) I believe in the case of Awaken count them as 2 levels higher pretty much.
zook1shoe666
10-16-06, 09:17 PM yeah i wanna check out an awakened monkey monk or ninja :-p
Fireclave
10-16-06, 09:21 PM Awaken Animal is in the PH and SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/awaken.htm). Awakened animals gain HD but no LA. It would be up to the DM whether or not to allow a Awakened animal as a PC, though they probably wouldn't need a LA since they would have so many animal HD.

I've never heard of Awaken Undead before.

Edit: For the record, Awaken adds +2 Magical Beast HD, not +2 LA.
Dyerhouse
10-16-06, 09:27 PM To add a little bit of info, Ask Wizards on 10-9 kind of covers this:

Q: I've read that awakened animals can take classes just like a normal character. Now I have two questions, (1) is some sort of level adjustment required and (2) I have also heard of special classes for such creatures, and what would some of them be?
--Kyle

A: Actually, if you’re looking to play the animal route, you might look beyond the awaken spell and check out pg. 214 of Savage Species: Anthropomorphic Animals. To quote: “Anthropomorphic animals are animals with humanoid characteristics -- or perhaps humans with animal characteristics. They retain many of the qualities of the animal on which they are based, but they are sentient and have a humanoid form.”

Can’t find a copy of Savage Species? That’s all right; we’ve included a PDF of Table A-58: Adjustments for Anthropomorphic Animals (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/articles/awakened.zip), which provides every animals’ level adjustment and preferred class. Granted, Savage Species is 3.0 material, and some of the animals may require your DM’s approval. (Baleen whales get +8 Strength, +4 Dexterity and +4 Constitution… for +0 level adjustment? To quote our friends over at magicthegathering.com: bah-roken!) But hopefully this will provide you some additional gameplay material for bringing animals into your party.

Ah, whales… to diverge even further from your original questions, we wanted to point out how mistreated these hefty critters have been in D&D. Before adjustments were made to the summon nature’s ally spells, stories abounded of unscrupulous druids calling forth whales to fill dungeon corridors, as effective as any wall. Hence, the 3.5 additional text reading: “Creatures cannot be summoned into an environment that cannot support them. For instance, a porpoise may only be summoned in an aquatic environment.” Porpoise was the example given… but they were really thinking of whales when they made this change. Of course, we'd love to hear your own summoning tales -- drop us a line at dndfeedback@wizards.com (mailto: dndfeedback@wizards.com)!

Poster's note: I love how on this one, the Answerer never bothered to answer either of Kyle's questions. But either way, you might consider using their table as a basis for the Level Adjustment of an Awakened Animal
Dyerhouse
10-16-06, 09:30 PM I've never heard of Awaken Undead before.

That would be in the Libris Mortis, the line of Monster Type-oriented books they're coming out with. It came out at the beginning.
Fireclave
10-16-06, 10:16 PM Poster's note: I love how on this one, the Answerer never bothered to answer either of Kyle's questions. But either way, you might consider using their table as a basis for the Level Adjustment of an Awakened Animal

When considering LA, just keep in mind that the Anthromorphic Template isn't the same thing as the Awaken Spell. Along with upping the size of most animals, it gives them hands. Hands are a dangerous apendage. Hands can be used to sharpen sticks, wage war, write down complex arcanic theories into books, and press the big red button that will doom the world :eek: . Being capable of dooming the world is worthy of a LA adjust :D

Serriously though, Awaken adds 2 non-class HD, doesn't affect your physical ability scores, and grants you no hands. With no hands, you can't cast spells, fight with ranged weapons, use Fullblades with Monkey Grip, craft magic arms and armor, open doors, or any of the standard things most adventurers need to do often...unless you're a awakened monkey ninja :P

In contrast, the Anthromorphic template increases your size to at least small, allows you to get decent physical scores (because you can roll for them), gives you hands, and still gives you many of the benefits of being an animal. The HD and LA costs vary, but some of the combinations are weird. Bats, for example, getting +6 wis and 20ft fly speed at only 1HD and no LA :confused:

For a standard awakened animal, you probably don't need to add a level adjustment. If you are going to augment it further, then use the anthro chart as a guide, but take it with a grain of salt.
zook1shoe666
10-16-06, 10:22 PM get the Nonverbal Spell metamagic feat... that helps w/ the lack of hands.
Artector
10-16-06, 10:27 PM get the Nonverbal Spell metamagic feat... that helps w/ the lack of hands.

Wait......

You speak through your hands!?!?

Poster's note: I love how on this one, the Answerer never bothered to answer either of Kyle's questions. But either way, you might consider using their table as a basis for the Level Adjustment of an Awakened Animal

I thought that was funny too.
Cherubaddon
10-16-06, 10:27 PM Awaken Undead is in Heroes of Horror.
Branto
10-16-06, 10:28 PM Wasn't there like, an Awaken Construct spell, too? I know I've heard of awakened constructs before...

Also, on Ask Wizards completely avoiding answering the actual question... I find it more amusing (well, more accurately I find it annoying) that most of the questions so far have been very simple questions that could have been answered by merely searching online or in the books people have asked about..

What's the point of asking them things we could find the answers to ourselves? People need to start asking about things that are NOT described clearly in any of the books, or some questions about one of the actual D&D settings and stuff in them rather than about game mechanics..
zook1shoe666
10-16-06, 10:35 PM lemme look..... i think i was meaning Natural Spell.... but Nonverbal helps w/ funky voices ;)
UnrelentingHoror
10-17-06, 02:13 AM ookay, now how about LAs for undead?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
UnrelentingHoror 10-16-06, 09:12 PM	I keep seeing reference to the awaken animal and awaken undead spells. Where exactly are those located and how do you figure out the LA of beings awkened in such a way to be used as possible PC races?
Artector 10-16-06, 09:17 PM	Awaken is a druid spell. Its in the SRD. http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/awaken.htm Awaken undead is probably in something like the Libris Mortis. As for characters: ECL=HD+LA. (Effective Character Level = Hit Dice+Level Adjustment) I believe in the case of Awaken count them as 2 levels higher pretty much.
zook1shoe666 10-16-06, 09:17 PM	yeah i wanna check out an awakened monkey monk or ninja :-p
Fireclave 10-16-06, 09:21 PM	Awaken Animal is in the PH and SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/awaken.htm). Awakened animals gain HD but no LA. It would be up to the DM whether or not to allow a Awakened animal as a PC, though they probably wouldn't need a LA since they would have so many animal HD. I've never heard of Awaken Undead before. Edit: For the record, Awaken adds +2 Magical Beast HD, not +2 LA.
Dyerhouse 10-16-06, 09:27 PM	To add a little bit of info, Ask Wizards on 10-9 kind of covers this: Q: I've read that awakened animals can take classes just like a normal character. Now I have two questions, (1) is some sort of level adjustment required and (2) I have also heard of special classes for such creatures, and what would some of them be? --Kyle A: Actually, if you’re looking to play the animal route, you might look beyond the awaken spell and check out pg. 214 of Savage Species: Anthropomorphic Animals. To quote: “Anthropomorphic animals are animals with humanoid characteristics -- or perhaps humans with animal characteristics. They retain many of the qualities of the animal on which they are based, but they are sentient and have a humanoid form.” Can’t find a copy of Savage Species? That’s all right; we’ve included a PDF of Table A-58: Adjustments for Anthropomorphic Animals (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/articles/awakened.zip), which provides every animals’ level adjustment and preferred class. Granted, Savage Species is 3.0 material, and some of the animals may require your DM’s approval. (Baleen whales get +8 Strength, +4 Dexterity and +4 Constitution… for +0 level adjustment? To quote our friends over at magicthegathering.com: bah-roken!) But hopefully this will provide you some additional gameplay material for bringing animals into your party. Ah, whales… to diverge even further from your original questions, we wanted to point out how mistreated these hefty critters have been in D&D. Before adjustments were made to the summon nature’s ally spells, stories abounded of unscrupulous druids calling forth whales to fill dungeon corridors, as effective as any wall. Hence, the 3.5 additional text reading: “Creatures cannot be summoned into an environment that cannot support them. For instance, a porpoise may only be summoned in an aquatic environment.” Porpoise was the example given… but they were really thinking of whales when they made this change. Of course, we'd love to hear your own summoning tales -- drop us a line at dndfeedback@wizards.com (mailto: dndfeedback@wizards.com)! Poster's note: I love how on this one, the Answerer never bothered to answer either of Kyle's questions. But either way, you might consider using their table as a basis for the Level Adjustment of an Awakened Animal
Dyerhouse 10-16-06, 09:30 PM	I've never heard of Awaken Undead before. That would be in the Libris Mortis, the line of Monster Type-oriented books they're coming out with. It came out at the beginning.
Fireclave 10-16-06, 10:16 PM	Poster's note: I love how on this one, the Answerer never bothered to answer either of Kyle's questions. But either way, you might consider using their table as a basis for the Level Adjustment of an Awakened Animal When considering LA, just keep in mind that the Anthromorphic Template isn't the same thing as the Awaken Spell. Along with upping the size of most animals, it gives them hands. Hands are a dangerous apendage. Hands can be used to sharpen sticks, wage war, write down complex arcanic theories into books, and press the big red button that will doom the world :eek: . Being capable of dooming the world is worthy of a LA adjust :D Serriously though, Awaken adds 2 non-class HD, doesn't affect your physical ability scores, and grants you no hands. With no hands, you can't cast spells, fight with ranged weapons, use Fullblades with Monkey Grip, craft magic arms and armor, open doors, or any of the standard things most adventurers need to do often...unless you're a awakened monkey ninja :P In contrast, the Anthromorphic template increases your size to at least small, allows you to get decent physical scores (because you can roll for them), gives you hands, and still gives you many of the benefits of being an animal. The HD and LA costs vary, but some of the combinations are weird. Bats, for example, getting +6 wis and 20ft fly speed at only 1HD and no LA :confused: For a standard awakened animal, you probably don't need to add a level adjustment. If you are going to augment it further, then use the anthro chart as a guide, but take it with a grain of salt.
zook1shoe666 10-16-06, 10:22 PM	get the Nonverbal Spell metamagic feat... that helps w/ the lack of hands.
Artector 10-16-06, 10:27 PM	get the Nonverbal Spell metamagic feat... that helps w/ the lack of hands. Wait...... You speak through your hands!?!? Poster's note: I love how on this one, the Answerer never bothered to answer either of Kyle's questions. But either way, you might consider using their table as a basis for the Level Adjustment of an Awakened Animal I thought that was funny too.
Cherubaddon 10-16-06, 10:27 PM	Awaken Undead is in Heroes of Horror.
Branto 10-16-06, 10:28 PM	Wasn't there like, an Awaken Construct spell, too? I know I've heard of awakened constructs before... Also, on Ask Wizards completely avoiding answering the actual question... I find it more amusing (well, more accurately I find it annoying) that most of the questions so far have been very simple questions that could have been answered by merely searching online or in the books people have asked about.. What's the point of asking them things we could find the answers to ourselves? People need to start asking about things that are NOT described clearly in any of the books, or some questions about one of the actual D&D settings and stuff in them rather than about game mechanics..
zook1shoe666 10-16-06, 10:35 PM	lemme look..... i think i was meaning Natural Spell.... but Nonverbal helps w/ funky voices ;)
UnrelentingHoror 10-17-06, 02:13 AM	ookay, now how about LAs for undead?