ECL of an Awakened Owlbear? [Archive] - Wizards Community

ECL of an Awakened Owlbear? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
OamuTheMonk
12-07-06, 04:50 PM Simple question, for those who figure such things out. What would be the starting ECL of an awakened Owlbear?
Morrowner
12-07-06, 04:53 PM Is that even legal? I thought only animals and plants could be awakened.
OamuTheMonk
12-07-06, 09:10 PM Dammit. For some reason I thought Owlbears were animals.

Well, if it was legit, What would the ECL be?
Morrowner
12-08-06, 01:34 PM Nothing, you simply give it out for free. Isn't it just inherent? I know it plainly has an effect on the CR of an encounter but I have no idea what it would be. Plus 1?
Thomar_of_Uointer
12-08-06, 01:41 PM Nothing, you simply give it out for free. Isn't it just inherent? I know it plainly has an effect on the CR of an encounter but I have no idea what it would be. Plus 1?

I think he means as a character. That would be the reason you figure out the ECL for something.

5 Magical Beast Hit Dice
Large (long) size
+10 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +10 Constitution, +2 Wisdom
+5 natural armor bonus to AC
Natural claw/claw/bite attack routine (1d6 + Strength modifier, 1d8 + Strength modifier secondary)
Improved grab, free grapples with claws
Scent

Neat. Compared to a human Fighter, I'd put the LA at +5, for a total ECL of +10.
Foxhengeyokai
12-08-06, 01:47 PM Well, were it legit, it would have an LA of +1 due to unbalanced scores, +1 due to reach, +1 due to natural armor and a +1 due to the natural attacks per round. You have an LA of +3.

(Sources used, MM3.5 and Savage species))
Silverthumb128
12-08-06, 01:54 PM Well, were it legit, it would have an LA of +1 due to unbalanced scores, +1 due to reach, +1 due to natural armor and a +1 due to the natural attacks per round. You have an LA of +3.

(Sources used, MM3.5 and Savage species))

I'm going to disagree on the +1 for ability scores, given that "unbalanced" usually means net gain of +2-4, not +24.
Foxhengeyokai
12-08-06, 02:15 PM Ah, I see, ok. Maybe make the LA +2 for the abilities, and I did forget to add in the +5 Racial hit dice. So far we are looking at an ECL of about 8
Morrowner
12-08-06, 02:46 PM So an owlbear is considered the equivalent on an 8th level character? Yeah, I can see that, but seems pretty good. Not so overwhelmingly good where everyone wants to run out and play one but a bit on the strong side. So its like putting a template on a 5th level Fighter almost, except you lose 5 feats and 3 levels and gain bladdey blah blah blah. Good work.
OamuTheMonk
12-08-06, 05:06 PM So if I treat it as having ECL 8, It shouldn't be too out of control. It's for an NPC, so I just need to gather how much gear it could have.
Foxhengeyokai
12-08-06, 05:14 PM It would have the same gear as a level 8 NPC would
Silverthumb128
12-09-06, 03:37 AM Ah, I see, ok. Maybe make the LA +2 for the abilities, and I did forget to add in the +5 Racial hit dice. So far we are looking at an ECL of about 8

Alright, I'm looking at the Minotaur entry in the MM. Net +6 ability scores, with +5 Natural Armor, Scent, Natural Weapon, Special Attack, and still only +2 before Racial HD.

I flip to Owlbear, net +14 ability scores(I think whoever first said it was 24 misread the Intelligence of 2), +5 NA, Natural Attack, Improved Grab, Scent. It seems to be that it'd be on the high end of +2 LA(I'd call Half-Ogre the very low-end), or the very low end of +3. But, compared to other +3's, notably, the Half-Dragon, it does get quite a bit less, so I'll agree to +2 LA.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
OamuTheMonk 12-07-06, 04:50 PM	Simple question, for those who figure such things out. What would be the starting ECL of an awakened Owlbear?
Morrowner 12-07-06, 04:53 PM	Is that even legal? I thought only animals and plants could be awakened.
OamuTheMonk 12-07-06, 09:10 PM	Dammit. For some reason I thought Owlbears were animals. Well, if it was legit, What would the ECL be?
Morrowner 12-08-06, 01:34 PM	Nothing, you simply give it out for free. Isn't it just inherent? I know it plainly has an effect on the CR of an encounter but I have no idea what it would be. Plus 1?
Thomar_of_Uointer 12-08-06, 01:41 PM	Nothing, you simply give it out for free. Isn't it just inherent? I know it plainly has an effect on the CR of an encounter but I have no idea what it would be. Plus 1? I think he means as a character. That would be the reason you figure out the ECL for something. 5 Magical Beast Hit Dice Large (long) size +10 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +10 Constitution, +2 Wisdom +5 natural armor bonus to AC Natural claw/claw/bite attack routine (1d6 + Strength modifier, 1d8 + Strength modifier secondary) Improved grab, free grapples with claws Scent Neat. Compared to a human Fighter, I'd put the LA at +5, for a total ECL of +10.
Foxhengeyokai 12-08-06, 01:47 PM	Well, were it legit, it would have an LA of +1 due to unbalanced scores, +1 due to reach, +1 due to natural armor and a +1 due to the natural attacks per round. You have an LA of +3. (Sources used, MM3.5 and Savage species))
Silverthumb128 12-08-06, 01:54 PM	Well, were it legit, it would have an LA of +1 due to unbalanced scores, +1 due to reach, +1 due to natural armor and a +1 due to the natural attacks per round. You have an LA of +3. (Sources used, MM3.5 and Savage species)) I'm going to disagree on the +1 for ability scores, given that "unbalanced" usually means net gain of +2-4, not +24.
Foxhengeyokai 12-08-06, 02:15 PM	Ah, I see, ok. Maybe make the LA +2 for the abilities, and I did forget to add in the +5 Racial hit dice. So far we are looking at an ECL of about 8
Morrowner 12-08-06, 02:46 PM	So an owlbear is considered the equivalent on an 8th level character? Yeah, I can see that, but seems pretty good. Not so overwhelmingly good where everyone wants to run out and play one but a bit on the strong side. So its like putting a template on a 5th level Fighter almost, except you lose 5 feats and 3 levels and gain bladdey blah blah blah. Good work.
OamuTheMonk 12-08-06, 05:06 PM	So if I treat it as having ECL 8, It shouldn't be too out of control. It's for an NPC, so I just need to gather how much gear it could have.
Foxhengeyokai 12-08-06, 05:14 PM	It would have the same gear as a level 8 NPC would
Silverthumb128 12-09-06, 03:37 AM	Ah, I see, ok. Maybe make the LA +2 for the abilities, and I did forget to add in the +5 Racial hit dice. So far we are looking at an ECL of about 8 Alright, I'm looking at the Minotaur entry in the MM. Net +6 ability scores, with +5 Natural Armor, Scent, Natural Weapon, Special Attack, and still only +2 before Racial HD. I flip to Owlbear, net +14 ability scores(I think whoever first said it was 24 misread the Intelligence of 2), +5 NA, Natural Attack, Improved Grab, Scent. It seems to be that it'd be on the high end of +2 LA(I'd call Half-Ogre the very low-end), or the very low end of +3. But, compared to other +3's, notably, the Half-Dragon, it does get quite a bit less, so I'll agree to +2 LA.