Help making an Awakened dog character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help making an Awakened dog character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
darth_borehd
03-29-07, 12:30 AM I want to play a dog that had the awakened spell cast on him and is now able to gain class levels. The Awakened spell is a little vague on the exact process. I understand an animal gains +3d6 INT and +1d3 CHA and +2 HD and his type changes to magical beast. What about the previous levels of animal? Do I keep the the 1 or 2 HD of animal (depending on the size of dog) and add two more HD of magical beast? Or do I convert the animal levels to magical beast levels and add 2 more after that?

I'm thinking of using barding and saddlebags meant for riding dogs. Anybody else have other ideas that could help?
Fireclave
03-29-07, 12:43 AM Because it says you gain +2 HD, and mentions nothing of converting HD, that means that you add the two HD two whatever other HD already existed. Therefore, the previous animal HD stay.

Equipment-wise, the only major item I would suggest getting (other than your standard ability-increasing items) is a Hand of the Mage. Just remember that the Hand of the Mage is an expensive and useful tool to make up for your lack of hands, not an dried, meaty doggy treat :P
Narris
03-29-07, 12:45 AM I want to play a dog that had the awakened spell cast on him and is now able to gain class levels. The Awakened spell is a little vague on the exact process. I understand an animal gains +3d6 INT and +1d3 CHA and +2 HD and his type changes to magical beast. What about the previous levels of animal? Do I keep the the 1 or 2 HD of animal (depending on the size of dog) and add two more HD of magical beast? Or do I convert the animal levels to magical beast levels and add 2 more after that?

I'm thinking of using barding and saddlebags meant for riding dogs. Anybody else have other ideas that could help?

His hit die change to the new hit die. So convert the animal HD to magical beast. Be sure to read the entry: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#types
Fireclave
03-29-07, 12:59 AM His hit die change to the new hit die. So convert the animal HD to magical beast. Be sure to read the entry: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#types
It's type changes, that much is true. But I don't see where it says its animal HD are converted to magical beast HD.
Thomar_of_Uointer
03-29-07, 02:17 AM It's type changes, that much is true. But I don't see where it says its animal HD are converted to magical beast HD.

Yeah, the spell says nothing about changing its Hit Dice. It's also more balanced to keep it all as Animal Hit Dice, because Magical Beast Hit Dice are more powerful and make it difficult to determine ECL.

Judging by the lycanthrope template's handling of Animal Hit Dice, it's safe to assume that you can play an awakened animal with a flat Level Adjustment of +0 (assuming you use Animal Hit Dice and not Magical Beast Hit Dice). Rather than using the rolled mental ability modifiers specified in the spell, just use the animal's base abilities to determine them (so +0 Int, use the animal's Wis, and increase the animal's Cha mod by +2). This also helps if you're using point buy.

Yeah, you're going to be using barding. Keep in mind that you have pretty much all of the body slots a human does, they're just differently sized and shaped. Most magical equipment magically resizes itself to fit anyways, but you'll still need barding armor. Your quadruped status gives you a nice boost to carrying capacity. Get a hand of the mage so you can open doors and grab things off the top shelf. Also consider glamering your armor, so that you won't stand out as much when you have expensive stuff like mithral barding, and a hat of disguise can go a long ways towards keeping yourself safe, nobody looks twice at most animals.

Also, check out the psychic warrior class, there are some fun psionic options like Psionic Fist and form of doom. You can also call yourself a blink dog if anyone asks.
Darth Sephiroth
03-29-07, 04:31 AM Yeah, the spell says nothing about changing its Hit Dice. It's also more balanced to keep it all as Animal Hit Dice, because Magical Beast Hit Dice are more powerful and make it difficult to determine ECL.

Type changes change the TYPE HD unless otherwise stated (Like the Half-Dragon Template), class based HD are never effected by this.

The change increases your BAB by 1, adds up to 4 extra HP if you use the average, and gives Darkvision. You really don't gain that much while losing 3 levels of class abilities and most of the abilities are ones the right racial choices can give with a few others that are animal only but puts you at least 1 spell level behind the curve

Type HD are pretty much worthless (with the possible exception of Dragon HD [Especially if using the Draconomicon addtion of +1 AC every other level]) compared to class levels.

As for the character, I'd suggest that you take a peek at the Magebred animals and the variants there to see if the template would be a good addition before applying the Awakened spell.
Steely_Dan
03-29-07, 07:12 AM Slap the Anthropomorphic template on his ass, take the monk class, and you have some juicy Hong Kong Phooey action.
Thomar_of_Uointer
03-29-07, 01:07 PM Type HD are pretty much worthless (with the possible exception of Dragon HD [Especially if using the Draconomicon addtion of +1 AC every other level]) compared to class levels.

The problem with that argument is that Magical Beast Hit Dice are less worthless than Animal Hit Dice. The Lycanthrope template assumes that the abilities of an animal combined with its Animal Hit Dice are on par with class levels, which was my basis for arguing that an awakened animal is LA +0. If you change the Hit Dice to Magical Beast Hit Dice, you have to figure out the LA on your own for each animal species individually, which everyone knows is a pain. Although you could say +1 for 1-5, +2 for 6-12, and so on...
Fireclave
03-29-07, 04:16 PM Type changes change the TYPE HD unless otherwise stated (Like the Half-Dragon Template)...

Can you give us a rules quote on this?
Darth Sephiroth
03-29-07, 04:41 PM Can you give us a rules quote on this?

Doesn't make sense otherwise because several templates have to state that it isn't the case. I can't find anything with 2 types of TYPE HD anywhere other than the Lycanthropes which are wierd as it is.
Narris
03-30-07, 12:48 PM Alodon: Hound Archon Monk

http://www.3edb.com/viewCharacter.asp?cid=15583

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
darth_borehd 03-29-07, 12:30 AM	I want to play a dog that had the awakened spell cast on him and is now able to gain class levels. The Awakened spell is a little vague on the exact process. I understand an animal gains +3d6 INT and +1d3 CHA and +2 HD and his type changes to magical beast. What about the previous levels of animal? Do I keep the the 1 or 2 HD of animal (depending on the size of dog) and add two more HD of magical beast? Or do I convert the animal levels to magical beast levels and add 2 more after that? I'm thinking of using barding and saddlebags meant for riding dogs. Anybody else have other ideas that could help?
Fireclave 03-29-07, 12:43 AM	Because it says you gain +2 HD, and mentions nothing of converting HD, that means that you add the two HD two whatever other HD already existed. Therefore, the previous animal HD stay. Equipment-wise, the only major item I would suggest getting (other than your standard ability-increasing items) is a Hand of the Mage. Just remember that the Hand of the Mage is an expensive and useful tool to make up for your lack of hands, not an dried, meaty doggy treat :P
Narris 03-29-07, 12:45 AM	I want to play a dog that had the awakened spell cast on him and is now able to gain class levels. The Awakened spell is a little vague on the exact process. I understand an animal gains +3d6 INT and +1d3 CHA and +2 HD and his type changes to magical beast. What about the previous levels of animal? Do I keep the the 1 or 2 HD of animal (depending on the size of dog) and add two more HD of magical beast? Or do I convert the animal levels to magical beast levels and add 2 more after that? I'm thinking of using barding and saddlebags meant for riding dogs. Anybody else have other ideas that could help? His hit die change to the new hit die. So convert the animal HD to magical beast. Be sure to read the entry: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#types
Fireclave 03-29-07, 12:59 AM	His hit die change to the new hit die. So convert the animal HD to magical beast. Be sure to read the entry: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#types It's type changes, that much is true. But I don't see where it says its animal HD are converted to magical beast HD.
Thomar_of_Uointer 03-29-07, 02:17 AM	It's type changes, that much is true. But I don't see where it says its animal HD are converted to magical beast HD. Yeah, the spell says nothing about changing its Hit Dice. It's also more balanced to keep it all as Animal Hit Dice, because Magical Beast Hit Dice are more powerful and make it difficult to determine ECL. Judging by the lycanthrope template's handling of Animal Hit Dice, it's safe to assume that you can play an awakened animal with a flat Level Adjustment of +0 (assuming you use Animal Hit Dice and not Magical Beast Hit Dice). Rather than using the rolled mental ability modifiers specified in the spell, just use the animal's base abilities to determine them (so +0 Int, use the animal's Wis, and increase the animal's Cha mod by +2). This also helps if you're using point buy. Yeah, you're going to be using barding. Keep in mind that you have pretty much all of the body slots a human does, they're just differently sized and shaped. Most magical equipment magically resizes itself to fit anyways, but you'll still need barding armor. Your quadruped status gives you a nice boost to carrying capacity. Get a hand of the mage so you can open doors and grab things off the top shelf. Also consider glamering your armor, so that you won't stand out as much when you have expensive stuff like mithral barding, and a hat of disguise can go a long ways towards keeping yourself safe, nobody looks twice at most animals. Also, check out the psychic warrior class, there are some fun psionic options like Psionic Fist and form of doom. You can also call yourself a blink dog if anyone asks.
Darth Sephiroth 03-29-07, 04:31 AM	Yeah, the spell says nothing about changing its Hit Dice. It's also more balanced to keep it all as Animal Hit Dice, because Magical Beast Hit Dice are more powerful and make it difficult to determine ECL. Type changes change the TYPE HD unless otherwise stated (Like the Half-Dragon Template), class based HD are never effected by this. The change increases your BAB by 1, adds up to 4 extra HP if you use the average, and gives Darkvision. You really don't gain that much while losing 3 levels of class abilities and most of the abilities are ones the right racial choices can give with a few others that are animal only but puts you at least 1 spell level behind the curve Type HD are pretty much worthless (with the possible exception of Dragon HD [Especially if using the Draconomicon addtion of +1 AC every other level]) compared to class levels. As for the character, I'd suggest that you take a peek at the Magebred animals and the variants there to see if the template would be a good addition before applying the Awakened spell.
Steely_Dan 03-29-07, 07:12 AM	Slap the Anthropomorphic template on his ass, take the monk class, and you have some juicy Hong Kong Phooey action.
Thomar_of_Uointer 03-29-07, 01:07 PM	Type HD are pretty much worthless (with the possible exception of Dragon HD [Especially if using the Draconomicon addtion of +1 AC every other level]) compared to class levels. The problem with that argument is that Magical Beast Hit Dice are less worthless than Animal Hit Dice. The Lycanthrope template assumes that the abilities of an animal combined with its Animal Hit Dice are on par with class levels, which was my basis for arguing that an awakened animal is LA +0. If you change the Hit Dice to Magical Beast Hit Dice, you have to figure out the LA on your own for each animal species individually, which everyone knows is a pain. Although you could say +1 for 1-5, +2 for 6-12, and so on...
Fireclave 03-29-07, 04:16 PM	Type changes change the TYPE HD unless otherwise stated (Like the Half-Dragon Template)... Can you give us a rules quote on this?
Darth Sephiroth 03-29-07, 04:41 PM	Can you give us a rules quote on this? Doesn't make sense otherwise because several templates have to state that it isn't the case. I can't find anything with 2 types of TYPE HD anywhere other than the Lycanthropes which are wierd as it is.
Narris 03-30-07, 12:48 PM	Alodon: Hound Archon Monk http://www.3edb.com/viewCharacter.asp?cid=15583