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

Awaken [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Elliot22
07-06-05, 10:35 AM I was wondering, can you be a PC that is a creature or tree that has been awakened. I am trying to learn a lot about Druids, and Awaken is one of their spells, lately I've been wanting to play a wolf, but with Awaken what would be the LA (if any) and how would you figure all the stats adjustments... so an you be an Awakened PC...
Thorak
07-06-05, 11:02 AM I was wondering, can you be a PC that is a creature or tree that has been awakened. I am trying to learn a lot about Druids, and Awaken is one of their spells, lately I've been wanting to play a wolf, but with Awaken what would be the LA (if any) and how would you figure all the stats adjustments... so an you be an Awakened PC...
Animals aren't given LAs, so in theory they don't have one. They do have monster HD though. With the bonus HD from Awaken, this means that an Awakened Wolf has 4HD. Your first class level would make you ECL 5.

As for abilities; take everything but intelligence, and subtract 10. If the number left is odd, subtract 1 more. This gives you the ability mods; creatures are assumed to have all 10s and 11s for abilities.

For a Wolf, this is; +2 Str, +4 Dex, +4 Con, -8 Int (which is irrelevant for an Awakened animal, since they get a normal Intelligence, effectively getting a +0), +2 Wis, -4 Cha (though you get +1d3 from Awaken, which could be averaged to a +2, meaning the total penalty is only -2)

Sure, these are awesome modifiers. But you're an animal. Consider; you don't have hands. Think about that for a few minutes, and you'll see how big a drawback that is. Consider that you can never wield a manufactured weapon. The one exception would be Armor Spikes on barding, but the chances of finding enchanted armor-spiked barding built for a wolf (or whatever) are pretty much nil. And that's just one problem.

I think the drawbacks of being an animal outwiegh the very good physical qualities, and that the HD then are enough of a cost; no LA is needed. This breaks apart a bit in some cases, like Apes, but it works for most animals.
Maerdash
07-06-05, 01:46 PM Animals that are awakened have alot of problems as PC's they as Thorak said have trouble using weapons, one way around this is a mgaic item called arms of the naga from the savage species its well a peir of arms. The savage species also says that they can still use some magic items that depend on limbs they don't have, a wolf can wear a magic ring in its ear is actually the example give (magic earring are cool :D ). Another way to help your animal pc get around when it needs a door open is to take the leadership feat if your high enough level, or if low level and without scruples you can charm a some poor gaurdsman to do your object manipulation. If you'll be playing a druid you could always talk to the dm, see if he'll let you take leadership early and get an "apprentice". My dm actually let me play a psion dog once with a fighter that acted as my mouthpiece since I didn't want the humans to freak out.

I'd say that the penalties for playing an animal outweigh the benefits and require no level adjustment.
ashcat_lt
07-06-05, 02:20 PM I say go for it if you can afford the HD. I've always liked the idea of a wolf/scout. Monk could be cool as well. Or a druid. I house rule that awakened animals can take natural spell w/out the wildshape ability, but your dm may not be so kind. Animals can use most magical items that don't need to be manipulated. There's no reason a wolf can't wear bracers, amulets, goggles, cloaks, etc. The draconomicon has a list of the magic items that a dragon can wear, which I figure can be applied to most animals. You could also get around the whole thing by taking VoP, if you qualify.
Elliot22
07-06-05, 11:35 PM Yeah, I don't mind not being able to use weapons, I thought about going into more of what the creature does (as in making them fighter type characters.) or going into a more survival of my race type character. Though I will look up the SS item that allows you to weild weapons. Thnax for your help guys!
footdownatgreen
07-07-05, 12:55 PM If you are going to use the spell awaken and you have the chance maximize it. Maximizing a normal spell means you get to do some extra damage, which is nice and all, but its nothing compared to having a creature or tree with maxed out stats.
Siduakal
07-07-05, 01:05 PM Sure, these are awesome modifiers. But you're an animal. Consider; you don't have hands. Think about that for a few minutes, and you'll see how big a drawback that is. Consider that you can never wield a manufactured weapon. The one exception would be Armor Spikes on barding, but the chances of finding enchanted armor-spiked barding built for a wolf (or whatever) are pretty much nil. And that's just one problem.

Sure you can! MONKEYS! AWAKENED DIRE APES! Bwahaha..
obrysii
07-07-05, 01:20 PM For Awakened Trees, find the correct Animated Object size catagory.

For a fairly large tree, you'd probably use Huge Animated Objects as your base.

This is the stats you'd get:

*+10 str, -2 dex, con --*, Wis 3d6, Int 3d6, Cha 3d6
*Huge size
*Plant type
*10d8 HD and all that Plant HD give
*Special Qualities: Hardness 5
*Slam attack dealing 2d6 damage
*Speed: 40ft.**
*+6 natural armor

*the Awaken spell says nothing of what Plants gain for con, although Animated Objects have no con score; however, the awakened plant acquires the Plant type, so it may or may not have a con score
**I treat the multiple roots of a tree to count as "multiple legs" for purpose of speed.

So it'd be ECL 11.
Ilikan Holyaxe
07-07-05, 01:27 PM yeah, you'd have to have someone or something which you could use as your hands, otherwise, it'd be cool.
Siduakal
07-07-05, 01:36 PM I'm tellin you man.. Dire Chimpanzees are the in thing.
Valgaav
07-07-05, 08:49 PM I'm tellin you man.. Dire Chimpanzees are the in thing.

Impressive, but have you ever Awakened a house?

Also: Imagine a Living Awaken spell, as the template in Eberron. Nasty little idea, aint it?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Elliot22 07-06-05, 10:35 AM	I was wondering, can you be a PC that is a creature or tree that has been awakened. I am trying to learn a lot about Druids, and Awaken is one of their spells, lately I've been wanting to play a wolf, but with Awaken what would be the LA (if any) and how would you figure all the stats adjustments... so an you be an Awakened PC...
Thorak 07-06-05, 11:02 AM	I was wondering, can you be a PC that is a creature or tree that has been awakened. I am trying to learn a lot about Druids, and Awaken is one of their spells, lately I've been wanting to play a wolf, but with Awaken what would be the LA (if any) and how would you figure all the stats adjustments... so an you be an Awakened PC... Animals aren't given LAs, so in theory they don't have one. They do have monster HD though. With the bonus HD from Awaken, this means that an Awakened Wolf has 4HD. Your first class level would make you ECL 5. As for abilities; take everything but intelligence, and subtract 10. If the number left is odd, subtract 1 more. This gives you the ability mods; creatures are assumed to have all 10s and 11s for abilities. For a Wolf, this is; +2 Str, +4 Dex, +4 Con, -8 Int (which is irrelevant for an Awakened animal, since they get a normal Intelligence, effectively getting a +0), +2 Wis, -4 Cha (though you get +1d3 from Awaken, which could be averaged to a +2, meaning the total penalty is only -2) Sure, these are awesome modifiers. But you're an animal. Consider; you don't have hands. Think about that for a few minutes, and you'll see how big a drawback that is. Consider that you can never wield a manufactured weapon. The one exception would be Armor Spikes on barding, but the chances of finding enchanted armor-spiked barding built for a wolf (or whatever) are pretty much nil. And that's just one problem. I think the drawbacks of being an animal outwiegh the very good physical qualities, and that the HD then are enough of a cost; no LA is needed. This breaks apart a bit in some cases, like Apes, but it works for most animals.
Maerdash 07-06-05, 01:46 PM	Animals that are awakened have alot of problems as PC's they as Thorak said have trouble using weapons, one way around this is a mgaic item called arms of the naga from the savage species its well a peir of arms. The savage species also says that they can still use some magic items that depend on limbs they don't have, a wolf can wear a magic ring in its ear is actually the example give (magic earring are cool :D ). Another way to help your animal pc get around when it needs a door open is to take the leadership feat if your high enough level, or if low level and without scruples you can charm a some poor gaurdsman to do your object manipulation. If you'll be playing a druid you could always talk to the dm, see if he'll let you take leadership early and get an "apprentice". My dm actually let me play a psion dog once with a fighter that acted as my mouthpiece since I didn't want the humans to freak out. I'd say that the penalties for playing an animal outweigh the benefits and require no level adjustment.
ashcat_lt 07-06-05, 02:20 PM	I say go for it if you can afford the HD. I've always liked the idea of a wolf/scout. Monk could be cool as well. Or a druid. I house rule that awakened animals can take natural spell w/out the wildshape ability, but your dm may not be so kind. Animals can use most magical items that don't need to be manipulated. There's no reason a wolf can't wear bracers, amulets, goggles, cloaks, etc. The draconomicon has a list of the magic items that a dragon can wear, which I figure can be applied to most animals. You could also get around the whole thing by taking VoP, if you qualify.
Elliot22 07-06-05, 11:35 PM	Yeah, I don't mind not being able to use weapons, I thought about going into more of what the creature does (as in making them fighter type characters.) or going into a more survival of my race type character. Though I will look up the SS item that allows you to weild weapons. Thnax for your help guys!
footdownatgreen 07-07-05, 12:55 PM	If you are going to use the spell awaken and you have the chance maximize it. Maximizing a normal spell means you get to do some extra damage, which is nice and all, but its nothing compared to having a creature or tree with maxed out stats.
Siduakal 07-07-05, 01:05 PM	Sure, these are awesome modifiers. But you're an animal. Consider; you don't have hands. Think about that for a few minutes, and you'll see how big a drawback that is. Consider that you can never wield a manufactured weapon. The one exception would be Armor Spikes on barding, but the chances of finding enchanted armor-spiked barding built for a wolf (or whatever) are pretty much nil. And that's just one problem. Sure you can! MONKEYS! AWAKENED DIRE APES! Bwahaha..
obrysii 07-07-05, 01:20 PM	For Awakened Trees, find the correct Animated Object size catagory. For a fairly large tree, you'd probably use Huge Animated Objects as your base. This is the stats you'd get: +10 str, -2 dex, con --, Wis 3d6, Int 3d6, Cha 3d6 Huge size Plant type 10d8 HD and all that Plant HD give Special Qualities: Hardness 5 Slam attack dealing 2d6 damage Speed: 40ft.** +6 natural armor the Awaken spell says nothing of what Plants gain for con, although Animated Objects have no con score; however, the awakened plant acquires the Plant type, so it may or may not have a con score **I treat the multiple roots of a tree to count as "multiple legs" for purpose of speed. So it'd be ECL 11.
Ilikan Holyaxe 07-07-05, 01:27 PM	yeah, you'd have to have someone or something which you could use as your hands, otherwise, it'd be cool.
Siduakal 07-07-05, 01:36 PM	I'm tellin you man.. Dire Chimpanzees are the in thing.
Valgaav 07-07-05, 08:49 PM	I'm tellin you man.. Dire Chimpanzees are the in thing. Impressive, but have you ever Awakened a house? Also: Imagine a Living Awaken spell, as the template in Eberron. Nasty little idea, aint it?