Animal Companions and Polymorph

[Hypersmurf]

To the chap that called me a rules lawyer: PAO does not grant me a dragon. It grants me an animal in the form of a dragon.

The Type changes to Dragon, from Animal (in the case of an animal companion) or Magical Beast (in the case of the companion familiar).

Polymorph Any Object also grants the creature the intelligence of the new form.

The Awaken spell (which changes an animal's Type to Magical Beast and increases intelligence) states that an awakened animal may not serve as an animal companion or a familiar. If the DM feels that an Awakened animal cannot serve as a companion because a/ the type is not Animal, or b/ the intelligence has increased (or both), then it would not be inconsistent for that DM to say that an animal PAOed into a Dragon - no longer possessing the Animal type or an animal intelligence - also cannot serve as an animal companion.

The Companion Familiar introduces a wrinkle, given that its type is Magical Beast and its intelligence is already higher than a normal animal. But ordinarily, having a familiar from a non-standard list - like, for example, a pseudo-dragon - requires the Improved Familiar feat. So, again, a DM could legitimately require that you take the Improved Familiar feat in order to retain a companion familiar from a non-standard list without it being an arbitrary and inconsistent ruling.

-Hyp.

 

[Cameron]

The Type changes to Dragon, from Animal (in the case of an animal companion) or Magical Beast (in the case of the companion familiar).

Polymorph Any Object also grants the creature the intelligence of the new form.

The Awaken spell (which changes an animal's Type to Magical Beast and increases intelligence) states that an awakened animal may not serve as an animal companion or a familiar. If the DM feels that an Awakened animal cannot serve as a companion because a/ the type is not Animal, or b/ the intelligence has increased (or both), then it would not be inconsistent for that DM to say that an animal PAOed into a Dragon - no longer possessing the Animal type or an animal intelligence - also cannot serve as an animal companion.

The Companion Familiar introduces a wrinkle, given that its type is Magical Beast and its intelligence is already higher than a normal animal. But ordinarily, having a familiar from a non-standard list - like, for example, a pseudo-dragon - requires the Improved Familiar feat. So, again, a DM could legitimately require that you take the Improved Familiar feat in order to retain a companion familiar from a non-standard list without it being an arbitrary and inconsistent ruling.

-Hyp.

I would accept that except that it raises the issue of someone casting POA on anyone's animal companion and automatically removing it from the game (well, on a failed Fort save). Or worse, a sneak attack by a wizard resulting in a big nasty magical beast or some other nasty creature (Behir comes to mind) right in the middle of the party's camp in the middle of the night would result in a few deaths fairly quickly (bite, grapple, swallow the mage and cleric, for example, before they knew what hit them). Not only did you lose an animal companion, it ate half the party, and probably the other half too (even if the fighter had on his chain shirt nightie...).

I don't think that an automatic severance of animal companion status is an effect of PAO.

 

[Destil]

I would accept that except that it raises the issue of someone casting POA on anyone's animal companion and automatically removing it from the game (well, on a failed Fort save). Or worse, a sneak attack by a wizard resulting in a big nasty magical beast or some other nasty creature (Behir comes to mind) right in the middle of the party's camp in the middle of the night would result in a few deaths fairly quickly (bite, grapple, swallow the mage and cleric, for example, before they knew what hit them). Not only did you lose an animal companion, it ate half the party, and probably the other half too (even if the fighter had on his chain shirt nightie...).

Yoinked!

EDIT: But to be useful, it's only removed until someone can dispel the polymorph, not forever. And a simple disintegrate can do this just as easily 80% of the time at 2 spell slots lower.

What prevents the logic of the disintegrate followed by "Well this pile of dust here is your Animal Companion. So no new one, sorry."

 

[Hypersmurf]

I would accept that except that it raises the issue of someone casting POA on anyone's animal companion and automatically removing it from the game (well, on a failed Fort save). Or worse, a sneak attack by a wizard resulting in a big nasty magical beast or some other nasty creature (Behir comes to mind) right in the middle of the party's camp in the middle of the night would result in a few deaths fairly quickly (bite, grapple, swallow the mage and cleric, for example, before they knew what hit them). Not only did you lose an animal companion, it ate half the party, and probably the other half too (even if the fighter had on his chain shirt nightie...).

Well, only if you've been mistreating it!

You can cast Awaken on your animal companion. It is no longer eligible to be an animal companion; that doesn't make it hostile, or even unfriendly. If you've been a good master, it will presumably bear you no ill will, and may even continue to travel with you as an ally, just as any other friendly NPC might.

Why would PAO have an effect that resulted in automatic hostility?

-Hyp.

 

[Hypersmurf]

What prevents the logic of the disintegrate followed by "Well this pile of dust here is your Animal Companion. So no new one, sorry."

"Pile of dust, I release you from service."

-Hyp.

 

[Cameron]

Well, only if you've been mistreating it!

You can cast Awaken on your animal companion. It is no longer eligible to be an animal companion; that doesn't make it hostile, or even unfriendly. If you've been a good master, it will presumably bear you no ill will, and may even continue to travel with you as an ally, just as any other friendly NPC might.

Why would PAO have an effect that resulted in automatic hostility?

-Hyp.

Behir has Int 2. I would assume less hostility and more hunger. Takes a lot more to fill up a Gargantuan creature than a Large or Medium one. Either way, it has lost all connection to you and lost its Int. It is effectively a wild creature once again, and you just happen to be edible.

 

[Cameron]

"Pile of dust, I release you from service."

-Hyp.

Doesn't work. You can't release it because it isn't an animal any more. Either *all* of the druid abilities apply to it, or *none* will. That includes dismissal.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Doesn't work. You can't release it because it isn't an animal any more. Either *all* of the druid abilities apply to it, or *none* will. That includes dismissal.

If it's not an animal companion any more, then you can call another one with 24 hours of ritual. If it is, then you can dismiss it, and call another one with 24 hours of ritual.

-Hyp.

 

[Vrecknidj]

Using a high level spell to kill an enemy's animal companion doesn't sound weird--at all. So what if it's polymorph?

I've always wondered about casting true resurrection on someone's dragonhide armor as well.

Anyway, to the original point, I think the others here have covered it fairly thoroughly. PAO is a bit more robust than the lower-level polymorph spells, so, barring a reversal of some sort, the druid may in fact be without his animal companion after that.

Dave

 

[JiffyPopTart]

Young Gold Dragon

Int: 16
Wis: 17
Cha: 16

Why WOULDN'T he reevaluate your relationship with him? Unlike a familiar and paladins mount (which has a spiritual tie) the animal companion is simply a (better than normal variety for balance) normal animal that is friendly to you and happens to follow you around.

DS