Awakened Animals as Cohorts

[Gregor]

Hey everyone,

I am sure there have been posts about this already but I dont have access to the search function. Thus, I have turned to the genius of Enworld.

I have a player who is taking leadership as his 6th level feat. The player is a druid and he expressed an interest in taking an awakened animal as a cohort.

Would anyone know how to rule on this? What would the level adjustment be? Or can anyone point this noob DM in the right direction?

My thanks in advance!

 

[jgsugden]

There are no clear rules on this type of thing, though there is information in Savage Species that may help guide you in the direction of the proper ECL for awakened animals.

For a 6th level character (with a sufficient leadership score), a cohort with an ECL of 4 is possible. Considering that the benefit of awaken is worth between +1 or +2 LA all by itself, I'd look at animals with no more than 3 HD - but probably 1 or 2 HS creatures would be best.

Anything from the following list would probably be ok as an awakened cohort for a 6th level character:

Baboon
Badger
Camel
Dire Rat
Dog
Dog, Riding
Donkey
Eagle
Hawk
Hyena
Monkey
Mule
Owl
Pony
Pony, War
Wolf

Don't forget to give them skills, feats and ability score improvements as they gain hit dice from awaken.

 

[Gregor]

Thanks alot,

I'll go through Savage Species and see if I can't work something out. I appreciate the advice!

Cheers,

 

[LightPhoenix]

Pages 216-217, Table A-58 lists animals, and gives ECLs of them. Awaken probably adds +1 to the ECL I would say.

 

[Orco42]

Its alot of fun to have an intelligent animal in the party. A player in one of my games was an Awakened (Intensified) Cat Psion.

 

[Will]

Anyone know if the +2 HD from being awakened are animal HD or magical animal HD?

 

[jgsugden]

Anyone know if the +2 HD from being awakened are animal HD or magical animal HD?

I'm assuming you mean magical beast.

The text is a bit unclear, but if you apply the changes in the order presented, the additional 2 HD are applied before you change the type.

 

[Conaill]

Pages 216-217, Table A-58 lists animals, and gives ECLs of them. Awaken probably adds +1 to the ECL I would say.

huh? Is that correct? I know of no such table, not for ECL anyway. CR or HD perhaps? I don't have access to Savage Species right now (I assume that's what you're referring to?), but I would love to see such a table.

Are these the same ECL's that were listed in Dragon pre-3.5? If so, it seems like a lot of people disagreed with them, and they probably need to be updated for 3.5 anyway...

 

[Count Arioch the 28t]

I generally break the rules, and just subtract an additiona -2 from the druid's level to have an awakened animal companion, and don't require leadership.

It breaks the rules, but who the frick cares, the rules suck anyway.

 

[Liquidsabre]

I generally break the rules, and just subtract an additiona -2 from the druid's level to have an awakened animal companion, and don't require leadership.

It breaks the rules, but who the frick cares, the rules suck anyway.

SMITE!! Though shalt not use such foul blasphemy in the Rules Forum!