Awakened Animals

[Andor]

I'm interested in a bit of discussion on the possibilities of Awakened animals.

Does, or can, the intelligence breed true? Dominent trait, or recessive one? Interesting implications either way.

What classes do Awakened Animals take? Which ones serve them best?

How does intelligence change an animals nature? I imagine few rabbits taking levels in barbarian....

 

[Rev. Jesse]

There are no rules for the questions you are asking, except as it pertains to the campaign. If it makes the game more enjoyable to have the creatures bred true, or take levels in bard, or whatever, then go for it.

That having been said, there is a precedent for a rabbit barbarian with the Improved Critical feat being vunerable only to thrown explosives.

 

[Flyspeck23]

Does, or can, the intelligence breed true? Dominent trait, or recessive one? Interesting implications either way.

I'd say they don't breed true, because
a) the magic affects only them, not their descendants
b) if they would, the world would be crowded with Awakened Animals (as they're at least superior to other animals of their kind). It'd change the whole campaign world retroactively.

What classes do Awakened Animals take? Which ones serve them best?

Rogue for some, fighter for others, sorcerer for a few.
Ranger or even Druid could work, too.

How does intelligence change an animals nature? I imagine few rabbits taking levels in barbarian....

Go cliché at first, and then see how the world reacts to them, and how that might change them.

 

[Whisper72]

Although I agree that if awakening is a relatively common phenomenon and has been around for a long time, that breeding true would cause problems in terms of evolution.

However, if awakening is extremely rare, or better yet, something belonging to the recent times, then there should be no problem with awakened animals breeding true...

It could even be a major theme in the world, if animals everywhere start becoming awakened, this would mean a major upheaval in the world in general (awakened cows, chickens and pigs???)...

As for classes, I would definatly start out 'close to nature' for the more 'wild' animals, with ranger, druid, maybe sorceror, maybe monk being the most logical classes. For some more 'urban' animals (cats and rats for example) taking classes in rogue, fighter maybe even wizard and/or cleric...

Would be cool if strange things start happening in a city, and it turns out that awakend cats and mice are having a massive turf war going on, right under the noses of the humanoid population!

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I'd probably treat the Awakened Animal's nature similar to the way faeries were described in Tad Williams' The Flower War, which may or may not be rooted in real faerie legend (I am not expert enough to say.)

Basically, I'd allow the Awakened nature to be passed down through the generations, at each generation slightly reduced in strength. And each time, once the animal has children of its own, the magic is passed down to the children (slightly reduced) and leaves the parent entirely mundane.

So an Awakened animal would have offspring that were only somewhat less magically enhanced than their parent. But when those offspring in turn had offspring of their own, they would become mundane as the Awakened birthright passed to their offspring, slightly reduced once again. Eventually, over several generations, the magic would fade away to nothing.

 

[The Lost Muse]

Well, since it's somewhat topical, the talking animals in the Chronicles of Narnia are able to breed true - so there is a precedent.

 

[Bardsandsages]

I wouldn't allow awakened animals to bread true in most cases, and I don't see them any differently than a familiar or bonded mount that gains intelligence as it's master gains levels. I think from a world-building perspective, it creates too many headaches. I mean, using the rabbit that was mentioned as an example, considering how rapidly rabbits breed the long-term implications would create a situation you wouldn't want to deal with. While there would be a short term amusement factor, in reality any game that allowed this would eventually degenerate into Dr. Doolittle silliness. I think for most campaigns, it would simply get in the way of the game and create complications that nobody wants to deal with (if a rabbit begs for its life and the Paladin kills it anyway for food, is he now evil?)

 

[ARandomGod]

Does, or can, the intelligence breed true? Dominent trait, or recessive one? Interesting implications either way.

Definitely not (although I can see campaigns saying it does, for flavor, but it would have massive implications on the world, and awakened animals would become the 'norm'.)

What classes do Awakened Animals take? Which ones serve them best?

IMC, they almost all take Druid. It serves them best because that's what they were awakened FOR. Plus how else are they to continue their line of druid?

Once upon a time, a long time ago, a cleric of a nature goddess researched the "awaken" spell after spending years in the forest cultivating plants and animal friends. He awoke some of his animals, and taught them his clerical ways. Thus were the first druids born. Since then, there has grown a druidic organization. There is always at least one, and there are often several, cleric who was born from each animal type. They are the representatives of their type, the Boar represents boars, the Cat represents cats, the Sparrow represents sparrows, etc. And their main title is generally that of their species. Now, of course, they often spend time in their 'wild-shaped' Human form. Druids generally only oversee and speak for their own species. However, in the event that a species of druid dies out, it's the duty of the concensus to awaken a new representative.

Sometimes humans are born to the power, or study and become druids without knowing of this organization. But it's very rare, and they will be inducted shortly after gaining the wild-shape ability. This is occasionally a frightening experience, as a group of wild animals comes up to the cleric (up till then the official druids just consider him/her a cleric), and say "Hello, Human. You have been Summoned. Come with Us."

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

I mean, using the rabbit that was mentioned as an example, considering how rapidly rabbits breed the long-term implications would create a situation you wouldn't want to deal with.

You just change the Wizard's Scribe Scroll to Craft Holy Hand Grenade & it'll take care of itself.

While there would be a short term amusement factor, in reality any game that allowed this would eventually degenerate into Dr. Doolittle silliness. I think for most campaigns, it would simply get in the way of the game and create complications that nobody wants to deal with (if a rabbit begs for its life and the Paladin kills it anyway for food, is he now evil?)

Great. Now all I can think of is "Please don't throw my in that Briar' Patch, Brer Wolf!" (When do you think Disney's going to put THAT one out on DVD?)

Now I have to go off & finish designing Animal Farm D20.

P.S Awakened Vampiric Cannibal Chicken Monks of Hastur are really, really, really, REALLY cool. No matter what my players say.

 

[diaglo]

Now I have to go off & finish designing Animal Farm D20.

i really need to find my old notes on the Secret of Nimh/ Watership Downs/Toad of Toad Hall OD&D campaign i ran.