Awakened growth?

[Dingleberry]

If you awaken an eagle, it gains +2 Hit Dice, going from 1 HD to 3 HD. Does that result in a size increase from Small to Medium per the eagle's "Advancement" line?

(Same question applies to an awakened monkey, octopus, owl, porpoise, rhino, constrictor, viper, giant squid, tiger, whale, wolf and wolverine.)

 

[Dark Dragon]

Nope. Awaken doesn't mention anything about size increase due to higher HD. The animal becomes a magical beast because of higher INT, WIS (and CHA?), so it's difficult to still treat it as an animal for HD advancement. The creature is just a bit tougher, that's all.

I'm not sure but perhaps there's some clarification in MotW on that matter...

There was a similar thread some weeks ago...but can't find it.

 

[Piratecat]

Yeesh. When I read the title, I thought you were referring to the intelligent tumor familiar of the BoVD's cancer mage. Yucko.

This is a lot more innocuous.

 

[Hecatæus]

I don't have a MM handy, but I believe this books rules say that 'Awakened' animals do gain HD, skill points, and the like. The aforementioned Advancement Chart is a bit confusing...I don't think it was made with 'Awaken' in mind.

Recap:
Animal companion allows a friend(s) of up twice your HD.

Awaken gives +3d6 INT, +1d3 CHA, and +2 HD for animals
awakened plants get +3d6 to INT, WIS, and CHA, but no +HD...though they are now mobile. Both get at least one language.

The reasoning for awakened animal advancement lies in the Monster Manual....which is at home, where I am not.

As soon as I get home, and am not tired, I will explain how Ozzie the Osprey started out.

 

[Dingleberry]

As soon as I get home, and am not tired, I will explain how Ozzie the Osprey started out.

Excellent.

One of these days I have to get around to having someone check my work on Gurf, the riding dog animal companion (to my gnome druid) who was awakened, started taking barbarian levels, was then reincarnated as a brown bear, and is now taking more barbarian levels. Luckily, both Gurf and the gnome are NPCs, so I haven't had to really crunch the numbers yet.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

The HD cap on animal companions is only equal to the Druid's level if he plans on traveling, though.

Also, Awaken changes the animal's Int to 3d6, it doesn't add 3d6 to the animal's Int.

According to MotW, the Awakened animal can continue to be the Druid's AC, even if it (temporarily) has more HD than the Druid has levels.

Also, advancing the AC after Awakening should be fine, but only as long as the animal is advancing with animal HD (ie. no skills or feats, cleric BAB, and d8HD). If you want the animal to advance using classes, I would probably use something similar to the follower rules from the ELH, animal HD companions cost normal, companions with NPC levles cost +2HD or so and companions with PC levels cost +4 or +5HD.

 

[Jeremy]

I'd say awaken grants bonus hit die. Monster Manual creatures can be advanced during creation to simulate bigger stronger versions of base creatures, but once created I don't believe they ever grow to new creatures. Awakened creatures can gain class levels I believe as they are now intelligent sentients like any other, and grow tougher that way, but I don't believe there are situations where over time a base creature will gain hd and grow other than dragons of course.

 

[Pielorinho]

Am I right in thinking an awakened animal isn't subject to animal growth? I think that's a silly rule, but if awakening turns an animal into a magical beast, I guess that's how it works. At least, that's how it works until 3.5E takes over .

Daniel

 

[Dark Dragon]

Am I right in thinking an awakened animal isn't subject to animal growth? I think that's a silly rule, but if awakening turns an animal into a magical beast, I guess that's how it works. At least, that's how it works until 3.5E takes over .

Daniel

By the rules AG does not work on an awakened animal, because its type has changed to magical beast, so: Yep, you're right, and yep, I agree, seems to be a quite silly rule .

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

By the rules AG does not work on an awakened animal, because its type has changed to magical beast, so: Yep, you're right, and yep, I agree, seems to be a quite silly rule .

I suppose. It is quite necessary for balance reasons.

Animal Growth is an exceptionally powerful effect -- much worst than Haste. Without strong restrictions to keep it in control the potential for +ECL race AG smackdowns is mindboggling.