Awakening Trees

[cshadow133]

I am sure that this question has been asked before, but without a search feature, I am going to have to ask the question. The question is in regards to the spell "Awaken" and using it on a tree. The spell states that the tree gains the characteristics of an inanimate object of the tree's size, but it gains the plant type. My question with this is:

1) Would you change the trees HD from the d10 that inanimate objects get to d8s that plants get? I would say 'yes', but I would like to get others opinions.

2) Would the tree still keep the Hardness 5 that it gets as an inanimate object? This is where I am having problems. I believe that if you were to use the spell "Animate Object" then it would have its Hardness 5, but since it gains the plant type, I would say that it would not. Anyone know of anything official or what others are using with this? Hardness is a bit on the strong side since it works on both energy and physical attacks.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Using Poly base

I would rule, in lack of RAW, that Awakening a tree uses the same principles of a Poly spell, as described well in the WOTC 'all about..' series.

The Awakened Tree would maintain all the Features of an Animated Object, such as HD, Hardness, and Trample while gaining the Traits of the Plant Type

A plant creature possesses the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).

Low-light vision.
Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects).
Immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, polymorph, and stunning.
Not subject to critical hits.
Proficient with its natural weapons only.
Proficient with no armor.
Plants breathe and eat, but do not sleep.

An interesting question, how many HD does a given tree have? The spell mentioned you need to make a Will save (DC 10 + the animal’s current HD, or the HD the tree will have once awakened )... Does the player get to walk up to a sapling and say their save is DC 15 cause this Sapling has 5 HD?

 

[werk]

I've been using awaken a lot recently to harrass the party with gentle woodland creatures sent to chew their faces off, but no trees yet, so I'm interested in this question.

Here's my take on it, let me know what you think:

Awaken
Transmutation
Level: Drd 5
An awakened tree has characteristics as if it were an animated object, except that it gains the plant type and its Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores are each 3d6. An awakened plant gains the ability to move its limbs, roots, vines, creepers, and so forth, and it has senses similar to a human’s.

Since they specifically call out that it has the characteristics of animated object, except type=plant.

1. I'd say d10.
2. Hardness (Ex)
An animated object has the same hardness it had before it was animated.

I figure they made the type=plant call because animated objects are type construct, and traits don't match up very well with a tree.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#plantType
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#constructType

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

type casting...

And they wanted "Hold Plant" to work on it....

 

[Diirk]

I figure the trees HD are based on its size, like an animated object. ie. large = 4HD, huge = 8HD etc

 

[kanithardm]

You could take the hardness stats of a treant and lessen them.