Character class for Awakened Animals.

[Argent Silvermage]

Hi All I was wondering if I couyld get some ideas to help me.
I'm thinking about advancing my character's Awakened Animals. Bolo has the leadership feat and all of his followers (for the most part) are awakened animals or people changed into animal forms.
I'm thinking about creating a class or maybe two classes that will be used to enhance the animals. any suggestions?
Thanks,
Argent

 

[Golem2176]

Read paragraph four of the Awaken spell from the new SRD or the 3.5 PHB! Thats right, the animal can not serve your character!

 

[CombatWombat51]

Read paragraph four of the Awaken spell from the new SRD or the 3.5 PHB! Thats right, the animal can not serve your character!

From the PHB 3.5: "An awakened animal can't serve as an animal companion, familiar, or special mount."

That doesn't say anything about being a follower from things like Leadership.

 

[Argent Silvermage]

From the PHB 3.5: "An awakened animal can't serve as an animal companion, familiar, or special mount."

That doesn't say anything about being a follower from things like Leadership.

That's why I said Bolo has Leadership. Thanks for backing me up CW51!

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Read paragraph four of the Awaken spell from the new SRD or the 3.5 PHB! Thats right, the animal can not serve your character!

You might want to watch your tone young man. I don't suffer fools gladly.

 

[CCamfield]

What is it about them that you want to enhance? Would fighter, rogue, or barbarian provide those improvements?

I'll grant you... awakened animals probably aren't going to wear armour or use weapons. In the case of something like the fighter, which provides a lot of equipment use, dropping those aspects of the class in favour of 2-4 more skill points might be appropriate.

 

[Scion]

Monk, or sorcerer, possibly both. Oh, and check out any and all prestige classes, some may just do the trick for making your buddy the combat machine he always wanted to be. (mmm.. war hulk giant monkey..)

 

[Tonguez]

I'll grant you... awakened animals probably aren't going to wear armour or use weapons. In the case of something like the fighter, which provides a lot of equipment use, dropping those aspects of the class in favour of 2-4 more skill points might be appropriate.

But Awakened animals can wear armour, Awakened War horses already do.

I once played a Dolphin Ranger ECL 2 (in a campaign where Dolphins were intelligent beasts rather than Int 2 Porpoises). The 'No Hands disadvantage' meant that I was allowed to swap out Weapon Proficiencies and Shields for 3 Bonus Feats (ie Blindsight, Hold Breath and Weapon Finesse)

 

[Nifft]

Good classes are Ranger, Monk, Rogue, Sorcerer, Barbarian, Druid (Wild Shape into a Halfling! )

-- N

 

[mmadsen]

Faithful Hound Class

I gave some thought to creating a Faithful Hound class as a "better dog" -- perfect for Lassie and the like. I was looking for something on par with a normal character class that would allow an animal to excel at "animal stuff".

BAB: As Cleric (or Animal)
Hit Dice: d8, As Cleric (or Animal)
Good Saves: Fort and Ref
Skill Points: 4/level

Skills
(From the Monster Manual's Dog entry)
Listen
Spot
Swim
Wilderness Lore

(Others)
Animal Empathy (Human Empathy? "Ooh, look at the doggie!")
Balance (show dogs)
Handle Animal (sheep dogs)
Heel (oh, sorry, Heal, and I guess dogs aren't good at that)
Hide (not as well as a cat or fox)
Intimidate (guard dog)
Intuit Direction
Jump
Move Silently (again, not as well as a cat or fox)
Perform (circus dog)
Search
Sense Motive ("smell" fear, a lie, etc.)
Tumble (circus dog)

Bonus Feats
Alertness -- guard dog
Armor Proficiency -- so he can wear a studded leather vest
Combat Reflexes
Disarm -- as police dog
Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack
Endurance
Improved Disarm, Improved Trip -- without Expertise
Improved Grapple -- so a terrier can bite and hang on
Improved Initiative
Lightning Reflexes
Improved Bull Rush -- only for a "riding" dog
Run
Skill Focus -- on dog skill
Toughness
Track -- no need, since they already have Scent
Trip -- as wolf
Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization -- with Bite, obviously

You could probably have some fun with the Foe Hunter Feat aimed at cats, rats (for terriers), badgers (for dachshunds), etc.