Druids conquer the world

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

This is really the Flaming Sphere question in another guise, isn't it?

Pretty much.

To summarize Hyp's position, it can be stated thusly: Any random, numeric effects defined within a spell's text are subject to being Empowered and / or Maximized. Anything defined elsewhere is not.

Thus, because Flaming Sphere mentions how much damage it does, and Awaken tells you how to roll for ability scores, they may be Empowered / Maximized.

Because Summon Monster 1 refers you to a separate description of a Celestial Dog, the dog's "effects" (hit points, attack and damage rolls, etc.) may not be maximized.

To summarize my position: *holds up thumb* Eh, that looks about right.

 

[Goolpsy]

I'd rule and interpretate the rules... so you can't awaken an awakened creature. It is giving them intelligence and a new personality with the random and new intel score. You can't make a tree more tree like. Or a living creature more living.. these are either or things. Either you have a personality and an ability to think, or you don't. Could you give a tree double fire invulnerability... so it takes 4 times damage from fire, simply cause you awaken it, and polymorph it into itself...

btw acording to the spell describtion.. you would be become very weird if you cast it on yourself.

The awakened animal or tree is friendly toward you. You have no special empathy or connection with a creature you awaken, although it serves you in specific tasks or endeavors if you communicate your desires to it.

So in theory if a low level mage cast some dominate mouth spell and make you tell yourself to Dance a funny dance you would obay yourself... even without further control of your mind.

Another point of wildshaping is that you cotain your own mental scores.. but with awaken you are given new ones.
player 1: "Melvin is that you?"
player2(drd): "Whos Melvin? I am harry, btw who are you?"

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I believe very strongly that playing Polymorph, Reincarnate, or Awaken purely based on the literal text contained within the spell is a simply a bad idea. These issues are sufficiently complex that they scream for active DM adjudication.