MoTW: The Missing Rule

[Lord Pendragon]

Just in this thread alone, there are posters who claim companions should be able to take class levels, and those which claim just as adamantly that they shouldn't.

From Daniel:

An awakened animal, however, can definitely advance in a class.

From Spikey:

Um, no, they didn't intend for animal companions to take class levels.

This is where my confusion comes in. The druid is a powerful class, and what I'd really like to know is just how powerful the designers meant for the class to be. Did they intend for druids to have:

1. Animal Companions, no advancing HD, possibly awakened but unable to take class levels.

2. Animal Companions, advancing HD, possibly awakened, allowing them to take class levels. Treated as a cohort but not requiring the leadership feat.

3. Animal Companions, advancing HD, possibly awakened, allowing them to take class levels, but must grab the leadership feat to keep them.

4. Animal Companions, possibly legendary animals, advancing HD, possibly awakened, allowing them to take class levels, treated as cohort but not requiring the leadership feat.

5. Etc. etc. etc.

As you can see, the options get more and more powerful. I trust in the playtesting that was done on 3e, but I'd really like to know exactly what the parameters of that playtesting was, with regards to animal companions. How was the druid's balance figured?

Considering the fact that they discuss the effects of the awaken spell in MoTW but never class levels, my belief is that the druid was meant to be able to advance HD and awaken an animal, but that this did not allow it to take class levels. This, I feel, is why they introduced the Legendary Animal, because they felt the regular animals were too weak. On the other hand, if they'd meant the animal companion to take class levels, there'd never have been a weakness isue, because by the time the druid got to 20th level, his dire bear would have several levels of barbarian, and not have any problems holding his own in the party. (Heck, he might not even need the druid!)

However, this is only my take on it. I've seen--and am sure I will continue to see--justifications for allowing the animal companion to do any or none of the above. That's why I was hoping for a solid ruling on the whole class levels/advancing HD/cohort or not/awakening package. I got part of my hope, but not all of it, and that's why I'm disappointed.

From reading these posts, everyone seems to have a handle on how they want to treat it in their own campaigns, but I'd still venture that the actual rules are less than "simple and straightforward."

 

[fba827]

Look at the wording from what you've quoted a little closer ...

Daniel is talking about "awakened animals" while Spikey is talking about "animal companions"

awakened animals and animal companions are two separate things.

Animal companions are the animal friends that a druid or ranger has via the animal friendship spell

Awakened animals are normal animals (that could have started as animal companions) that have been affected by the Awaken spell - thus, they have above-animal intelligence and a couple other things.

So, in fact, both those quotes are correct and do not contradict.

Animal companions (the little friends for druids) do not (by default) gain class levels because they are only normal animals of standard animal capabilities

Awakened animals (animals that have been altered by the awaken spell) can gain class levels because they no longer have the base animal intelligence but in fact have the inteligence to grasp the needed concepts (of whatever rationale you want to give behind it)

 

[Lord Pendragon]

fba827: Went back and double-checked, and I may have skewed those quotes to seem more contradictory than they actually are.

However, I am well aware of what they're both saying. My problem isn't with animal companions or awakened animals separately, it's with animal companions who become awakened animals. I wanted concrete rules regarding the druid's companion wolf after it has been awakened. Does it advance in class levels? Must the druid take the leadership feat? Does the animal get a share of the party's treasure? Does the druid still nominally "control" it (as he did before it was awakened)?

Some of these questions are clearer than others. I know how I'd rule it, and I know how my DM rules it. But I really would have liked to see how WoTC rules it, because they're the ones who had the armies of playtesters.

 

[maddman75]

Well, I don't have MotW with me, but I can tell you what I did in my campaign.

Our druid had a panther for a companion. Decent enough in a fight, good scouting skills. Scent means the r-b DM trick of invisible enemies sneaking up on the camp never seemed to work.

He didn't want more or different animals as he went up in levels, he wanted to keep his cat. So at about 8th level a druid friend of his awakened the cat, who started taking levels in fighter. (now I have a spring attacking, whirlwind attacking cat to deal with)

This is how I dealt with it rules-wise. As long as he keeps his panther with him, he does not gain any others animal capmanions. He can cast animal friendship, but the animals won't stay with him long term. If he spends a feat on leadership and takes the cat as a cohort, he can then get other animals as well. (as long as his character is paying for it)

As far as paperwork - it is like playing another character. He now keeps the cat on a seperate sheet instead of a stat block.

 

[Piratecat]

So here's a question for you: a 2nd lvl druid gets a 2 hd animal companion (iirc). Is there any provision to allow that companion to gain an "animal" hit dice when the druid goes up to 3rd lvl, or is the druid forced to go out and find a second 1 HD animal to add to her pack? Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

MotW provides rules for a ritual that allows the druid to cause his companion to advance up to the maximum allowed in the MM.

I don't recall the details off-hand, but it allowed.

 

[DrSpunj]

Well...

My group and I hashed out how we wanted to do it recently and here's our two coppers:

Druids get animal companions via the Animal Friendship spell.

They can Awaken them if they want to. If they do Awaken them the animal is now able to take class levels and becomes an NPC under the DMs control, but still friendly (because of the instantaneous Animal Friendship spell) to the Druid (until something happens that it gets angry about) but may not necessarily continue to adventure with him/her. The Awakened animal no longer counts it's Hit Dice towards the Animal Friendship spell, so the Druid can pick up more buddies.

If the Druid player wants to control the Awakened animal, they must take the Leadership feat and take the Awakened Animal as a cohort.

We also allow the MotW hit die advancement rules for animals under Animal Friendship. Awakened animals would, of course, have to gain levels to advance.

Thanks.
DrSpunj

 

[Henry]

fba827: Went back and double-checked, and I may have skewed those quotes to seem more contradictory than they actually are.

However, I am well aware of what they're both saying. My problem isn't with animal companions or awakened animals separately, it's with animal companions who become awakened animals. I wanted concrete rules regarding the druid's companion wolf after it has been awakened. Does it advance in class levels? Must the druid take the leadership feat? Does the animal get a share of the party's treasure? Does the druid still nominally "control" it (as he did before it was awakened)?

Some of these questions are clearer than others. I know how I'd rule it, and I know how my DM rules it. But I really would have liked to see how WoTC rules it, because they're the ones who had the armies of playtesters.

Lord P. - Re-read Spikey's Post: "They don't allow animal companions to gain class levels - That's what Awaken is for." Both he and Pielorhino are talking about the same thing, not different things.

As for the rest of your issues, I thought Masters of the WIld covered this quite well in the Animal companions chapter. You and and awakened creature have entered a new relationship, possibly even more tricky than your relation under Animal Friendship. You no longer get by with protection and a scratch on the belly; you now need to PAY them.

You start referring to the same rules for henchmen. You must treat them well, as an equal. Otherwise, like an animal companion, if you mistreat them, they leave.

And unfortunately, from what I've heard both on these boards and from the Interview with mike selinker andDavid Eckelberry, MotW only used in-house playtesters - I guess to cut costs. SO your estimations are almost as good as theirs.

 

[Henry]

So here's a question for you: a 2nd lvl druid gets a 2 hd animal companion (iirc). Is there any provision to allow that companion to gain an "animal" hit dice when the druid goes up to 3rd lvl, or is the druid forced to go out and find a second 1 HD animal to add to her pack? Inquiring minds want to know!

PCat:

According to MotW, you are allowed to do either, as long as you have an extra 200 XP to pay for the ritual. Think of him as a living, breathing magic item, that just cost you as much XP as a 5000 gp. magic item.