One quick question.

[Bob5th]

Would letting the fighter have his heavy warhorse Awakened by a Druid be a bit unbalancing?

P.S. Once an animal has been Awakened it can start to gain levels right?

 

[Breakstone]

I don't know about balance, but I do know that if I were an intelligent, talking warhorse I wouldn't necessarily want a big, heavy fighter riding on me...

 

[Wicht]

hehe an awakened horse might be less than thrilled by having a guy in armor riding around on him all day

 

[Crothian]

I think it is. Just give the horse it's own personality and play it like an NPC. IMC the Rangers horse was Awaken and then refused to wear a saddly, bit, and bridle.

 

[maddman75]

In addition to this, I'd make him take the horse as a cohort. The character should have to pay for such a powerful ally. Our group's druid/Ranger, Vartan, has Awakened his favorite animal companion. The panther is a fourth level fighter now, quite tough.

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Read about them by following the link in my sig.

 

[Psychotic Jim]

Well technically if you exactly go by the rules (I don't), a paladin's warhorse cannot be awakened because it is a magical beast, not an animal. Awaken only affects animals. However, having a warhorse that is potentially more intelligent than its rider may make for some hilarious role-playing moments!

Paladin: Let's charge the foul necromancer's tower NOW!
Warhorse: I say, old chap, it might be more tactically sound if we sneak up from behind and catch him unawares.

 

[milo]

"Well technically if you exactly go by the rules (I don't), a paladin's warhorse cannot be awakened because it is a magical beast, not an animal. Awaken only affects animals. " Psychotic Jim



He asked about a fighter's warhorse, it is just a regular animal. I think the druid should get paid for this service(it will cost the druid 250xp). Also as people have said before the horse might not like the rider. You could use this against him, when the fighter tries to get his horse to charge into battle against the balor the horse might just say no, and run the other way.

 

[Umbran]

The real issue probably isn't the armor, bit and bridle. It's the combat. What you get after Awakening is a smart horse. Sure, it was trained to deal with combat, but it is still a horse, and now smart enough to overcome training. Tell me, what's keeping this horse around fighting for this big lug?

Heck, think for a minute. Do you want to ride into combat a critter that gets it's own ideas about what's best to do?