Pimp my Ass!

[Zosmo]

you could always get a horse, awaken the horse, give it the leadership feat, then make the donkey the horses cohort.

He would be the horse's ass.

 

[Stalker0]

I just want to say this whole thread warms my heart.

My vote is the warlock (the laser beams from his eyes just did it for me) or the psion (why is that mule....staring at me?).

Whatever you pick, I would recommend a ranged class. You don't want your beloved mule in melee.

 

[Asmor]

I just want to say this whole thread warms my heart.

My vote is the warlock (the laser beams from his eyes just did it for me) or the psion (why is that mule....staring at me?).

Whatever you pick, I would recommend a ranged class. You don't want your beloved mule in melee.

I have to agree with you that the warlock and psion are clearly the most entertaining options here... But what really gets me about the warlock version is a spider-walking donkey. I can already see the look on my players faces as they see a donkey walk up the side of an apple tree, hang from a branch, and chew on an apple like it was grazing on some grass...

Sadly it's gonna be a while before they'll be in an appropriate place to really take advantage of this... They might suspect something's up if they encounter a random donkey in the middle of a swamp or dungeon. :/

 

[Kafkonia]

I have to agree with you that the warlock and psion are clearly the most entertaining options here... But what really gets me about the warlock version is a spider-walking donkey. I can already see the look on my players faces as they see a donkey walk up the side of an apple tree, hang from a branch, and chew on an apple like it was grazing on some grass...

Sadly it's gonna be a while before they'll be in an appropriate place to really take advantage of this... They might suspect something's up if they encounter a random donkey in the middle of a swamp or dungeon. :/

Well, surely it's a lost and/or abandoned donkey that belonged to a previous adventuring group. Poor fella. They can't just leave him there to starve. Besides, this way they can use him to carry some of their loot.

Hey, wait, where'd the donkey go?

 

[Nail]

Well, surely it's a lost and/or abandoned donkey ...

This is a common problem. Lots of people lose their donkeys at gaming tables.

I've also noticed some confusion with pits and donkeys....'cause there are some that just can't tell the difference between their donkey and a hole in the ground.

 

[Nail]

Losing your donkey is also a problem in polar areas, although that's a good thing if it's latched on to you.

Just freeze your donkey off.

 

[TheGogmagog]

I'm also pretty sure that "additional HD" cannot be "class levels," but that's a bit more grey.

I'd have to go with this interpretation unless I saw something RAW indicating otherwise.

Outside that, Barbarian or Monk make the most subtle choices. Both have their tinges of silliness, but the monk grapple chain would be potent. The ranger also would make sense (sudden silent spell?). If you are going to start him past 6th level or are patient a druid, then natural spell feat. You'll be putting all your skill points into wisdom, and probably buying a periapt so you can access your higher level spells.

Charisma wouldn't be good enough for charismatic spellcasting classes.

Rogue would make an awesome scout too, assuming you don't put points in 'silly' skills like pick locks and diplomacy (not being able to speak a common language should be worth some circumstance penalty).

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

This is a common problem. Lots of people lose their donkeys at gaming tables.

I've also noticed some confusion with pits and donkeys....'cause there are some that just can't tell the difference between their donkey and a hole in the ground.

I am sure glad I was not drinking Coca-Cola when I read this.

Did you ever read a certain early Knights of the Dinner Table where the player who took over mapping for the session put down...

N
|
E-+-W
|
S

...one the top of the page resulting in many incidents with the very same pit trap. Eventually the party cow refused to move forward onto the trap for the 19th time while his "betters" just kept falling in.

 

[D.Shaffer]

Rogue would make an awesome scout too, assuming you don't put points in 'silly' skills like pick locks and diplomacy (not being able to speak a common language should be worth some circumstance penalty).

Relevant text from the spell.

An awakened tree or animal can speak one language that you know, plus one additional language that you know per point of Intelligence bonus (if any).

So lack of a common language shouldnt be to much of a problem. Of course, having an ordinary looking donkey/mule suddenly start talking to you COULD still be an issue.

As for racial 'levels' counting as class levels. I'm going off of this entry.

This line is included in the entries of creatures suitable for use as player characters or as cohorts (usually creatures with Intelligence scores of at least 3 and possessing opposable thumbs). Add this number to the creature’s total Hit Dice, including class levels, to get the creature’s effective character level (ECL). A character’s ECL affects the experience the character earns, the amount of experience the character must have before gaining a new level, and the character’s starting equipment.

So a cohort with racial hit dice would count those hit dice as part of its character level when figuring out what its level would be.

 

[moritheil]

It would be amusing if he took druid levels and wildshaped into a mule. Safe storage as long as he lives.