size increase by Awaken?

[Dark Dragon]

When a druid awakens his animal companion, it gains +2 HD. In my group, the druid used the spell on his wolf companion. Looking at the wolf entry in the MM, the wolf would be of large size with that HD value (see advancement HD).
Does Awaken increase the size of the targeted animal, resulting in size benefits and penalties (STR, CON increase, AC decrease)?

Dark Dragon

 

[Jeremy]

I'd say no. The creatures in the Monster Manual are examples of the weakest variety of their species. Some will be bigger and stronger, this is represented by their advancement charts. But I think you are either born that way or you are not.

I don't think you can level up as an animal (or gain 2 HD from a spell) and suddenly double in size. Some wolves are bigger than others, the awakened little wolf is just a little tougher than he looks. And smarter.

 

[Dingleberry]

I treat the extra hit dice from awaken like hit dice obtained from acquiring character levels - no size increase. Otherwise you're effectively getting one of the major effects of animal growth (the size increase) on a permanent basis.

 

[Speaks With Stone]

No size change. Though MotW has a ritual for druids to increase the size of animal companion and HD, I believe.

 

[Jeremy]

[hijack]Speaks With Stone, haven't seen ya in a while.. What do you think of the direction the story hour has gone? Just curious, you're one of the few who was there when it started.[/hijack]