(Crossposted with the Awakened Animal thread on wizards.com.)
I would like to hash out and formalize exactly how Awakened animals are supposed to work. Easiest way to do that is to make it an actual template and spell out precisely what benefits an animal gets from the change in type to magical beast, extra HD, etc.
Please leave me some feedback on this work in progress! Also still looking for estimates of Level Adjustment for various awakened animals (see the 3rd post below).
Here's the template:
AWAKENED ANIMAL
An awakened animal is one that has been raised to humanlike sentience by use of the Awaken spell. The awakened animal is friendly toward the caster. The caster has no special empathy or connection with a creature he awakens, although it serves him in specific tasks or endeavors if he communicates his desires to it.
An awakened animal can't serve as an animal companion, familiar, or special mount.
An awakened animal can speak one language know by the caster of the Awaken spell, plus one additional language know by the caster per point of Intelligence bonus (if any).
CREATING AN AWAKENED ANIMAL
"Awakened" is an acquired template that can be added to any animal. An awakened animal has all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Size and Type: The creature's type changes to magical beast (augmented animal), but it retains the features of its original animal type (HD size, BAB and saves). Size is unchanged.
Hit Dice and Hit Points: The awakened animal gains two d8 Hit Dice.
Base Attack: An awakened animal has a base attack bonus equal to 3/4 total Hit Dice (as cleric).
Special Qualities: An awakened animal has all the special qualities of the base animal, plus darkvision out to 60 feet.
Base Saves: The awakened animal has the same good saves as the base animal (typically Fortitude and Reflex). Increase as necessary for the increase in HD.
Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Int 3d6, Cha +1d3. In addition, an awakened animal may also gain an additional ability score increase by virtue of its extra Hit Dice.
Skills: The awakened animal gains skill points, equal to 2 x (2 + Int modifier, minimum 1).
Feats: The awakened animal may gain one feat due to its increase in Hit Dice, unless the base animal's HD was divisible by 3. It is proficient with its natural weapons only, and proficient with no armor unless the base animal was trained for war.
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature + 1.
Alignment: Any.
Advancement: By character class.
Level Adjustment: See below
So, what do you all think? Suggestions? Changes?
I would like to hash out and formalize exactly how Awakened animals are supposed to work. Easiest way to do that is to make it an actual template and spell out precisely what benefits an animal gets from the change in type to magical beast, extra HD, etc.
Please leave me some feedback on this work in progress! Also still looking for estimates of Level Adjustment for various awakened animals (see the 3rd post below).
Here's the template:
AWAKENED ANIMAL
An awakened animal is one that has been raised to humanlike sentience by use of the Awaken spell. The awakened animal is friendly toward the caster. The caster has no special empathy or connection with a creature he awakens, although it serves him in specific tasks or endeavors if he communicates his desires to it.
An awakened animal can't serve as an animal companion, familiar, or special mount.
An awakened animal can speak one language know by the caster of the Awaken spell, plus one additional language know by the caster per point of Intelligence bonus (if any).
CREATING AN AWAKENED ANIMAL
"Awakened" is an acquired template that can be added to any animal. An awakened animal has all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Size and Type: The creature's type changes to magical beast (augmented animal), but it retains the features of its original animal type (HD size, BAB and saves). Size is unchanged.
Hit Dice and Hit Points: The awakened animal gains two d8 Hit Dice.
Base Attack: An awakened animal has a base attack bonus equal to 3/4 total Hit Dice (as cleric).
Special Qualities: An awakened animal has all the special qualities of the base animal, plus darkvision out to 60 feet.
Base Saves: The awakened animal has the same good saves as the base animal (typically Fortitude and Reflex). Increase as necessary for the increase in HD.
Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Int 3d6, Cha +1d3. In addition, an awakened animal may also gain an additional ability score increase by virtue of its extra Hit Dice.
Skills: The awakened animal gains skill points, equal to 2 x (2 + Int modifier, minimum 1).
Feats: The awakened animal may gain one feat due to its increase in Hit Dice, unless the base animal's HD was divisible by 3. It is proficient with its natural weapons only, and proficient with no armor unless the base animal was trained for war.
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature + 1.
Alignment: Any.
Advancement: By character class.
Level Adjustment: See below
So, what do you all think? Suggestions? Changes?
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