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In really reading the Awaken spell (5th level druid spell), a few questions came up:
1. The spell says "Its type becomes magical beast (augmented animal)."
So, what is an augmented animal from a game standpoint? I can find no rules or even mention of augmented animal in the Core Book. Is this just a distinction without any real meaning or am I missing something?
2.The spell goes on to say "An awakened animal can't serve as an animal companion, familiar, or special mount."
That an awakened animal cannot serve as an animal companion or familiar make sense from a rules and balance standpoint. Is 'special mount' specifically referring to the paladin's warhorse? If so, then that also makes sense. If 'special mount' simply means an awakened animal cannot serve as a character's permanent mount, then the question is ... why?
I'm curious what others on the boards think here (and, as always, if a Paizo designer wants to chime in, so much the better!)
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Augmented is only mentioned in the Core Rulebook in the awakened spell section I think. Its real explanation however is in the Bestiary under creature subtypes. Basically its mainly an accounting subtype, allowing DMs to know at a glance that the creature was originally of a different type than it is now; i.e. it was first an animal now it operates under the rules for magical beast.
In really reading the Awaken spell (5th level druid spell), a few questions came up:
1. The spell says "Its type becomes magical beast (augmented animal)."
So, what is an augmented animal from a game standpoint? I can find no rules or even mention of augmented animal in the Core Book. Is this just a distinction without any real meaning or am I missing something?2.The spell goes on to say "An awakened animal can't serve as an animal companion, familiar, or special mount."
That an awakened animal cannot serve as an animal companion or familiar make sense from a rules and balance standpoint. Is 'special mount' specifically referring to the paladin's warhorse? If so, then that also makes sense. If 'special mount' simply means an awakened animal cannot serve as a character's permanent mount, then the question is ... why?
1. It's a distinction which *might* mean something, as subtypes often do. I don't believe (presently) that it matters a great deal - the good stuff is in the magical beast part.
2. Special Mount means just that - companion-type mount to classes who get one that gets better with levels - paladins and cavaliers (and some PrC's from 3.5 if you convert). There's nothing special about a person's permanent mount.