Awakened Companion

[Krome]

Forgive me if this has been discussed elsewhere. I looked and did not find it.

I am interested in a druid awakening his companion wolf.

My ASSUMPTION is that the newly awakened wolf would use the base stats of a normal wolf and would loose any bonuses from being an animal companion.

Is that correct?

[Kierato]

I assume that is correct, seeing as it will no longer be an animal companion.

[0gre]

The animal reverts to it's normal (wolf) stats, gets the intelligence bonus and you part friends.

[Jeraa]

That would be correct.

Since an awaken animal can not serve as an animal companion, it would lose everything that being an animal companion gave it, so it would be treated as a normal version of an animal of its kind, plus the effects of the Awaken spell.

And if the druid treated his companion well, I would probably allow the now Awakened animal to stick with him as an NPC. He wouldn't have any of the abilities of an animal companion, but could gain class levels if wanted. If the druid had Leadership, could even be his cohort.

[Marc Radle]

I have it on very good authority the next issue of Kobold Quarterly has an article the touches on this very topic!

[brassbaboon]

As a GM I would consider this to be a rich vein of role playing to mine. Based on that role playing I might allow the animal to retain some benefits of being an animal companion, such as increased hit points and its feats. Especially if they part friends instead of the animal companion becoming a cohort that's really just another animal companion.

[Krome]

Thanks guys. That is what I thought.

The plan is to awaken the wolf, take him as a cohort with the Leadership feat, and take a new wolf as my companion.

Now, what classes seem best for a wolf? Barbarian seems like a natural fit. But if the wolf took druid... (you see where this is going don't you) he could have a wolf companion!

Now the next question is what would be the CR for this? It is to be an NPC druid. Does the cohort have its own CR or is it part of the CR for the druid?

[Vistarius]

I might be mistaken, but wouldn't that also allow a druid to take a second animal companion, awaken it, and also have an army of followers?

I think it's a bad idea as a gm to do that. Especially since that awakened animal companion suddenly becomes a target (not to mention is brought up to the CR that the Druid may be and could easily die in the next encounter, leading to ticked off players)

Yeah, actually that probably severely weakens the animal companion. Or if it's one that's advanced slightly because it was an advanced creature (like one that goes -4 off the chart) it would suddenly be too powerful.

Idk, I don't think it would add much to the game as much as take away. But I'm also pretty tired and can't think of any other use of the Awaken spell that'd make sense.

[bigkilla]

The only problem there is the animal will never be able to cast spells as it has a WIS score of what 12 which could allow it to cast spells of level 1 and 2 but it lacks vocal cords capable of producing speech and possibly appendages capable of the somatic component.

[Alcomus]

bigkilla wrote:

The only problem there is the animal will never be able to cast spells as it has a WIS score of what 12 which could allow it to cast spells of level 1 and 2 but it lacks vocal cords capable of producing speech and possibly appendages capable of the somatic component.

Stat points every four levels will allow for more spells. Also, Wish at higher levels for the inherent bonus.

Vocal chords arent necessary if the wolf and druid developed a strong body language, which would no doubt happen if they traveled together for a long time. Also, Tongues...

As for the appendages for the somatic component, well, that's just silly! Dragons have always been big magic users, and even though it may be easier for them to use their claws to engage the somatic or material components, I'm pretty sure that the somatics are almost always fluff created by the GM. What if the same spell that requires intricate finger movements for a druid only required intricate tail flickings for the wolf?

Still doesnt make the wolf (or any other animal) a good candidate for a Druid. Sub-par, I would say. Or possibly a really cool NPC. "The 20th lvl druid that protects the forest is... a bunny? Thats not so scary... wait, it can wildsha- OH GOD!!!!"

[Winterschuh]

he could wait for level 5, take the 'Natural Spell' feat, shapeshift into a wolf and then he would be able to cast 0o

Quote:

"The 20th lvl druid that protects the forest is... a bunny? Thats not so scary... wait, it can wildsha- OH GOD!!!!"

at lvl20 the druid can shapeshift at will and his born form doesn't matter anymore anyhow.

my forest keeping lvl 20 druid would definately be a mouse all the time,
or a woodpecker, if not a tree.

[meowstef]

bigkilla wrote:

The only problem there is the animal will never be able to cast spells as it has a WIS score of what 12 which could allow it to cast spells of level 1 and 2 but it lacks vocal cords capable of producing speech and possibly appendages capable of the somatic component.

An awakened tree or animal can speak one language that you know

so that take care of V material components could be fun for it to deal with

till it takes natural spell any way

[Marc Radle]

Did I mention that the up-coming summer issue of Kobold Quarterly has an article on JUST this subject?

I did? Oh, good! :)

[Tilnar]

Krome wrote:

Thanks guys. That is what I thought.

The plan is to awaken the wolf, take him as a cohort with the Leadership feat, and take a new wolf as my companion.

Now, what classes seem best for a wolf? Barbarian seems like a natural fit. But if the wolf took druid... (you see where this is going don't you) he could have a wolf companion!

Now the next question is what would be the CR for this? It is to be an NPC druid. Does the cohort have its own CR or is it part of the CR for the druid?

Companions and Cohorts are part of the CR of the the original character. (Though, to be fair, having a cohort who's only a level behind you seems to be the single most valuable feat ever, but that's me.)

[HappyDaze]

The text for the Awaken spell also indicates that the most recent Awakened target sticks around and assists in tasks much like a cohort would.

[Krome]

Well, what I am looking at here is a 10th level druid with a wolf companion and wolf cohort. The cohort would be no higher than level 7 according to the base chart, and I'll just leave it at that since it is an npc.

The most likely class for the cohort is barbarian. It seems a "natural" fit to me.

This would make the encounter a CR 9. Now, I think a party of 6 or 7th level characters should be able to take them out. It won't be an easy fight, but then I think most by the book fights are way too easy anyway, even most level+3 fights tend to be pretty easy.

SO what do you think too hard? If so why? :)