Awakened Ape Dragon Disciple Cohort

[Gertak]

Hello everyone and thanks in advance for any advice/assistance.

I found a ton of threads on awakened cohorts but none of them had any real definitive information so I'm really just looking for advice here.

I have a dream of an ape dragon disciple cohort and I'm wondering on the numbers of making it come true. The first issue is converting the gorilla to a cohort. The layout for monstrous cohorts makes it really hard to decide where it would fall:

Worg(CR2) is a level 5 (4d10+4)
1 bite attack +7 (1d6+4) + trip
Str 17, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 10

Blink(CR2) dog is level 4 (3d10+6)
1 bite attack +4 (1d6+1)
Str 12, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 11
dimension door (quickened) at all
blink permanent

Ghoul(CR1) is a level 5 (2d8+4 hps)
3 attacks +3 (1d6+1)
Str 13, Dex 15, Con —, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 14
paralysis on each hit
undead type

Giant Vulture (CR4) is a level 7 (5d10+20)
1 bite attack +9 (2d6+9)
Str 22, Dex 15, Con 18, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 7
Flying

Based on those examples I'm just not sure where the Ape would fall base, before awakening. The vulture does seem to be about the best comparison since it is also an animal It's only special quality is rend but it does have solid base stats, also like the vulture (though weaker in about every area). It's a CR3 which probably puts it at like a 5-6 and then adding awaken increases it's int/wis/cha and gives it 2 more HD (it does use animal d8 instead of magical beast d10). That would seem to put it up 1-2 levels so 6-8.

But then when I look at like the Giant Owl I am thrown for a loop again.
It is a CR5 creature that has amazing stats (6d10+24 hps) and is level 8
Str 20, Dex 15, Con 18, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 9
It has 2 attacks +9 (2d6+5)
can speak with all animals
flies
gets an initiative bonus based on it's wisdom
can use true seeing 3/day for 1 round

Then the hound archon is also level 7 with 6d10+6 hps, decent stats, and some powerful at will spells (aid at will??).

Looking at that I just can't figure out how to determine the starting level of my awakened Ape. Once I get to class levels I assume it would be a 1/1, even though monster advancement mentions 1/2 if it's not it's focus. So would it be 1/1 if I gained the companion before it took it's first sorcerer level and 1/2 if I gained it after it was already a few levels in?

Sorry for the really long post, just wanted to give some reference information in addition to the question.

[williamoak]

I dont know what to answer you, but this is weirdness I enjoy. I'll keep an eye on this.

[williamoak]

From my own analysis of monstrous cohorts in the past, as well as looking at the Gorilla, I would probably rate it at "effective cohort level" of 3 (Cr2 +1 (intelligence as a spec ability)). It's abilities arent terribly great. Again, I'd need to know more about what kind of ape first.

[Drejk]

Ghoul has paralysis attack and undead immunities pushing its effective level up.

Awakened ape is close to being humanoid (it can speak and use items which makes it comparable to humanoid NPC utility-wise) with 3 HD, good but not insane stats and two natural attacks. I would estimate it to be effective level 4, maybe 5 due to its Large size giving it extended reach that might be very useful to "humanoid" (i.e. tool and weapon using) NPCs.

[Mojorat]

I honestly would not use that list from the crb for cohort levels. Its mostly a copy paste from the 3.5 system and still uses EL as part of its calculationsnl.

So basically look at the cr of an
Ape and add the cr changes from awaken. Which looks like cr 3 total. Compare his abilities to a fighter or barbarian and asign a cr.

[Gertak]

So how would you assign him in that regard? Large with multiple natural attacks is pretty powerful. Don't think he's as strong as a level 6 fighter but maybe stronger than a 5. Hard to say with no armor on the ape and no offensive feats. And even awakened it has no class levels or proficiencies for equipment. A level 3 fighter with a great sword and power stack and decent armor is probably still stronger offensively and defensively, just behind on hp.

Also, what was your thought on class levels? 1/1 at all times, ignoring the recommendation in monster advancement?