Trying to figure this out. Read a bunch of old threads and didn't get an answer.
As I read it, you could cast Anthro first, and then cast Awaken. Anthro doesn't change the creatures type, so it's still an animal for the purposes of Awaken. I saw a lot of people saying you'd need to drain the Int back down to 2, but I don't see any rules reason for that. Someone else know if this is in a FAQ or something?
If you did an Extended Anthro to say 26 hrs, and then cast Awaken, would the creature revert to being a quadruped again once Anthro wore off, or since you turned it into a magical beast with Awaken would that be its new form now?
If it reverts, then you need Permanency on the Anthro. Since you changed its type with Awaken, if the Anthro was ever removed, it wouldn't be a valid target for that spell again. Correct?
Does anyone think it should immediately lose the Anthro upon being Awakened?
Anthropomorphic Animal hops the creature's intellect to 3. Awaken requires the target have an intellect no more than 2 (last line of the spell description). That's where the intelligence drain idea comes up. Though, realistically, I don't know if an Int 3 with 1 point of drain actually counts as 2. That's for the GM to decide (it wouldn't work in my game).
As for the spell expiration, that's for the GM. I'd probably rule it that Anthro goes away because the creature is no longer a valid target, even if it has a permanent Anthro spell cast upon it. But others would argue that it was valid when it was cast, so it remains active after it is Awakened.
Ok, duh. Reading fail.
Yeah, I was looking for a crazy caster trying to make a new race of animal people. Sounds like I'd just have to work with the GM.
1. Cast anthropomorphic animal.
2. Cast feeblemind, bestow curse, or whatever other Int-dropping spell you have.
3. Cast awaken.
4. Dispel, remove, or otherwise negate the Int debuff.
5. Have fun playing Dr. Moreau.
I suppose there is always researching new spells to make an Improved Anthropomorphic Animal or Improved Awaken to do exactly what I want. Again that's up to the GM, unless I'm running. In our group that's roughly half the time. I'll take those over to House Rules though.
For a strict RAW, probably best to stick with Empowered Maximized Awakened oak trees if you want some fun allies.
Interesting... now I have a way to make super-intelligent tree people.
With a maximized & empowered awaken for a plant, you have a GUARANTEED at least 21 in each mental stat...
Druids be scary with metamagic...
Note: another solution is to use "polymorph any object". Though arguably it might not be able to make "unnatural" forms.