The Old Sycamore

[Vollg]

I'm running a game of Kingmaker and two of the players are wanting to use the spell Awaken on the old sycamore tree the mites were in. Only problem is, I'm afraid this tree coming to life and working for the PCs will break the game. Should I stop the players from trying this or should I let them continue their endeavours and see how it turns out?

[Pizza Lord]

Never played the game, so I can only go by the vague descriptions of the tree I can find, and that's only that it is old and 100-feet tall. Even if we were to assume that a lot of that upper height consists of branches and not trunk, it's still probably bordering on Colossal as a tall creature (64+ feet).

I don't know what level your PCs are at this point, but a Colossal animated object can be quite potent. Assuming they have the spell and can pay for it (and pass the Will save for a Colossal Tree: DC 23) then they have a very large awakened tree of variable intelligence, wisdom, and charisma.

Mitigating factors are that it probably will only be useful outdoors and if it's really old it probably should have a matching personality. Friendly with the caster or not, it could still be slow and methodical and contemplative.

Again, I don't have an accurate description of the tree. If you are leery of this, maybe the tree can be dead and as such, is not a valid target. Maybe you can have the spell work but instead something else happens. Maybe a seed drops from the tree and a living tree (of more reasonable party power and game balance) grows quickly. Not trying to screw anyone, but you do have to maintain campaign balance, it's your job and responsibility. The new tree talks gives a tale that sounds believable and makes the Old Sycamore seem more important (or a dryad or fae creature appears now the the mites are gone and prevents the spell but rapidly grows a suitable tree for the party.)

Maybe they'll just fail the Will Save and you'll laugh and laugh.

[TawnyKnight]

Well first as Pizza Lord says, they are going to need to succeed on a DC 23 will save or waste 2000gp though that is likely pretty doable. Awaken allows for specific tasks and endeavours, I would refuse accompanying them on adventures, but agree to local tasks, but play up its age and the damage such a large creature moving about might do.

Just speak with your players and explain to them what you will and won't allow so they will not feel cheated. I would say a powerful local defender and occasional help with large construction is reasonable.

You might simply add the clunky and slower construction flaws meaning it can only move 20ft a round in total and thus would slow the group hugely since you seem to be expected to assign its traits as an animated object. I might make it very powerful, but impractical to travel with.

[Claxon]

I agree with TawnyKnight.

Make the tree slow enough (15ft) that its impractical to try to adventure with it. It'll be good for defending the forest in which it lives, but not much else.

Alternatively, casting the spell and having a normally Treant come forth from part of the treee isn't bad either.

It gives the players something without being massively broken.

[Makroo the Flyer of the Skies]

I say you should make it so the tree is only willing to listen to the King or Current Ruler and make it Protect some area so that the party can't travel with it and what ever 'Hex' it is in have a lower random chance counter for Monsters.

Also give it an English accent