Evolver, Devolver... Revolver!

[VRMH]

The Devolutionist Druid is presented as a rather evil character, in its original fluff. But I'm thinking they have a great opportunity to be... social reformers!

It makes perfect sense for a Druid to consider Animals morally superior to Humanoids. And "devolving" a captured villain into a creature unburdened by the weight of its culture and past would then be a good deed. However, it's also a bit unnatural. Humanoids are Humanoids and should live in Humanoid communities.

So how would one turn a:

Devolved Humanoid:

An affected humanoid’s Intelligence score is instantly reduced to 2; its type changes to animal; it loses all spellcasting and abilities that require intelligence; it can’t wield manufactured weapons; it gains two claw attacks and a bite attack (all dealing 1d4 points of damage for a Medium humanoid or 1d3 for Small humanoids); and it can’t use skills other than Acrobatics, Climb, Escape Artist, Fly, Intimidate, Perception, Stealth, Survival, and Swim.
The devolved creature starts out friendly toward the devolutionist, though it typically tries to kill and devour other sentient humanoids. The devolutionist has no special empathy or connection with a creature she devolves

..into a productive member of a Humanoid society?

I'm guessing they need an Intelligence boost, to open up access to all feats. And retraining to actually get useful ones. But can that be done to an Animal? Or would it need to learn "tricks" and remain under the control of a shepherd of sorts? Can they even be reliably pacified?

Please tell me the game has options to turn the rather anti-soical Devolutionist into a benevolent "Revolver".
Even if it's just so I get to use that name.

[Rysky]

Yeeeeeeeeeah, no.

[Emo Duck]

Moulding a person, both physically and mentally, against its will into a form that suits your particular ideology seems to land more in the evil camp than the good camp, if you ask me.

But on the practical side of things, since the devolved humanoid takes on the Animal type, it becomes a legal target for the Awaken spell. If cast on a succession of devolved targets, they'd be free-willed creatures that are friendly to you by default, which ought to be a pretty good basis for "shepherding" them.

[Balancer]

1) That's a pretty messed up archtype.
2) Now I want to run one of these through Rise of the Runelords and some how devolve Karzoug just for the giggles.

[VRMH]

Emo Duck wrote:

Moulding a person, both physically and mentally, against its will into a form that suits your particular ideology seems to land more in the evil camp than the good camp

In real-world terms? Definitely. Not so in the game's system of morality though. It's a strictly Neutral act, with Good intent.

Quote:

the Awaken spell

Alas, alas. That spell is specifically mentioned as reversing the effect (along with Miracle/Wish).

Balancer wrote:

a pretty messed up archtype.

Yes. Yes it is. Great, innit? ;)

Quote:

2) Now I want to run one of these through Rise of the Runelords and some how devolve Karzoug just for the giggles.

You can make him your... well, eh, let's say you can make him your Animal Companion, and leave it at that.

[Azten]

What would the Anthropomorphic Animal spell do to them?

[VRMH]

Azten wrote:

What would the Anthropomorphic Animal spell do to them?

Now there's a thought. And it could even be made permanent.

[Aldrakan]

Yeah while this would IN NO WAY make this less evil, a devolver druid working with a vivisectionist alchemist could achieve this effect pretty well.