Class ideas for a low level "intelligent" animal?

[Reksew_Trebla]

I've been mulling over what class levels to give a level 1-5 animal who grew up intelligent because somebody dropped a headband of vast intelligence on him as a child. I'm thinking an ape as the animal, but am open to suggestions if you think there is a better animal to use. I want him to be fancy like, but I'm not having much luck finding fancy attire for him to wear, so I am requesting help for this. I'm thinking of having him take class levels in a class that gives an animal companion or a familiar, so he can have a "butler", but for the life of me I just can't decide on a class as I keep thinking about all the other options, and why the class might not work.

Any help will be appreciated. I know this forum gives great ideas that I would never think of, so I thank you for helping in advance.

P.S. I'm the gm, so him not being reasonably high enough level for WBL to have some fancy item won't matter, but I don't want him overpowered as his role is to be escorted from one location to another by the PCs, who will have to protect him from Druids who want to remove his headband so he is no longer "disrupting the natural order of animals".

[avr]

If they think he's "disrupting the natural order of animals" then we're probably not looking at a fighter here. Something with a bit more ability to influence the world. Maybe something a bit worrying. But not an intelligence or charisma-based class, even with a headband an ape won't have a lot in those.

Maybe a spiritualist? There are some creepy spells on their list and they get a phantom, a ghostly spirit which can act as the butler you describe and which may be creepy in its own right.

[the David]

You're talking about an animal with an intelligence of 4-8. I wouldn't classify that as fancy. He also wouldn't need a familiar if you just give him some trained minions. (Monkeys? Handle Animal? Druid spells? Or a Bard for bardic performance and fancy skills?) I'm picturing either king Louie or the Planet of the Apes here, but correct me if I'm wrong. You didn't really make it clear which direction you want to go in with this. It doesn't help that you didn't provide us with a CR to aim for.

Now there are alternatives to the Headband of Vast Intelligence. The Awaken spell would give the ape 3D6 intelligence and a much needed +1d3 bonus on his charisma. I wonder if an Empowered or Maximized Awaken would increase this, but I think it should.

Here's a bit from the rules for adding class levels to monsters:
''Creatures with class levels receive +4, +4, +2, +2, +0, and –2 adjustments to their ability scores, assigned in a manner that enhances their class abilities.''
So if you just give an ape class levels he could get a +4 in Intelligence without any Awaken spell/Headband.

Or, if you want to go with the minions idea, you can yust make a wereape instead. They get control over other apes, so you'd have the servant part at least.

[Moonheart]

Mmm you perhaps take it the wrong way.

Even with increased intelligence, an animal is not meant to have class levels as classes are things resulting of a special training given to humanoid scientent creatures.
You'll have to justify that some humanoid master actually bothered to train it in a given class despite of its rather still low intelligence.

I recommand this:
- Don't bother with class level that could raise useless questions from your PC, that you would have hard time to answer
- Istead, go to the animal companion page I the rules, and grab the bonus going with a 4-5 hit dice level
- Then, add bonus like if your no was it with an Awaken spell.

It should be far than enough for a decent intelligent animal

[Fuzzy-Wuzzy]

Moonheart wrote:

Even with increased intelligence, an animal is not meant to have class levels as classes are things resulting of a special training given to humanoid scientent creatures.

You'll have to justify that some humanoid master actually bothered to train it in a given class despite of its rather still low intelligence.

One, I agree that an unawakened animal is not meant to have class levels of any kind.

Two, if you give it class levels anyway, do so with one of the classes defined as "intuitive" in the rules for starting ages (meaning they didn't need training at all). This category includes barbarians, oracles, rogues, and sorcerers. An accidentally intelligent animal called by Higher Powers to be an oracle against its will could be a blast. I recommend using a biped for this (or any other spell-casting class) so it can cope with somatic components.

[Moonheart]

My god, I butchered my answer... too late for editing.
Let me rephrase:

"I recommand this:
- Don't bother with class levels that could raise useless questions from your PC, that you would have hard time to answer
- Instead, go to the animal companion page in the SRD rules, and grab the bonus going with a 4-5 hit dice level
- Then, add bonuses like if your animal was hit by an Awaken spell.

It should be far than enough for a decent intelligent animal"

[Nodrog]

Fuzzy-Wuzzy wrote:

Two, if you give it class levels anyway, do so with one of the classes defined as "intuitive" in the rules for starting ages (meaning they didn't need training at all). This category includes barbarians, oracles, rogues, and sorcerers.

Barbarian goat, rage headbutt with enchanted horns to overcome damage resistance.

[Fuzzy-Wuzzy]

Nodrog wrote:

Fuzzy-Wuzzy wrote:

Two, if you give it class levels anyway, do so with one of the classes defined as "intuitive" in the rules for starting ages (meaning they didn't need training at all). This category includes barbarians, oracles, rogues, and sorcerers.

Barbarian goat, rage headbutt with enchanted horns to overcome damage resistance.

Can't enchant a body part. But you could silver-plate your horns and wear cold iron horseshoes. Let all beware the wrath of Silverhorn!

[SmiloDan]

Barbarian, bloodrager, cleric (with pet domain), druid, hunter, oracle (with pet revelation), ranger, shaman (with pet hex? spirit?), skald (howling at the moon?), slayer.