[RPG] How are statistics determined for an awakened animal

animalsdnd-3.5espells

Do published awakened creatures exist?

Is there a stat block in any official text—including Dragon and Dungeon magazines—for a creature that's been the target of the 5th-level Drd spell awaken [trans] (PH 202)?

What are the rules for an awakened creature's extra Hit Dice?

For example, a Drd9 casts the spell awaken, targeting a rat so that the now "awakened [rat] gets 3d6 Intelligence, +1d3 Charisma, and +2 HD. Its type becomes magical beast (augmented animal)." The DM rolls Int 11 and +2 Cha, making the rat's ability scores Str 2, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 11, Wis 12, and Cha 4. Conveniently, the rat names himself Reepicheep.

You'll *Reep* what you sow! Sigh. I'm also betting his Charisma should be higher.

Reepicheep starts with HD ¼d8 and from the spell awaken gains 2 Hit Dice. But are these new 2 Hit Dice animal Hit Dice or magical beast Hit Dice? And does Reepicheep's starting Hit Die stay an animal Hit Die or does it become a magical beast Hit Die?

Applying as best I can the rules for Increasing Hit Dice, the differences are pronounced.

  • With HD 2¼d8 (animal), Reepicheep has hp 10, base attack bonus +2, and base saving throws (without ability score adjustments) of Fort +3, Ref +3, and Will +1.
  • With HD 2¼d10 (magical beast), Reepicheep has hp 12, base attack bonus +3, and base saving throws of Fort +3, Ref +3, and Will +1.
  • With HD ¼d8 (animal) +2d10 (magical beast), Reepicheep has hp 12, base attack bonus +2, and base saving throws of Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +0. Note: Here I've computed Reepicheep's statistics as if he'd, in essence, multiclassed into magical beast.

Is there a correct way to determine an awakened creature's statistics?

Best Answer

As for the first part of your question, I know of none, but I know very little outside the rules.

As for the second question,

Variant 1 is correct

An awakened animal retains all Animal features, features being a game term that encompasses HD, BAB and Saves.

The spell description states

An awakened animal['s] type becomes magical beast (augmented animal).

Looking at Augmented, we get

A creature with the augmented subtype usually has the traits of its current type, but the features of its original type.

Since awaken does not specify differently, an awakened animal is a "usual" Magical Beast (Augmented Animal), meaning it has the Features of an Animal paired with the traits of a Magical Beast.

Features
An animal has the following features (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).

  • 8-sided Hit Dice.
  • Base attack bonus equal to ¾ total Hit Dice (as cleric).
  • Good Fortitude and Reflex saves (certain animals have different good saves, for instance dire animals have good Fortitude, Reflex, and Will saves).
  • Skill points equal to (2 + Int modifier, minimum 1) per Hit Die, with quadruple skill points for the first Hit Die.

Traits
A magical beast possesses the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).

  • Darkvision out to 60 feet and low-light vision.
  • Proficient with its natural weapons only.
  • Proficient with no armor.
  • Magical beasts eat, sleep, and breathe.

Note that by RAW, the replacement of the Animal traits with that of a Magical Beast means that animal loses proficiency with all armor, even if it was war-trained prior to its awakening.

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