This topic returns for the sole fact I'm having extensive difficulty finding a very reasonable means of doing it - it boils down to the Awaken spell or the Noble Wild so far for me, as most every other solution I'm having almost no luck of really pursuing, hence why I'm now asking here whilst continuing my research.
Thus far;
- Awaken seems to be the most reasonable way to do it, but I'm stuck with a bunch of animal HD and now even more HD through Awaken; this is less than helpful for trying to make a character who already has HD (3 to be exact) on the table.
-- Animal only templates are another boon I'd like to keep - but I'm not sure if they'll stay post-Awaken. If they do, I would like some recommendations other than Magebred and Warbeast - any other notable ones.
- The Noble Wild is a decent alternative, but has some silly LAs for things that don't really need LAs (+2 LA just because a panther goes from Small to Medium? Really?) and the Noble Animal Type doesn't give me Magical Beast (Augmented Animal) like Awaken does.
The goal is to make a character who is, for all intents and purposes, an actual playable animal to fit the role of "not-companion" to the party - and the more I can get out of having the animal type for the great buffs it brings (there's a Druid in the party, but not the one who would be Awakening the character if that route is chosen), if at all possible, would be ideal.
Limiting factors are;
- Limited material/support of play; even the Noble Wild as a 3rd party supplement this concept seems to be very limited in its viability. However, all books are open and available for use, but require approval by the DM, as is Dragon magazine - so far, the sole thing he's said outright "no" to (to everyone) is the Artificer, because of...
- E6 game. (But other listed builds will be kept for future reference so I could recycle or re-purpose these efforts; one day they will see play.)
- Bizarreness of request; its a niche role, by far, but I'm trying to make this character as viable as possible and as dangerous (and credible) as possible. Panther Rogue/Swordsage, Tiger Warblade, Sabertooth Barbarian, Jaguar Psychic Warrior/Tashalatora Monk, etc.
- Feline character - yes, I know wolves are a great candidate, but my experience and knowledge is limited to felines, and if I end up with less than 3 Int and somehow playable, I can work with that given what I do know, but that's completely in the realm of hand waving by a DM, as I'd rather have a 3 Int (at lowest) and be vaguely sapient; uncannily intelligent, or play the part of "the big dumb animal", even if the latter is all an act. Going with this, I'd prefer Medium or Large size cats, hence why there's an issue of LA/HD.
- The players are used to this behavior and are expecting animal themed or based characters out of me (I primarily play a Druid and dabble in Paleo-Felinology and biology), but never exactly what or how, and this idea is one of those not yet applied.
However, that's all primarily beside the point which is this;
Anyone with any suggestions and or experience on making animals valid player characters?
