My druid has leveled high enough that this spell is now an option to take. Our party is currently on down time as we are sailing from one city to another which will take a few weeks in game time. My question is, can my Awaken spell be used on a party member's familiar?
Keep in mind that the Find Familiar spell very specifically uses the wording "the familiar has the statistics of the chosen form, though it is a celestial, fey, or fiend (your choice) instead of a beast." So while whatever it ultimately is depends on what the caster desires, it is explicitly not a Beast, so it can't be targeted by the Awaken spell.
My druid has leveled high enough that this spell is now an option to take. Our party is currently on down time as we are sailing from one city to another which will take a few weeks in game time. My question is, can my Awaken spell be used on a party member's familiar?
Only if the familiar satisfies the spell's requirements. As others have noted, the stock spell (including when you cast it, if you have the Tasha's upgrade letting you do so) summons a familiar which does not.
Awaken can only target a beast or plant (note this does not need to be a creature - you can target a tree) which is Huge or smaller and either has no Intelligence score or is Intelligence 3 or less.
Maybe you can Awaken a dolphin, whale, or shark? You need a 1k GP agate though, and that’s not always easy to come by, especially if you are already at sea.
If you can capture a T-Rex, it's a lot of fun to play riding an Awakened T-Rex mount.
On a ship that's sailing?
Far easier to use Locate Animals or Plants to find yourself an orca or megalodon, then use Animal Friendship to get it to hold still (it'll last plenty long, since it has a duration triple the casting time of Awaken) and makes yourself an aquatic friend.
If you can capture a T-Rex, it's a lot of fun to play riding an Awakened T-Rex mount.
On a ship that's sailing?
Far easier to use Locate Animals or Plants to find yourself an orca or megalodon, then use Animal Friendship to get it to hold still (it'll last plenty long, since it has a duration triple the casting time of Awaken) and makes yourself an aquatic friend.
I have ONE agate worth that much that I purchased a while ago hoping I'd one day get to the level I am. So, now I'm wondering if it would be a waste to use it on a rat found on the ship or maybe even some seaweed or barnacles on/around the ship for them to keep watch on our ship when we are out on land
If that agate is burning a hole in your pocket, I’d go with the rat. You know you’ll be able to bring it places off the boat with you, and it actually could make a good scout. Otherwise, I’d hold on to it until you find something more interesting. Just first, you might want to talk with your DM and clear up expectations for it (actually for the spell in general). One of the main one being when you cast it, for those first 30 days, it’s charmed, that doesn’t mean it’s your slave and will risk its life for you. It just means it won’t attack you, and you have advantage on checks when you interact with it socially. So you could probably convince a rat to stay on the ship and keep watch, but not necessarily to attack the enemies who board it when you’re away.
Just make sure you and your DM are on the page about how the spell works before you use the agate, so you don’t end up disappointed that you’re not getting the mileage you expected.
Phb beastmaster companions are the superior targets but the party probably doesn't have one. I would save it for a decent scenario where you really need the support or when you meet a perfect target.
I have ONE agate worth that much that I purchased a while ago hoping I'd one day get to the level I am. So, now I'm wondering if it would be a waste to use it on a rat found on the ship or maybe even some seaweed or barnacles on/around the ship for them to keep watch on our ship when we are out on land
If it's your ship, you're far better off landing and casting the spell on a tree to give yourself a fundamentally reliable stevedore. The best awakened creatures are usually mounts.
That's assuming my original suggestions are off the table. A megalodon friend would give you an ally in ship combat that never needs to surface.
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My druid has leveled high enough that this spell is now an option to take. Our party is currently on down time as we are sailing from one city to another which will take a few weeks in game time. My question is, can my Awaken spell be used on a party member's familiar?
No. Awaken only works on a natural beast or plant. Find familiar summons a spirit that takes animal form. They are not the same thing.
Keep in mind that the Find Familiar spell very specifically uses the wording "the familiar has the statistics of the chosen form, though it is a celestial, fey, or fiend (your choice) instead of a beast." So while whatever it ultimately is depends on what the caster desires, it is explicitly not a Beast, so it can't be targeted by the Awaken spell.
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Only if the familiar satisfies the spell's requirements. As others have noted, the stock spell (including when you cast it, if you have the Tasha's upgrade letting you do so) summons a familiar which does not.
Awaken can only target a beast or plant (note this does not need to be a creature - you can target a tree) which is Huge or smaller and either has no Intelligence score or is Intelligence 3 or less.
If you can capture a T-Rex, it's a lot of fun to play riding an Awakened T-Rex mount.
Maybe you can Awaken a dolphin, whale, or shark? You need a 1k GP agate though, and that’s not always easy to come by, especially if you are already at sea.
Takes a long time (8 full hours)to cast the spell so it is hard to do to a swimming creature
On a ship that's sailing?
Far easier to use Locate Animals or Plants to find yourself an orca or megalodon, then use Animal Friendship to get it to hold still (it'll last plenty long, since it has a duration triple the casting time of Awaken) and makes yourself an aquatic friend.
On a ship that's sailing?
Far easier to use Locate Animals or Plants to find yourself an orca or megalodon, then use Animal Friendship to get it to hold still (it'll last plenty long, since it has a duration triple the casting time of Awaken) and makes yourself an aquatic friend.
I have ONE agate worth that much that I purchased a while ago hoping I'd one day get to the level I am. So, now I'm wondering if it would be a waste to use it on a rat found on the ship or maybe even some seaweed or barnacles on/around the ship for them to keep watch on our ship when we are out on land
If that agate is burning a hole in your pocket, I’d go with the rat. You know you’ll be able to bring it places off the boat with you, and it actually could make a good scout. Otherwise, I’d hold on to it until you find something more interesting.
Just first, you might want to talk with your DM and clear up expectations for it (actually for the spell in general). One of the main one being when you cast it, for those first 30 days, it’s charmed, that doesn’t mean it’s your slave and will risk its life for you. It just means it won’t attack you, and you have advantage on checks when you interact with it socially. So you could probably convince a rat to stay on the ship and keep watch, but not necessarily to attack the enemies who board it when you’re away.
Just make sure you and your DM are on the page about how the spell works before you use the agate, so you don’t end up disappointed that you’re not getting the mileage you expected.
Phb beastmaster companions are the superior targets but the party probably doesn't have one. I would save it for a decent scenario where you really need the support or when you meet a perfect target.
Thanks for the advice everyone
If it's your ship, you're far better off landing and casting the spell on a tree to give yourself a fundamentally reliable stevedore. The best awakened creatures are usually mounts.
That's assuming my original suggestions are off the table. A megalodon friend would give you an ally in ship combat that never needs to surface.