[3.5] How do you play an intelligent bear?

[Bulwer]

Is there an LA listed for being Awakened? Is there a race of smart bears that's playable?

[Tempest Fennac]

Apart from Ursinals, which are a Neutral Good Outsider from Book of Exhaulted Deeds, I can't think of any bear races and I'm not sure how LA would work for Awaken. Is homebrewing a race of anthro-bears an option?

[Bosaxon]

With a Russian Accent and pro-communism outlook?

Seriously, though, there is no set LA. Just ask the DM to work with you to set one.

I'm not sure about races though. I just moved back to the dorm and didn't lug my entire collection with me.

[bosssmiley]

Refluff the Bugbear so it's - ya know - a bear.
Or just roll up a bear character starting with "I'm a fekkin bear. GRAR!" levels = CR+1 (disregard LA, that system sux donkeys for dimes), then add classes to taste.


Mrs Beaton Makes A Bear
"First take your bear..."

Deduct the non-elite array 11/10 from the black bear's ability scores to get ursine racial modifiers. Thumbnailing it that's +8 Str, +2 Dex, +4 Con, and - arguably - +2 Wis (go figure...).

Add in abilities of the Fekkin Bear (GRAR!) class, modelled on the SRD black bear:

3d8 HD
3/4 BAB
Saves F:+3, R:+3, W:+1
Medium size
a 20' climb speed
low-light vision and scent
+2 NA
a hard stare (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddington_Bear) gaze attack
paw swipe natural attacks, and some kind of bear hug if they hit with a claw and elect to grapple. If you want Mr Bear to hit people with swords instead of claws, then just switch out the claws for big, furry hands.

Check with the DM whether Ben McBruin is subject to animal friendship or charm person effects.

Argue over hibernation, diet and cost of armouring your bear (http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/dvd/blog/goldencompass-bear.jpg)...

Job done. That's a bear racial class that costs 3 levels (2 for the CR of the bear, +1 for elite stat array and that all-important "minor stuff like racial prejudice does not affect me" PC glow), and is roughly on a par with an Ogre (CR3) in power. No LA needed.

Of course, no anthro system will ever be as excellent as the TMNT Bio-E system (wherein you could swap size and innate abilities for hands, speech, human features, bipedal locomotion, etc. - 'twas an optimiser's dream). Yea, truly it has all been done better before. :smallamused:

[Eldariel]

If looking at guidelines from the Anthropomorphic Bears (y'know, humanoid bears from Savage Species), Black Bear is LA +2 and Brown Bear LA +3. Those could work for awakened Bears too (if you want to be quadroped, though unless you're a caster, that could generate many kinds of dilemmas).

[DragoonWraith]

Like this (http://www.daisyowl.com/comic/2008-07-22).

Though honestly I find the owl more amusing.

[Doc Roc]

The secret is picnic baskets, in my experience.

[Eloel]

You could also go Druid and live Wildshaped into a bear.
Oh, if you're dead-set on 'intelligent', go Wizard and polymorph into a bear. You can even use Polymorph Any Object to STAY as a Bear

[Doc Roc]

Or a psion.... Mind switch with the bear, then maug graft Roller onto yourself, and feathered wings, both from Fiend Folio.

Flying Bear-Fortress approaches!

[JeenLeen]

You could also go Druid and live Wildshaped into a bear.
Oh, if you're dead-set on 'intelligent', go Wizard and polymorph into a bear. You can even use Polymorph Any Object to STAY as a Bear

Or, if your DM allows, you were a person who ticked off a non-murderous high-level wizard and got perm-polymorphed into a bear before taking any class levels.

[Kaiyanwang]

The secret is picnic baskets, in my experience.

And racial bonus on hide and bluff against rangers, I guess.

[Whammydill]

An intelligent bear always brings toilet paper when he goes S*** in the woods.

[Roland St. Jude]

I played an Urskan (from Frostburn) in one of Fax's game a while back. I think we scaled it down to a more reasonable LA. He was a barbarian, if I recall correctly. I played him like a simple, straightforward person, except that he liked to push people's buttons. He especially liked to play up his bearness to get a rise out of more "refined" folk.

Urskan's worth a look if you're starting at a high-level or have a DM willing to work with you on scaling it down.

[Doc Roc]

And racial bonus on hide and bluff against rangers, I guess.

Actually, they switched it to Favored Enemy in the Darker And Edgier (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DarkerAndEdgier) Sequel.

[Mushroom Ninja]

With a Russian Accent and pro-communism outlook?


In soviet Russia, bear cast spell on YOU!

[Kaiyanwang]

Actually, they switched it to Favored Enemy in the Darker And Edgier (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DarkerAndEdgier) Sequel.

No, I cannot go on. The smurf picture burned my childhood memories. Forever.

OP: I'd second Eldariel. Anthropomorphic bears.

[Whammydill]

Actually, they switched it to Favored Enemy in the Darker And Edgier (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DarkerAndEdgier) Sequel.

NOOOOOOO!!!!!! (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Bigno) not tvtropes....must....resist.....*Fails resist check*

[Grey Paladin]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/Shdow/KingOfBears.jpg

[Doc Roc]

NOOOOOOO!!!!!! (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Bigno) not tvtropes....must....resist.....*Fails resist check*

::Blows smoke off an invisible gun and vanishes ::

[JonestheSpy]

Just remember - bears don't got no thumbs.

[Sstoopidtallkid]

For a different option, take the PHBII Barb variant that activates Rage whenever you're below a certain HP, take levels of Bear Warrior, and work your Con and flaws/traits so that you are never above that HP. Congratulations, you are now an angry bear 24/7.

[Salt_Crow]

For a different option, take the PHBII Barb variant that activates Rage whenever you're below a certain HP, take levels of Bear Warrior, and work your Con and flaws/traits so that you are never above that HP. Congratulations, you are now an angry bear 24/7.

I remember the HP limit being very very low. It'd be very dangerous to remain in that range forever.

[deuxhero]

For a different option, take the PHBII Barb variant that activates Rage whenever you're below a certain HP, take levels of Bear Warrior, and work your Con and flaws/traits so that you are never above that HP. Congratulations, you are now an angry bear 24/7.

So... Danger Mario?

[Mad Wizard]

Although it doesn't really answer your question, I think this needs to be mentioned (although I guess you could get ideas for roleplaying a bear from The Golden Compass):
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2125/2101097467_04f196310e.jpg

[imp_fireball]

How about....

- +2 LA
- As much animal HD as the SRD says for whatever bear you're using
- Stat bonuses according to SRD.
- Non-humanoid as a trait. Bears don't have fingers. They've got claws and paws. Also, quadrapedal but can be bipedal when necessary (not that they're very good at balancing when bipedal).

Also, you can add on LA (+3 at most, which at that point is ridiculous) for extra bear special stuff. And the hands that were mentioned could be an option. I would take levels in an appropriate PC class though, like barbarian or something cooler. GM might argue that you take some other penalties besides non-humanoid though (less INT since bears don't study and vocal limitations to language).

All in all, you'll probably get the equivalent of a druid morphing into a bear and staying that way. And 'natural spell' might even work.


With a Russian Accent and pro-communism outlook?

Like Moreski from Life's a Zoo? Also, addicted to vodka.

[golentan]

It's third party, but a serious answer can be found in "The Noble Wild." Some of the stuff can get a little unbalanced, but it's a good source if you talk it over first.

[sofawall]

levels = CR+1 (disregard LA, that system sux donkeys for dimes)

You suggest CR, then say LA sucks?

Ok, I'll be a Stone Giant Cleric. Non-associated class levels? Why thank you!

You're only one level behind in cleric casting, and a freakin' Stone Giant, if you use the CR system.

[The Dark Fiddler]

Worship Canada and shoot Laser Beams from your eyes. (Cookie for the reference)

Seriously though, I'd second what somebody else said, but say it in much less detail; 3 Animal Hit Dice, Str +8, Dex+2, Con +4, Int -something, Wis +2, Cha -4. Low light vision, scent, claw and bite attacks, and Level Adjustment or whatever you want to use to be decided later.

[Eldariel]

Worship Canada and shoot Laser Beams from your eyes. (Cookie for the reference)

While it's not the original, I must say that I actually prefer this:
http://www.danamongden.net/archives/images/mordor-vi_large.gif

[Doc Roc]

So no one liked my Flying Bear Fortress? It flies at 120 ft a round, and just wants your picnic basket.

[woodenbandman]

The only way to play a smart bear is to learn kung-fu.

I like Frank's way of doing it. Subtract the ELITE array from the stats, give it an ECL of its CR +1. So a bear would have an ECL of 5. Also replace its 6 d8 hit dice with, like, 5d10. You would have to pump your INT pretty high to be able to actually play said bear, but you've got good strength.

This probably doesn't work so good without using Frank's classes, but it seems pretty alright to me. Maybe knock that strength down a bet.

RP-wise, just act natural. As in, you're an intelligent bear, but you still crap in the woods. And forget that pesky clothing.

[deuxhero]

RP-wise, just act natural. As in, you're an intelligent bear, but you still crap in the woods.

You could also play a supernatural bear (Ala Okku) and avoid dealing with that.

[Seffbasilisk]

Why not go Werebear? Admittedly hellacious HD and LA, but with enough ranks in Control Shape you could become a Bear or a Bear-Person at will...