[3.5] INT granting templates

[Thurbane]

I'm looking for a list of templates that will grant a creature with no INT score (such as most vermin, oozes etc.) some sort of INT.

Fiendish and Celestial grant INT 3.

Incarnate Construct gives a mindless Construct INT 3-18.

Just wondering what other templates can do this for various mindless creatures.

Cheers - T

[ArcturusV]

Awakened with plants comes to mind.

[Carth]

Empowered maximized awaken is ripe for shenanigans.

[Thurbane]

Spells are good, but templates are preferred.

[Darrin]

Start with Sentry Ooze (Dungeonscape). Then add Half-Dragon (Core), and follow it up with Spellwarped (MM3) and maybe Phrenic (XPH).

There's also an awaken ooze spell in Dragon #304.

Ooze-related post (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=217035).
Intelligent oozes (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=10529104&postcount=4).
More ooze stuff (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=10628776&postcount=11).

[Thurbane]

Cool, thanks.
So is that about it for grant an INT score to non-intelligent creatures?

There is also Awaken Undead for non-intelligent undead such as Skeletons and Zombies... (INT =1d6+4).

As a rule of thumb, how would you rank the CR of an awakened Plant or Undead? CR +1 sound about right, as it can use tactics instead of attacking mindlessly or in a programmed manner?

Specifically, I'm looking for ways to surprise PCs with enemies they expect to be mindless but actually are Intelligent and/or have class levels.

[ShurikVch]

I'm AFB now, but, IIRR:
Anarchic, Axiomatic and Pseudonatural (CArc) templates also can grant Int 3.
There are spells Awaken Construct and Awaken Magical Beast.
And Awaken Vermin - CF of Master of Flies (SS)
Also, Soul Reaper (specialist necromancer ACF) can make imprints of soul's knowledge on zombie or skeleton, making it intelligent

[Vaz]

I've been looking for a way to get Awaken Vermin, and 9 levels in a Prestige Class... for that? The hell? Right, that's calling for a fix. A Fix and a half.

[ShurikVch]

I've been looking for a way to get Awaken Vermin, and 9 levels in a Prestige Class... for that? The hell? Right, that's calling for a fix. A Fix and a half.

You can try to apply some template to the vermin, which change it's type to magical beast. :smallwink: After it - Awaken Magical Beast!
Possible templates:
Anarchic Creature
Axiomatic Creature
Celestial Creature
Fiendish Creature
Phantom, Lesser
Phantom, Greater
Shadow Creature

[Venger]

Also, Soul Reaper (specialist necromancer ACF) can make imprints of soul's knowledge on zombie or skeleton, making it intelligent

where is this?

while everything else has already been mentioned, rudimentary intelligence from dragon 327 gives a golem an int of 1/2 your CL. it functions like a template, but is more like a "special property" you put on him

[Karnith]

where is this?
The Soul Reaper wizard variant appears in Dragon Magazine #312. The ability that he is referring to is acquired at 15th level, and is called Spawn Undead Servitor. It requires you to use a different class ability (Bind Spirit) to capture a soul in a gem, and perform a ritual that puts the trapped spirit into either a skeleton or zombie. Said ritual costs 500 gp per HD of the undead that the spirit is being put into. The ability gives the undead creature the trapped soul's base attack bonus (if it's higher than the zombie's or skeleton's), skill ranks, weapon and armor proficiencies, feats, and mental ability scores.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Spellwarped Creature can be applied to almost anything and grants +4 int amongst other tasty stuff (such as getting buffed if a spell fails to penetrate it's SR) it is from MM III IIRC.

[ShurikVch]

Spellwarped Creature can be applied to almost anything and grants +4 int amongst other tasty stuff (such as getting buffed if a spell fails to penetrate it's SR) it is from MM III IIRC.
Some other templates with +Int wich can be applied to non-sentient creatures...
Half-Dragon (MM) +2 Int
Spawn of Kyuss, Favored (DR336 p64) +2 Int
Spectral (DoF p109) +4 Int
Half-Illithid (Und p89) +4 Int
Voidmind (MM3 p188) +2 Int
Ti-Khana (FF p178) +2 Int
Chimeric (MM2 p206) +2 Int
Elder Serpent (DR313 p86) +2d6+6 Int
Monster of Legend (MM2 p213) +2 Int

Spell Vile Death give fiendish template to undead, thus Int 3, if it was lower.

Spell Planar Familiar (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/sb/sb20011020a) grants celestial, fiendish, axiomatic, or anarchic template to
familiar, special mount, animal companion, or other companion acquired as a class ability. The spell does not function on outsiders or undead. If creature had less than 3 Int...

Similar effect will grant 5th lvl of Alienist PrC with Pseudonatural Familiar CF, except it can be applied to any type of creature.

Disease "Warp Touch" from BoVD have among random effects
71–72 Head swells; +4 deformity bonus to Int.

[Thurbane]

+ INT templates are good for creatures with low scores, like animals, but if you add a + INT template to a creature with INT as a non-ability, it still stays as a non-score.

[Uhtred]

If Manual of the Planes is allowed (I have personally seen very few balance issues with it) most of the Half-Elemental templates grant Int bonuses.

[ShurikVch]

Mind Seed + Greater Humanoid Essence = Duplicate your personality into medium-or-smaller-sized construct.