Awaken Animal, type change recalc?

[Luckmann]

Let's assume that a DM would allow me to play a Brown Bear (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/bearBrown.htm) (+16 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +8 Constitution, 2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, -4 Charisma, Large Size, 2x Claws 1d8, Bite 2d6, +5 Nat.Armor, Low-Light Vision, Scent, Improved Grab, +4 Racial to Swim), and that the bear in questioned would be Awakened (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/awaken.htm), in order to become sentient, playable, and able to take class levels).

Now, many templates and situations where type changes are quite clear on the whole "(do not) recalculate base attack bonus, base saves, or skill points" deal, but Awaken doesn't say, and I'm unsure of the base rule.

Are you supposed to recalculate everything?

The difference between animal and magical beast is quite big, especially considering that we're conceivably on 8 HD by now.

[NontheistCleric]

The spell states that awakened animals gain the augmented subtype, which allows the original type's features (HD, BAB, saving throws and skills) to be retained.


A creature receives this subtype whenever something happens to change its original type. Some creatures (those with an inherited template) are born with this subtype; others acquire it when they take on an acquired template. The augmented subtype is always paired with the creature’s original type. A creature with the augmented subtype usually has the traits of its current type, but the features of its original type.

[liquidformat]

you are better off playing as an Urskan or anthro bear than trying to play awakened bear...

[Maat Mons]

An awakened brown bear has 8 HD, which means an ECL of at least 8. An 8th-level druid can wild shape into a brown bear and have a brown bear companion. That's twice the bear, and thus clearly superior.

[Luckmann]

you are better off playing as an Urskan or anthro bear than trying to play awakened bear...
An awakened brown bear has 8 HD, which means an ECL of at least 8. An 8th-level druid can wild shape into a brown bear and have a brown bear companion. That's twice the bear, and thus clearly superior.Except, of course, that I have zero interest in playing any of those things.
The spell states that awakened animals gain the augmented subtype, which allows the original type's features (HD, BAB, saving throws and skills) to be retained.Dangit, that still seems clear as mud, whatwith the "allows" and the "usually". Is there nothing more definitive?