Best 1st level animal companion? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best 1st level animal companion? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
hovnarr
11-11-05, 06:36 AM I'm having trouble deciding which one is better: The war trained riding dog (better than wolf) or the war trained heavy horse.

The horse has better HP and gets 2 hooves +4 (d6+3) at a full attack. The riding dog has better AC and gets a free trip attack on its bite +3 (d6+3).

Which one is better?
Lorimo the Disbeliever
11-11-05, 06:58 AM Dog. It have scent and can be brought into dungeon, unlike horse.
lamzak
11-11-05, 07:09 AM also the dog will be able to make some nice trip attacks at low level
hovnarr
11-11-05, 07:37 AM Dog. It have scent and can be brought into dungeon, unlike horse.

The horse also has scent. But the dog has track, unlike the horse.

What's this I hear about not being able to go into a dungeoun? All I have seen on this in the SRD is a measly comment under "Mule" that they unlike horses are willing to enter dungeouns.

The "no dungeons for horses" seems to be for normal riding horses, not combat trained mounts. If I'm wrong, couldn't you train it, i.e. teach it the "enter enclosed spaces" trick? If all else fails you can push your animal companion to enter the dungeon with animal handling.

IF it was impossible to take horses into dungeouns, then yes, riding dogs would win hands down. If not, I'd say the AC and HP differences balance out, the horse is slightly stronger in melee with two attacks (despite the dog's trip) and the dog has slightly more utility thanks to the track feat. Still, horse seems like the better "tank".

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
hovnarr 11-11-05, 06:36 AM	I'm having trouble deciding which one is better: The war trained riding dog (better than wolf) or the war trained heavy horse. The horse has better HP and gets 2 hooves +4 (d6+3) at a full attack. The riding dog has better AC and gets a free trip attack on its bite +3 (d6+3). Which one is better?
Lorimo the Disbeliever 11-11-05, 06:58 AM	Dog. It have scent and can be brought into dungeon, unlike horse.
lamzak 11-11-05, 07:09 AM	also the dog will be able to make some nice trip attacks at low level
hovnarr 11-11-05, 07:37 AM	Dog. It have scent and can be brought into dungeon, unlike horse. The horse also has scent. But the dog has track, unlike the horse. What's this I hear about not being able to go into a dungeoun? All I have seen on this in the SRD is a measly comment under "Mule" that they unlike horses are willing to enter dungeouns. The "no dungeons for horses" seems to be for normal riding horses, not combat trained mounts. If I'm wrong, couldn't you train it, i.e. teach it the "enter enclosed spaces" trick? If all else fails you can push your animal companion to enter the dungeon with animal handling. IF it was impossible to take horses into dungeouns, then yes, riding dogs would win hands down. If not, I'd say the AC and HP differences balance out, the horse is slightly stronger in melee with two attacks (despite the dog's trip) and the dog has slightly more utility thanks to the track feat. Still, horse seems like the better "tank".