animal companion question? [Archive] - Wizards Community

animal companion question? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Delirin
04-24-06, 12:32 AM Okay, so I brought a new guy into my campaign today. He rolled pretty well for starting funds so decided to go for a dog. He bought a guard dog as a companion.

Well, being short on time and a returning player to the game... I let the dog in according to the stats on 3.5 monster manual... but, as he has no animal training, I controled the dog. He even went as far as buying leather armor for the thing heh.

He's even newer than those of us that are playing (and we are pretty new) and I don't want him discouraged, but I just noticed that druids and other classes get a pet as one of their class features and I'm thinking it's a bit unfair for the group to have the xp drain.

He is saying that he will pick up an animal related skill next level.

Any ideas on how I can fix this or make it run more smoothley? I was thinking of telling him to give the dog 1/3 of his xp instead of making the entire group share it.... was the guard dog really there to be a companion?

interested in any thoughts or suggestions, thanks!
Flushmaster
04-24-06, 04:31 AM Unless I'm mistaken, according to a straight up interpretation of the rules, the dog isn't actually considered a character and therefore doesn't gain experience. If you want to let the dog advance along with the PCs, I'd suggest treating it like a cohort; don't subtract XP from the rest of the party for it but just give it XP equal to 1/4 of what the PC to whom it belongs to has earned. I think that's how it works. Usually, such animals associated with PCs are animal companions (from druids and rangers) or a spellcaster's familiar and those animals get specific enhancements as the character progresses (they are technically class features of that PC).
Seeker95
04-24-06, 08:02 AM Druids get an animal companion. This character has a pet. Big difference. This dog is a normal dog and will remain a normal dog in all ways. And it does not get experience points.
jokotoko
04-24-06, 08:48 AM Druids get an animal companion. This character has a pet. Big difference. This dog is a normal dog and will remain a normal dog in all ways. And it does not get experience points.

Exactly, and as it will always remain a normal dog, it will be killed by a random fireball in a few levels. Unfortunately, having a pet, or even a non-magical mount, is not a very long-term thing in D&D.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Delirin 04-24-06, 12:32 AM	Okay, so I brought a new guy into my campaign today. He rolled pretty well for starting funds so decided to go for a dog. He bought a guard dog as a companion. Well, being short on time and a returning player to the game... I let the dog in according to the stats on 3.5 monster manual... but, as he has no animal training, I controled the dog. He even went as far as buying leather armor for the thing heh. He's even newer than those of us that are playing (and we are pretty new) and I don't want him discouraged, but I just noticed that druids and other classes get a pet as one of their class features and I'm thinking it's a bit unfair for the group to have the xp drain. He is saying that he will pick up an animal related skill next level. Any ideas on how I can fix this or make it run more smoothley? I was thinking of telling him to give the dog 1/3 of his xp instead of making the entire group share it.... was the guard dog really there to be a companion? interested in any thoughts or suggestions, thanks!
Flushmaster 04-24-06, 04:31 AM	Unless I'm mistaken, according to a straight up interpretation of the rules, the dog isn't actually considered a character and therefore doesn't gain experience. If you want to let the dog advance along with the PCs, I'd suggest treating it like a cohort; don't subtract XP from the rest of the party for it but just give it XP equal to 1/4 of what the PC to whom it belongs to has earned. I think that's how it works. Usually, such animals associated with PCs are animal companions (from druids and rangers) or a spellcaster's familiar and those animals get specific enhancements as the character progresses (they are technically class features of that PC).
Seeker95 04-24-06, 08:02 AM	Druids get an animal companion. This character has a pet. Big difference. This dog is a normal dog and will remain a normal dog in all ways. And it does not get experience points.
jokotoko 04-24-06, 08:48 AM	Druids get an animal companion. This character has a pet. Big difference. This dog is a normal dog and will remain a normal dog in all ways. And it does not get experience points. Exactly, and as it will always remain a normal dog, it will be killed by a random fireball in a few levels. Unfortunately, having a pet, or even a non-magical mount, is not a very long-term thing in D&D.