Do Animal Companions/Familiars/Special Mounts Get there own turn? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Do Animal Companions/Familiars/Special Mounts Get there own turn? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
kyros_the_spawnslayer
05-02-07, 11:28 AM The title pretty much explains it. A while back I asked this question but apparently the archive doesn't have it anyone. So if you could provide some answers, again, I would appreciate it.
chiefcastor
05-02-07, 11:43 AM Honestly, I do not know if there is a actual rule about this.

I believe that they should go on their own initiative.

However, because most of the time a "master" has to tell them to attack they initiative will be the same as the player that owns them.

For this reason in my games animal companions/familiars/etc... always go on their owners turn. Its just easier.
kjenks
05-02-07, 11:45 AM All of these act on the master's turn. For mounts, there's an explicit rule for it. For the others, every table I've played at does it that way, even though I don't know of an explicit rule.

SRD
===
Your mount acts on your initiative count as you direct it.
===

I've seen tables where cohorts act on the master's turn, too, but I've also seen tables where the cohort acts on his own initiative. But I've never played at a table where the animal companion, familiar or mount acts on its own initiative.
kyros_the_spawnslayer
05-02-07, 01:03 PM Alright so that means that if you are a druid with a wolf animal companion he gets to take the same number of actions that its master can, such as if the wolf does a full attack and the druid is casting a spell.
Beware of Kobold
05-02-07, 01:11 PM only mounts act on the same turn as the character that "owns" them because it specifies that they do in the rules regarding mounted combat. Other animals such as companions and familiars get their own initiative rolls. Keep in mind however that animal companions are still just dumb animals with an int of 2 so they wont normally act until directed to by their master (using a handle animal check), meaning they probably delay until their master's turn, then act as directed. Familiars are intelligent creatures and can think for themselves but usually can't speak or understand the same language as the master, (and emapthic link does NOT convey language, just general emotions so it cannot be used to communicate verbally or even semi-complex ideas) so familiars will usually be acting on their own.
mvincent
05-02-07, 04:13 PM From the Rules of the Game (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20070109a):
" * A trained animal acts on its handler's initiative number.

The rules don't specifically mention this, but the handler must act to command the animal, and that has to happen on the handler's turn. You may want to have a trained animal delay its action at least until the handler has a chance to act."
kjenks
05-02-07, 04:31 PM Alright so that means that if you are a druid with a wolf animal companion he gets to take the same number of actions that its master can, such as if the wolf does a full attack and the druid is casting a spell.

Yes.

A full attack for a wolf is usually just a single bite, but I know what you're asking. (Have the druid Share Spells while casting Beast Claws and the wolf now has two attacks in a full attack action.)

I hesistate to use the Rules of the Game articles for anything at all since they often contain errors and differences from the core rules.
icnivad
05-02-07, 04:53 PM In my game, mounts act on their masters turn. For animal companions, I let the druid and his animal companion have their own initiative rolls, but the companion must be instructed by the druid, thus delaying his turn to directly after the druids. Generally, the player rolls initiative for both, takes the lowest, and uses that for himself and his companion. He can, however, if he wants, go before the companion, he just rarely does in order to keep the game flowing.
mvincent
05-02-07, 04:54 PM I hesistate to use the Rules of the Game articles for anything at all since they often contain errors and differences from the core rules.If one is uncertain about the core rules (i.e. RAW is subject to interpretation for them), then the RotG can at least provide an answer (an official one, at that). If one is already certain they know the answer, then they have no need for the RotG anyway.

Providing any relevant information is to be encouraged here. If it contradicts RAW, then we can point out where (in fact, here the RotG quote itself even pointed out that the rules didn't actually say this), but complaining about an extra, free, official rules source isn't constructive.

i.e. Get off your high horse (especially if it has a low init)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kyros_the_spawnslayer 05-02-07, 11:28 AM	The title pretty much explains it. A while back I asked this question but apparently the archive doesn't have it anyone. So if you could provide some answers, again, I would appreciate it.
chiefcastor 05-02-07, 11:43 AM	Honestly, I do not know if there is a actual rule about this. I believe that they should go on their own initiative. However, because most of the time a "master" has to tell them to attack they initiative will be the same as the player that owns them. For this reason in my games animal companions/familiars/etc... always go on their owners turn. Its just easier.
kjenks 05-02-07, 11:45 AM	All of these act on the master's turn. For mounts, there's an explicit rule for it. For the others, every table I've played at does it that way, even though I don't know of an explicit rule. SRD === Your mount acts on your initiative count as you direct it. === I've seen tables where cohorts act on the master's turn, too, but I've also seen tables where the cohort acts on his own initiative. But I've never played at a table where the animal companion, familiar or mount acts on its own initiative.
kyros_the_spawnslayer 05-02-07, 01:03 PM	Alright so that means that if you are a druid with a wolf animal companion he gets to take the same number of actions that its master can, such as if the wolf does a full attack and the druid is casting a spell.
Beware of Kobold 05-02-07, 01:11 PM	only mounts act on the same turn as the character that "owns" them because it specifies that they do in the rules regarding mounted combat. Other animals such as companions and familiars get their own initiative rolls. Keep in mind however that animal companions are still just dumb animals with an int of 2 so they wont normally act until directed to by their master (using a handle animal check), meaning they probably delay until their master's turn, then act as directed. Familiars are intelligent creatures and can think for themselves but usually can't speak or understand the same language as the master, (and emapthic link does NOT convey language, just general emotions so it cannot be used to communicate verbally or even semi-complex ideas) so familiars will usually be acting on their own.
mvincent 05-02-07, 04:13 PM	From the Rules of the Game (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20070109a): " * A trained animal acts on its handler's initiative number. The rules don't specifically mention this, but the handler must act to command the animal, and that has to happen on the handler's turn. You may want to have a trained animal delay its action at least until the handler has a chance to act."
kjenks 05-02-07, 04:31 PM	Alright so that means that if you are a druid with a wolf animal companion he gets to take the same number of actions that its master can, such as if the wolf does a full attack and the druid is casting a spell. Yes. A full attack for a wolf is usually just a single bite, but I know what you're asking. (Have the druid Share Spells while casting Beast Claws and the wolf now has two attacks in a full attack action.) I hesistate to use the Rules of the Game articles for anything at all since they often contain errors and differences from the core rules.
icnivad 05-02-07, 04:53 PM	In my game, mounts act on their masters turn. For animal companions, I let the druid and his animal companion have their own initiative rolls, but the companion must be instructed by the druid, thus delaying his turn to directly after the druids. Generally, the player rolls initiative for both, takes the lowest, and uses that for himself and his companion. He can, however, if he wants, go before the companion, he just rarely does in order to keep the game flowing.
mvincent 05-02-07, 04:54 PM	I hesistate to use the Rules of the Game articles for anything at all since they often contain errors and differences from the core rules.If one is uncertain about the core rules (i.e. RAW is subject to interpretation for them), then the RotG can at least provide an answer (an official one, at that). If one is already certain they know the answer, then they have no need for the RotG anyway. Providing any relevant information is to be encouraged here. If it contradicts RAW, then we can point out where (in fact, here the RotG quote itself even pointed out that the rules didn't actually say this), but complaining about an extra, free, official rules source isn't constructive. i.e. Get off your high horse (especially if it has a low init)