Riding Dogs and Guard Dogs [Archive] - Wizards Community

Riding Dogs and Guard Dogs [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kefnab
02-17-04, 09:35 PM Chapter 6 of the LG Campaign Sourcebook talks about adventuring animals. Advice often given to newbies is that they should buy a war-trained riding dog (giving it the trip attack).

All of the information in the PHB and LGCS seem to talk about riding dogs, but there are also guard dogs. I have a player that wants to buy one of those...as far as I can tell, they both start with attack - the guard dog can also come trained with trip because it's intelligence would seem the same as a riding dog. Am I missing something? Why 25gp for the guard dog and 150gp for the riding dog?

Is a guard dog's stats those of the dog listed on page 271 of the MM whereas the riding dog is stronger (on 272)?

I would appreciate if someone were to show the differences between the guard dog and riding dog. ALSO, would they both have the same effect upon the APL?

Thanks,
Clayton
scaryfroman
02-18-04, 12:47 AM it seems to me that only the riding dog is trained for riding.
that in itself makes a huge difference.
have you ever tried to ride an untrained dog?
not a pretty picture
Simpi
02-18-04, 09:09 AM Originally posted by Kefnab

I would appreciate if someone were to show the differences between the guard dog and riding dog. ALSO, would they both have the same effect upon the APL?

Thanks,
Clayton

Just some of the differences:

Size: Guard dog is small, riding dog medium.
Damage: Guard dog d4+1, riding dog d6+3
Hitpoints: 6 vs 13.
CR: 1/3 vs. 1 (huge difference on APL)

It should be clearly marked on mosnter manual that under Animals/dog, there are two entries.
Smaller, weaker guard dog costs 25gp, riding dog is 150gp.
Marcia_S
02-19-04, 05:50 AM The war/riding dog is a big honking dog, think Malumut (sp?), Great Dane, Mastiff, or Saint Bernard. They typically weigh over 160 pounds. The hunting dog can be anything from a Terrier or Yorkie to an Irish Setter. (Even had someone pull one out of their backpack with an "I Have That" card, which does not say that it CAN'T be a living creature, just that it's got to be on that table and under 8 pounds.)

It's great for low-levels to have one or more dogs, BUT controlling them is another matter. It takes a Handle Animal or untrained charisma check to get them to go into combat even IF they are "trained for war", and they won't go after unnatural creatures, at all. HOWEVER, you can still have them by your side to take AoOs on anyone who tries to charge or attack you. We also use the dogs to track when there is absolutely no one in the party with the tracking skill.

Marcia
Entrigan
02-20-04, 12:26 AM Not to mention, after a long hard day of travel nothing tastes better than dead puppy meat tenderized by a hill giant.

ooooo....I gotta go this is making me hungry for PUPPY!
Preacher of barbs
02-23-04, 04:06 AM Bah!
I made a sock puppet out of a guard dog who attacked me.
He's nice now.
His name is Skinny.
I use him to get nice with the kiddies!
Kids love puppets!

Did I mention my character is a necromancer?

PoB
Kefnab
02-24-04, 12:29 AM Originally posted by Marcia_S
It takes a Handle Animal or untrained charisma check to get them to go into combat even IF they are "trained for war", and they won't go after unnatural creatures, at all.

My understanding is that you can automatically have the dog either know "trip" or have them attack unnatural creatures (as per the PHB p74)

What kinds of animal training require documentation?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kefnab 02-17-04, 09:35 PM	Chapter 6 of the LG Campaign Sourcebook talks about adventuring animals. Advice often given to newbies is that they should buy a war-trained riding dog (giving it the trip attack). All of the information in the PHB and LGCS seem to talk about riding dogs, but there are also guard dogs. I have a player that wants to buy one of those...as far as I can tell, they both start with attack - the guard dog can also come trained with trip because it's intelligence would seem the same as a riding dog. Am I missing something? Why 25gp for the guard dog and 150gp for the riding dog? Is a guard dog's stats those of the dog listed on page 271 of the MM whereas the riding dog is stronger (on 272)? I would appreciate if someone were to show the differences between the guard dog and riding dog. ALSO, would they both have the same effect upon the APL? Thanks, Clayton
scaryfroman 02-18-04, 12:47 AM	it seems to me that only the riding dog is trained for riding. that in itself makes a huge difference. have you ever tried to ride an untrained dog? not a pretty picture
Simpi 02-18-04, 09:09 AM	Originally posted by Kefnab I would appreciate if someone were to show the differences between the guard dog and riding dog. ALSO, would they both have the same effect upon the APL? Thanks, Clayton Just some of the differences: Size: Guard dog is small, riding dog medium. Damage: Guard dog d4+1, riding dog d6+3 Hitpoints: 6 vs 13. CR: 1/3 vs. 1 (huge difference on APL) It should be clearly marked on mosnter manual that under Animals/dog, there are two entries. Smaller, weaker guard dog costs 25gp, riding dog is 150gp.
Marcia_S 02-19-04, 05:50 AM	The war/riding dog is a big honking dog, think Malumut (sp?), Great Dane, Mastiff, or Saint Bernard. They typically weigh over 160 pounds. The hunting dog can be anything from a Terrier or Yorkie to an Irish Setter. (Even had someone pull one out of their backpack with an "I Have That" card, which does not say that it CAN'T be a living creature, just that it's got to be on that table and under 8 pounds.) It's great for low-levels to have one or more dogs, BUT controlling them is another matter. It takes a Handle Animal or untrained charisma check to get them to go into combat even IF they are "trained for war", and they won't go after unnatural creatures, at all. HOWEVER, you can still have them by your side to take AoOs on anyone who tries to charge or attack you. We also use the dogs to track when there is absolutely no one in the party with the tracking skill. Marcia
Entrigan 02-20-04, 12:26 AM	Not to mention, after a long hard day of travel nothing tastes better than dead puppy meat tenderized by a hill giant. ooooo....I gotta go this is making me hungry for PUPPY!
Preacher of barbs 02-23-04, 04:06 AM	Bah! I made a sock puppet out of a guard dog who attacked me. He's nice now. His name is Skinny. I use him to get nice with the kiddies! Kids love puppets! Did I mention my character is a necromancer? PoB
Kefnab 02-24-04, 12:29 AM	Originally posted by Marcia_S It takes a Handle Animal or untrained charisma check to get them to go into combat even IF they are "trained for war", and they won't go after unnatural creatures, at all. My understanding is that you can automatically have the dog either know "trip" or have them attack unnatural creatures (as per the PHB p74) What kinds of animal training require documentation?