Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DarkKnight 04-16-07, 01:18 PM	Ok, so I have a favor that allows me to train an animal (a special dog) up to the maximum number of tricks that it can learn (being 6 in this case) so I'm wondering how many tricks "Trained for War" counts as and what tricks it's made up of? Thanks
bitznarf 04-16-07, 03:23 PM	There is no solid answer to this. 'Trained for war' is never defined anywhere in rulebook. When WotC Customer Service is asked what it means, they respond with 'ask your DM.' Our DM's (the Circle) have said that they are not allowed to make a ruling on this, and thus, it is up the each individual DM. I have seen rulings as broad as 'if it has the attack trick, it is trained for war' to 'it is never defined, therefore it cannot be achieved.' I think the most consistent you can get is using the 'war'animals, ie. heavy warhorse, light warhorse, war pony, and riding dog. Most DM's I have played with have allowed those ones to be considered 'trained for war.' But, as always, expect extreme table variation.
eloiwyn 04-20-07, 01:30 PM	I don't have any books with me at the moment, but I believe you can find what you need under the Handle Animal skill entry-- there is something in there about training animals for a "purpose". There is one "purpose" called something along the lines of combat riding, and I think one just for fighting in general. Each purpose includes a set of tricks-- these sets max out at six tricks since that's the normal max for a 2-Int animal. I know that the combat riding "purpose" talks about upgrading animals not otherwise trained for combat, and I would infer from this that a mount trained for combat riding would count as "trained for war" and would not spook in battle. The trick set includes "attack", so you could probably argue that an animal so trained could be commanded to attack on its own, but there might be a better "purpose" option for an animal you want trained to fight but not necessarily as a mount. --Eloiwyn
bitznarf 04-20-07, 04:25 PM	While this position is entirely valid from an individual DM's viewpoint, the rules don't actually mention 'trained for war' in any handle animal section in any book, Core or otherwise. Do I believe that the 'combat riding purpose' covers 'trained for war'? Yes. Do all judges? No. And the reason I have heard for this is because the rules don't say that it makes them 'trained for war,' it does say 'trained for combat riding.' The argument goes that if the writers meant 'trained for war' they would have said so. Also note that an animal that is trained for war is proficient with all armor, whereas one that is not trained for war takes the non-proficiency penalty all around. All I am trying to say here is that just because one interpretation is logical, well thought out, and makes sense does not mean that other interpretations are wrong.
KShaver 04-20-07, 04:30 PM	Assuming you are looking for 'trained for war' because thats the requirement for it to make trips attacks then it is not currently answered. Last years LGCS had a specific section on this point. You're even more SOL if its for armor proficiencies as bitznarf suggested. Most GMs will allow an animal to count as trained for war if it has the fighting, combat riding, or guarding trick sets. Some GMs might still require seperate trick expendiature (I think it was 2 tricks?) for the trip attack as per the previous LGCS.
Timlagor 04-20-07, 10:16 PM	It was 2 tricks for trained for war in the old LGCS which was horribly overpriced. I allow Trained for war if you have the Attack Unnatural Creatures trick (ie Attack trick x2).
Mystical_Tutor 04-21-07, 10:12 AM	For what it is worth, from WotC CS when I asked that question some time ago: *********** Subject Train for War Discussion Thread Response (Zephreum H.) 07/30/2006 10:54 AM Thank you for contacting us. Since there is no specific entry for "trained for war" You use the 'fighting purpose' in the Handle Animals section. Take Care! Zephreum. Customer Service Representative Wizards of the Coast 1-800-324-6496 (US and Canada) 425-204-8069 (From all other countries) Monday-Friday 7am-6pm PST / 10am-9pm EST