Animal Companions question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animal Companions question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
royinator
12-08-07, 05:32 PM i didn't know where to put this.

when animals get more hit dice, ex: horse from paladin, do they also get corresponding skill points/feats? like a feat every 3 hit dice?
zeratulcraft
12-08-07, 06:04 PM Yes, those are real hit dice they're gaining. Familiars are the only companion type that do not gain additional feats and skills.
royinator
12-10-07, 03:47 PM thanks. here's another question:
paladins still need Handle Animal to control their mount, right? even though it's a "special mount", it can get frightened and go out of control. shouldn't you get a bonus on the check?
dman11235
12-11-07, 03:02 AM I believe they do need it. But usually they have a warhorse or something similar, so it's a moot point. There's also many a way to make your mount intelligent (celestial mount, etc.) so that's another way around it. At least, I think you don't need handle animal to control a warhorse in battle.
Suspect_Unusual
12-11-07, 03:13 AM Paladin mounts gain an intelligence score, and are no longer animals but magical beasts - thus, no more need for Handle Animal.

A paladin’s mount is treated as a magical beast, not an animal, for the purpose of all effects that depend on its type (though it retains an animal’s HD, base attack bonus, saves, skill points, and feats).

It also lists the intelligence of a 5th level paladin's mount as 6, and it increases as the paladin levels, of course.
dman11235
12-11-07, 04:25 PM Oh. So yeah, what he said. I can't believe I missed it.
Orenmir
12-11-07, 05:01 PM Paladin mounts gain an intelligence score, and are no longer animals but magical beasts - thus, no more need for Handle Animal.

Out of the Paladin context, that statement isn't completely true. A Driud can have an Animal Companion with a high Int score (a Magical Beast), but still needs to make Handle Animal checks to make it do tricks. Same for a Wild Cohort.

Let me know if I'm off base here, and cite the sourcepage. Animal Companions aren't my strong suit!
Orenmir
12-11-07, 07:18 PM Out of the Paladin context, that statement isn't completely true. A Driud can have an Animal Companion with a high Int score (a Magical Beast), but still needs to make Handle Animal checks to make it do tricks. Same for a Wild Cohort.

Let me know if I'm off base here, and cite the sourcepage. Animal Companions aren't my strong suit!

Now I'm curious if this is really true. And, not to completely hijack the thread, I've started my own. Please respond here:

http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?p=14560044#post14560044

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
royinator 12-08-07, 05:32 PM	i didn't know where to put this. when animals get more hit dice, ex: horse from paladin, do they also get corresponding skill points/feats? like a feat every 3 hit dice?
zeratulcraft 12-08-07, 06:04 PM	Yes, those are real hit dice they're gaining. Familiars are the only companion type that do not gain additional feats and skills.
royinator 12-10-07, 03:47 PM	thanks. here's another question: paladins still need Handle Animal to control their mount, right? even though it's a "special mount", it can get frightened and go out of control. shouldn't you get a bonus on the check?
dman11235 12-11-07, 03:02 AM	I believe they do need it. But usually they have a warhorse or something similar, so it's a moot point. There's also many a way to make your mount intelligent (celestial mount, etc.) so that's another way around it. At least, I think you don't need handle animal to control a warhorse in battle.
Suspect_Unusual 12-11-07, 03:13 AM	Paladin mounts gain an intelligence score, and are no longer animals but magical beasts - thus, no more need for Handle Animal. A paladin’s mount is treated as a magical beast, not an animal, for the purpose of all effects that depend on its type (though it retains an animal’s HD, base attack bonus, saves, skill points, and feats). It also lists the intelligence of a 5th level paladin's mount as 6, and it increases as the paladin levels, of course.
dman11235 12-11-07, 04:25 PM	Oh. So yeah, what he said. I can't believe I missed it.
Orenmir 12-11-07, 05:01 PM	Paladin mounts gain an intelligence score, and are no longer animals but magical beasts - thus, no more need for Handle Animal. Out of the Paladin context, that statement isn't completely true. A Driud can have an Animal Companion with a high Int score (a Magical Beast), but still needs to make Handle Animal checks to make it do tricks. Same for a Wild Cohort. Let me know if I'm off base here, and cite the sourcepage. Animal Companions aren't my strong suit!
Orenmir 12-11-07, 07:18 PM	Out of the Paladin context, that statement isn't completely true. A Driud can have an Animal Companion with a high Int score (a Magical Beast), but still needs to make Handle Animal checks to make it do tricks. Same for a Wild Cohort. Let me know if I'm off base here, and cite the sourcepage. Animal Companions aren't my strong suit! Now I'm curious if this is really true. And, not to completely hijack the thread, I've started my own. Please respond here: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?p=14560044#post14560044