Animals and war training [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animals and war training [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
chitzk0i
02-07-06, 10:29 AM Let's say I have a camel and I train it for war. Is its bite attack still considered a secondary attack? If not, would it get 1 1/2 times its strength bonus to damage?
Jack Greylock
02-07-06, 04:39 PM I assume by training the camel for war, you mean Combat Riding. If you look under the Handle animal skill you’ll see all the things that you get from training an animal for Combat Riding.

Combat Riding (DC 20): An animal trained to bear a rider into combat knows the tricks attack, come, defend, down, guard, and heel. Training an animal for combat riding takes six weeks. You may also “upgrade” an animal trained for riding to one trained for combat riding by spending three weeks and making a successful DC 20 Handle Animal check. The new general purpose and tricks completely replace the animal’s previous purpose and any tricks it once knew.

You’ll note that no where in this does it mention making a secondary attack a primary one. However there has been some discussion on the boards about whether or not this gives the animal any of the Armor feats, unfortunately this is not in the rules and so while I will allow a person who has trained their Camel for combat riding to use barding, it is technically a house rule. That said I would not house rule to change the camels only attack to a primary one when the MM is very specific that it only gets a secondary attack. But that is just me.
Arcticflare
02-07-06, 04:43 PM I wouldn't think the bite would be any more effective. It's still herbivorous by nature, and it's teeth are not designed to chew flesh. It also has an unusual jaw makeup, which would make it even harder to bite offensively.
chitzk0i
02-07-06, 05:19 PM What I mean is that heavy horses' hooves are secondary attacks, while heavy warhorses' hooves are primary attacks. Warhorses are "trained and bred for strength and aggression" <http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/horse.htm#warhorseHeavy>, but how many of the differences are due to training? If so, would that be Combat Rinding?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
chitzk0i 02-07-06, 10:29 AM	Let's say I have a camel and I train it for war. Is its bite attack still considered a secondary attack? If not, would it get 1 1/2 times its strength bonus to damage?
Jack Greylock 02-07-06, 04:39 PM	I assume by training the camel for war, you mean Combat Riding. If you look under the Handle animal skill you’ll see all the things that you get from training an animal for Combat Riding. Combat Riding (DC 20): An animal trained to bear a rider into combat knows the tricks attack, come, defend, down, guard, and heel. Training an animal for combat riding takes six weeks. You may also “upgrade” an animal trained for riding to one trained for combat riding by spending three weeks and making a successful DC 20 Handle Animal check. The new general purpose and tricks completely replace the animal’s previous purpose and any tricks it once knew. You’ll note that no where in this does it mention making a secondary attack a primary one. However there has been some discussion on the boards about whether or not this gives the animal any of the Armor feats, unfortunately this is not in the rules and so while I will allow a person who has trained their Camel for combat riding to use barding, it is technically a house rule. That said I would not house rule to change the camels only attack to a primary one when the MM is very specific that it only gets a secondary attack. But that is just me.
Arcticflare 02-07-06, 04:43 PM	I wouldn't think the bite would be any more effective. It's still herbivorous by nature, and it's teeth are not designed to chew flesh. It also has an unusual jaw makeup, which would make it even harder to bite offensively.
chitzk0i 02-07-06, 05:19 PM	What I mean is that heavy horses' hooves are secondary attacks, while heavy warhorses' hooves are primary attacks. Warhorses are "trained and bred for strength and aggression" <http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/horse.htm#warhorseHeavy>, but how many of the differences are due to training? If so, would that be Combat Rinding?