Animal Tricks and Handle Animal [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animal Tricks and Handle Animal [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
draolindroculic
03-13-07, 03:52 PM Ok, so I've been trying to find some different tricks to teach a capuchin(Organ Grinder Monkey) as a pet for a rogue/swashbuckler PC who's pretty much a pirate.
I want to teach him to move silently, hide, and to use Sleight of Hand to steal small objects off of unwitting NPCs.
How would I go about doing this?
Fetch works, but I specifically want to teach him to hide and move silently while he "Fetches" a coin purse.

Any ideas?
Vegepygmy
03-13-07, 05:28 PM Steal (DC 20): The animal goes and gets something, attempting to Hide and Move Silently while doing so, and using Sleight of Hand if it is guarded by or in the possession of another creature. If you do not point out a specific item, the animal steals some random object.
Slimgauge
03-13-07, 05:31 PM There's an article on the Wizard's site called "Random Encouters:Wild Life - Tricks and Training for D&D Animals" http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031125a

It has a trick called "Stalk" that uses Hide and Move Silently.

Stalk (DC 20): The animal follows a designated creature using the Hide and Move Silently skills to the best of its ability. It stays with the target until you call it off (normally accomplished with a whistle). If attacked by the designated creature, the animal attacks. If attacked by a different creature or severely wounded, the animal attempts to return to you.

Ask your DM about using your Handle Animal skill to combine the two (Stalk and Fetch) stringing them together serially. I'd suggest teaching the animal both tricks, then making a third HA skill check to teach the animal to combine them.

Note that you'll have to get your animal skill points to put into Hide, Move Silently and Sleight of Hand from somewhere else ...
Tonil
03-13-07, 08:36 PM The Complete Adventurer lists more tricks than are in the PHB. This list includes Steal, as listed above, and also the ability to train for the purpose of Thievery (DC20). This set of tricks includes fetch, heel, home, seek, steal, work.

Also, as you may know, your animal gets more skill points as they go up in HD, which you can allocate to move silent, hide, etc.
Slimgauge
03-13-07, 10:01 PM I'm afraid that's one of the books I don't have. Thanks for crediting the source. Since the OP says the monkey is a pet and not a familar/animal companion, I don't know how you'd get it to go up in HD to get it more skill points.
Tonil
03-13-07, 10:19 PM Since the OP says the monkey is a pet and not a familar/animal companion, I don't know how you'd get it to go up in HD to get it more skill points.

I don't know either. My bad.

In addition though, I think you should also teach the monkey ride. Then he can steal tacos and ride a dog to wherever you are to deliver them to you. :D
draolindroculic
03-14-07, 01:43 AM Done!
Mmmmm. Tacos.
mmmmmm

So I guess the next question is how to give animals skills, be they pets or animal companions. I didn't think druids actually gave bonuses to skill points to their animal companions.....

Thanks for the reference, I searched online and found no reference to Complete Adventurer. Good one to buy.
Vegepygmy
03-14-07, 02:43 AM The Complete Adventurer lists more tricks than are in the PHB. This list includes Steal, as listed above...Hmm. And here I thought I'd made up something original. Oh, well.
Nephlite
03-14-07, 09:09 AM Done!
Mmmmm. Tacos.
mmmmmm

So I guess the next question is how to give animals skills, be they pets or animal companions. I didn't think druids actually gave bonuses to skill points to their animal companions.....

Thanks for the reference, I searched online and found no reference to Complete Adventurer. Good one to buy.

Actually when the animal gain Animal Companion HD, they gain feats and skill points (level 3, etc).
Tonil
03-14-07, 08:55 PM So I guess the next question is how to give animals skills, be they pets or animal companions.

I guess if your pet got a feat, or if you assigned the feat yourself for some reason, you could give the pet one of the skill point boost feats from the PHB.

Just a thought, don't know if it works with the rules or how you could assign your pet a feat (i.e., except for animal companions or familiars).
Nephlite
03-14-07, 11:47 PM I guess if your pet got a feat, or if you assigned the feat yourself for some reason, you could give the pet one of the skill point boost feats from the PHB.

Just a thought, don't know if it works with the rules or how you could assign your pet a feat (i.e., except for animal companions or familiars).

Well, can't you just take the normal non-bonus feat they get and switch it? It is the animal's first level feat so you should be able to. That assumes DM allows you to get an animal a tiny bit different than average (different feat).
Vegepygmy
03-15-07, 11:56 AM Well, can't you just take the normal non-bonus feat they get and switch it?Sure, if the DM allows it.
arjomanes
03-15-07, 12:16 PM There is a web enhancement on the wizards site, which for the cost of a feat gives you a wild cohort, a slightly weaker version of a druid's animal companion. If your DM ok's this, this could be perfect for your monkey pet.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a

This feat allows advancement of your wild cohort, which then includes skills, feats, and bonus tricks, as well as extra HD, etc.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
draolindroculic 03-13-07, 03:52 PM	Ok, so I've been trying to find some different tricks to teach a capuchin(Organ Grinder Monkey) as a pet for a rogue/swashbuckler PC who's pretty much a pirate. I want to teach him to move silently, hide, and to use Sleight of Hand to steal small objects off of unwitting NPCs. How would I go about doing this? Fetch works, but I specifically want to teach him to hide and move silently while he "Fetches" a coin purse. Any ideas?
Vegepygmy 03-13-07, 05:28 PM	Steal (DC 20): The animal goes and gets something, attempting to Hide and Move Silently while doing so, and using Sleight of Hand if it is guarded by or in the possession of another creature. If you do not point out a specific item, the animal steals some random object.
Slimgauge 03-13-07, 05:31 PM	There's an article on the Wizard's site called "Random Encouters:Wild Life - Tricks and Training for D&D Animals" http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031125a It has a trick called "Stalk" that uses Hide and Move Silently. Stalk (DC 20): The animal follows a designated creature using the Hide and Move Silently skills to the best of its ability. It stays with the target until you call it off (normally accomplished with a whistle). If attacked by the designated creature, the animal attacks. If attacked by a different creature or severely wounded, the animal attempts to return to you. Ask your DM about using your Handle Animal skill to combine the two (Stalk and Fetch) stringing them together serially. I'd suggest teaching the animal both tricks, then making a third HA skill check to teach the animal to combine them. Note that you'll have to get your animal skill points to put into Hide, Move Silently and Sleight of Hand from somewhere else ...
Tonil 03-13-07, 08:36 PM	The Complete Adventurer lists more tricks than are in the PHB. This list includes Steal, as listed above, and also the ability to train for the purpose of Thievery (DC20). This set of tricks includes fetch, heel, home, seek, steal, work. Also, as you may know, your animal gets more skill points as they go up in HD, which you can allocate to move silent, hide, etc.
Slimgauge 03-13-07, 10:01 PM	I'm afraid that's one of the books I don't have. Thanks for crediting the source. Since the OP says the monkey is a pet and not a familar/animal companion, I don't know how you'd get it to go up in HD to get it more skill points.
Tonil 03-13-07, 10:19 PM	Since the OP says the monkey is a pet and not a familar/animal companion, I don't know how you'd get it to go up in HD to get it more skill points. I don't know either. My bad. In addition though, I think you should also teach the monkey ride. Then he can steal tacos and ride a dog to wherever you are to deliver them to you. :D
draolindroculic 03-14-07, 01:43 AM	Done! Mmmmm. Tacos. mmmmmm So I guess the next question is how to give animals skills, be they pets or animal companions. I didn't think druids actually gave bonuses to skill points to their animal companions..... Thanks for the reference, I searched online and found no reference to Complete Adventurer. Good one to buy.
Vegepygmy 03-14-07, 02:43 AM	The Complete Adventurer lists more tricks than are in the PHB. This list includes Steal, as listed above...Hmm. And here I thought I'd made up something original. Oh, well.
Nephlite 03-14-07, 09:09 AM	Done! Mmmmm. Tacos. mmmmmm So I guess the next question is how to give animals skills, be they pets or animal companions. I didn't think druids actually gave bonuses to skill points to their animal companions..... Thanks for the reference, I searched online and found no reference to Complete Adventurer. Good one to buy. Actually when the animal gain Animal Companion HD, they gain feats and skill points (level 3, etc).
Tonil 03-14-07, 08:55 PM	So I guess the next question is how to give animals skills, be they pets or animal companions. I guess if your pet got a feat, or if you assigned the feat yourself for some reason, you could give the pet one of the skill point boost feats from the PHB. Just a thought, don't know if it works with the rules or how you could assign your pet a feat (i.e., except for animal companions or familiars).
Nephlite 03-14-07, 11:47 PM	I guess if your pet got a feat, or if you assigned the feat yourself for some reason, you could give the pet one of the skill point boost feats from the PHB. Just a thought, don't know if it works with the rules or how you could assign your pet a feat (i.e., except for animal companions or familiars). Well, can't you just take the normal non-bonus feat they get and switch it? It is the animal's first level feat so you should be able to. That assumes DM allows you to get an animal a tiny bit different than average (different feat).
Vegepygmy 03-15-07, 11:56 AM	Well, can't you just take the normal non-bonus feat they get and switch it?Sure, if the DM allows it.
arjomanes 03-15-07, 12:16 PM	There is a web enhancement on the wizards site, which for the cost of a feat gives you a wild cohort, a slightly weaker version of a druid's animal companion. If your DM ok's this, this could be perfect for your monkey pet. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a This feat allows advancement of your wild cohort, which then includes skills, feats, and bonus tricks, as well as extra HD, etc.