Handle Animal useful? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Handle Animal useful? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
FrostHammer
03-02-07, 08:36 PM Ok, so I've got a mount with an Intelligence of 6 or more higher than me. Do I still need the Handle Animal skill at all?
jameswilliamogle
03-02-07, 09:19 PM Your mount is smart enough to follow directions; whether or not they do is entirely up to your DM. Technically, they're supposed to play all NPCs, including mounts, cohorts, animal companions, familiars, etc., and act w/in character, but most DMs just pass control on for ease of play. If your mount is that much smarter than you, though, shouldn't it be riding you?
FrostHammer
03-02-07, 09:27 PM If your mount is that much smarter than you, though, shouldn't it be riding you?

Not until we marry, no.
FrostHammer
03-02-07, 10:07 PM On a somewhat related note, can my mount or I use "aid another" to help the other with attack rolls?

Like, my mount makes a charge attack. I use Aid Another to give it +2 on the charge roll.
jadehawk
03-02-07, 10:23 PM Well as long as you are both adjacent to the same foe (which would make sense because you're ridining on top of the mount) then you should be able to aid your mount's attack, or vice-versa. This is so long as the aider can expend a standard action to aid and make the AC 10 attack roll.

Btw, what is your character's intelligence and what is your mount? Just curious.
FrostHammer
03-02-07, 10:32 PM My character's Int is 12. The Dragon's Int varies according to age. Probably 18 Int is my guess. I'll be asking it for tactical advice.
jadehawk
03-02-07, 10:38 PM While asking for tactical advice you should dance around the subject of its treasure hoard.
paladin2019
03-02-07, 11:10 PM First, I believe Handle Animal only works on animals and, with a -4 IIRC penalty, magical beasts. [voice class = high and nasal]Dragons are right out.[/vc] Handle Animal is not usually of much use to the "default adventurer." this does not mean an adventurer cannot make use of it (ask the druids and rangers) or even make it a signature feature, but Ride is much more common to the heroic traditions that shape D&D. And very rarely will you have to make a Handle Animal rather than a Ride check to control a mount; it is more used for handling teams of draft animals and companion animals. As such, I see it is more common with NPC specialists (teamsters, charioteers, "howdah-eers" ;), etc) than PCs.
jadehawk
03-02-07, 11:17 PM First, I believe Handle Animal only works on animals and, with a -4 IIRC penalty, magical beasts. [voice class=high and nasal]Dragons are right out.[/vc] Handle Animal is not usually of much use to the "default adventurer." this does not mean an adventurer cannot make use of it (ask the druids and rangers) or even make it a signature feature, but Ride is much more common to the heroic traditions that shape D&D. And very rarely will you have to make a Handle Animal rather than a Ride check to control a mount; it is more used for handling teams of draft animals and companion animals. As such, I see it is more common with NPC specialists (teamsters, charioteers, "howdah-eers" ;), etc) than PCs.

you've got a point about the dragon, being of course a dragon and not an animal or magical animal. However, the dragon is going to act on its own so as long as you practice tactics ahead of time and keep up the communication in combat you should be able to handle the dragon appropriately without the skill.
paladin2019
03-02-07, 11:19 PM Allow myslef to clarify...myself. Handle Animal is mechanically useful to adventurers as the mechanism to direct "fighting pets" and animal companions and for specific concepts like a charioteer. There were feats to support a charioteer build in Sword and Fist. Don't know if they made to transition to Complete Warrior. It is also useful for flavor a background or professional skill (farmboy, teamster, etc.).

I personally like the skill.
jadehawk
03-02-07, 11:24 PM nice clarification, and i completely agree.
FrostHammer
03-03-07, 12:04 AM I also like it for the +2 synergy bonus to Ride. Plus it's needed for some rpestige classes I believe like Cavalier.

While asking for tactical advice you should dance around the subject of its treasure hoard.

Please clarify?
jadehawk
03-03-07, 12:08 AM dance around the subject of its treasure hoard, so you can take it from him...sorry i've been playing a rogue for 19 levels.
FrostHammer
03-03-07, 12:14 AM ASSo take it away from him by NOT asking him about it?

Inany case my dragon doesn't have a treasure hoard. My character raised it since it was a wyrmling. They are very fond of each other.
jadehawk
03-03-07, 12:19 AM ahhh...damn...then may i suggest getting your dragon to shack up with other dragons so that you can steal their hoards?
ShinQuickMan
03-03-07, 12:20 AM First, I believe Handle Animal only works on animals and, with a -4 IIRC penalty, magical beasts. [voice class = high and nasal]Dragons are right out.[/vc]

Not quite...

Special: You can use this skill on a creature with an Intelligence score of 1 or 2 that is not an animal, but the DC of any such check increases by 5. Such creatures have the same limit on tricks known as animals do.

Well, not saying that dragons with intelligence 1-2 are common, but its still possible (bestow curse, certain poisons, ability drain, etc.).
paladin2019
03-03-07, 12:30 AM Thanks. My books are packed and I'm going off memory here.
FrostHammer
03-03-07, 12:43 AM ahhh...damn...then may i suggest getting your dragon to shack up with other dragons so that you can steal their hoards?

My character probably wouldn't want my dragon to shack up with other dragon.

First of all, it'd probably violate her paladin code to use sex to get wealth.

Second of all, she might get jealous (she just doesn't know it yet)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
FrostHammer 03-02-07, 08:36 PM	Ok, so I've got a mount with an Intelligence of 6 or more higher than me. Do I still need the Handle Animal skill at all?
jameswilliamogle 03-02-07, 09:19 PM	Your mount is smart enough to follow directions; whether or not they do is entirely up to your DM. Technically, they're supposed to play all NPCs, including mounts, cohorts, animal companions, familiars, etc., and act w/in character, but most DMs just pass control on for ease of play. If your mount is that much smarter than you, though, shouldn't it be riding you?
FrostHammer 03-02-07, 09:27 PM	If your mount is that much smarter than you, though, shouldn't it be riding you? Not until we marry, no.
FrostHammer 03-02-07, 10:07 PM	On a somewhat related note, can my mount or I use "aid another" to help the other with attack rolls? Like, my mount makes a charge attack. I use Aid Another to give it +2 on the charge roll.
jadehawk 03-02-07, 10:23 PM	Well as long as you are both adjacent to the same foe (which would make sense because you're ridining on top of the mount) then you should be able to aid your mount's attack, or vice-versa. This is so long as the aider can expend a standard action to aid and make the AC 10 attack roll. Btw, what is your character's intelligence and what is your mount? Just curious.
FrostHammer 03-02-07, 10:32 PM	My character's Int is 12. The Dragon's Int varies according to age. Probably 18 Int is my guess. I'll be asking it for tactical advice.
jadehawk 03-02-07, 10:38 PM	While asking for tactical advice you should dance around the subject of its treasure hoard.
paladin2019 03-02-07, 11:10 PM	First, I believe Handle Animal only works on animals and, with a -4 IIRC penalty, magical beasts. [voice class = high and nasal]Dragons are right out.[/vc] Handle Animal is not usually of much use to the "default adventurer." this does not mean an adventurer cannot make use of it (ask the druids and rangers) or even make it a signature feature, but Ride is much more common to the heroic traditions that shape D&D. And very rarely will you have to make a Handle Animal rather than a Ride check to control a mount; it is more used for handling teams of draft animals and companion animals. As such, I see it is more common with NPC specialists (teamsters, charioteers, "howdah-eers" ;), etc) than PCs.
jadehawk 03-02-07, 11:17 PM	First, I believe Handle Animal only works on animals and, with a -4 IIRC penalty, magical beasts. [voice class=high and nasal]Dragons are right out.[/vc] Handle Animal is not usually of much use to the "default adventurer." this does not mean an adventurer cannot make use of it (ask the druids and rangers) or even make it a signature feature, but Ride is much more common to the heroic traditions that shape D&D. And very rarely will you have to make a Handle Animal rather than a Ride check to control a mount; it is more used for handling teams of draft animals and companion animals. As such, I see it is more common with NPC specialists (teamsters, charioteers, "howdah-eers" ;), etc) than PCs. you've got a point about the dragon, being of course a dragon and not an animal or magical animal. However, the dragon is going to act on its own so as long as you practice tactics ahead of time and keep up the communication in combat you should be able to handle the dragon appropriately without the skill.
paladin2019 03-02-07, 11:19 PM	Allow myslef to clarify...myself. Handle Animal is mechanically useful to adventurers as the mechanism to direct "fighting pets" and animal companions and for specific concepts like a charioteer. There were feats to support a charioteer build in Sword and Fist. Don't know if they made to transition to Complete Warrior. It is also useful for flavor a background or professional skill (farmboy, teamster, etc.). I personally like the skill.
jadehawk 03-02-07, 11:24 PM	nice clarification, and i completely agree.
FrostHammer 03-03-07, 12:04 AM	I also like it for the +2 synergy bonus to Ride. Plus it's needed for some rpestige classes I believe like Cavalier. While asking for tactical advice you should dance around the subject of its treasure hoard. Please clarify?
jadehawk 03-03-07, 12:08 AM	dance around the subject of its treasure hoard, so you can take it from him...sorry i've been playing a rogue for 19 levels.
FrostHammer 03-03-07, 12:14 AM	ASSo take it away from him by NOT asking him about it? Inany case my dragon doesn't have a treasure hoard. My character raised it since it was a wyrmling. They are very fond of each other.
jadehawk 03-03-07, 12:19 AM	ahhh...damn...then may i suggest getting your dragon to shack up with other dragons so that you can steal their hoards?
ShinQuickMan 03-03-07, 12:20 AM	First, I believe Handle Animal only works on animals and, with a -4 IIRC penalty, magical beasts. [voice class = high and nasal]Dragons are right out.[/vc] Not quite... Special: You can use this skill on a creature with an Intelligence score of 1 or 2 that is not an animal, but the DC of any such check increases by 5. Such creatures have the same limit on tricks known as animals do. Well, not saying that dragons with intelligence 1-2 are common, but its still possible (bestow curse, certain poisons, ability drain, etc.).
paladin2019 03-03-07, 12:30 AM	Thanks. My books are packed and I'm going off memory here.
FrostHammer 03-03-07, 12:43 AM	ahhh...damn...then may i suggest getting your dragon to shack up with other dragons so that you can steal their hoards? My character probably wouldn't want my dragon to shack up with other dragon. First of all, it'd probably violate her paladin code to use sex to get wealth. Second of all, she might get jealous (she just doesn't know it yet)