Wild empathy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Wild empathy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Jason Snyder
07-16-07, 08:12 AM Ok, this is kind of a dumb question, but I just want to check if I ruled on this correctly.

Party enters room with monitor lizard in it. The lizard isn't trained as an attack animal or anything. It's just there to eat whatever happens by. It starts out as "unfriendly". Everyone rolls initiative. The party's druid goes before the lizard. The druid attempts to use her Wild Empathy ability. Her check comes up as 18, which is sufficient to change Unfriendly to Indifferent.

1) So... what happens next? I just had the lizard sit there and the party was able to bypass the lizard. Is that correct? Would the lizard attack the party, but be friendly with the druid?

2) The party comes back that way again. Is the lizard still pacified?

3) Should the party get experience for the encounter? From the DMG, it seems to indicate that since they were able to go on and do what they were trying to do (get past the lizard to get on with the quest), they should receive experience pts. That's fine, but it does seem to greatly trivialize the encounter.

Thanks.

Jason
Magic_is_Mighty
07-16-07, 10:01 AM I'm guessing that the Lizard would only be friendly towards the druid. However, If you are the DM then its up to you but I think that the Wild Empathy would only work for the druid. If the DM allows you could possibly roll again however it would be an empathy check for your entire group. :D
Bihlbo
07-16-07, 11:34 AM I don't like it when one check bypasses a foe. Even when you charm someone you should be required to adequately roleplay how you charmed the person and there should be a reason why you could be allowed to get away.

I would have done this:
The lizard is indifferent to the druid, but will still be willing to attack everyone else.
The druid would need to use animal handling to get the lizard to avoid everyone else, but this should be fairly easy since the lizard is outnumbered by threatening-looking and larger foes (just going by what I've seen lizards do).
Lizards are really dumb, even for animals. When the group returns, the druid would be wise to enter alone in case the lizard forgot his/her scent, and try again if need be (+2 or higher DM's judgement bonus to the Wild Empathy check). If the group had some meat (like from killing a foe), that would ensure success for the Animal Handling check to get it to leave everyone alone.
If the druid failed at any point, a fight ensues.

And then yes, they would get XP for the encounter.
Jason Snyder
07-16-07, 02:58 PM I don't like it when one check bypasses a foe. Even when you charm someone you should be required to adequately roleplay how you charmed the person and there should be a reason why you could be allowed to get away.

I would have done this:
The lizard is indifferent to the druid, but will still be willing to attack everyone else.
The druid would need to use animal handling to get the lizard to avoid everyone else, but this should be fairly easy since the lizard is outnumbered by threatening-looking and larger foes (just going by what I've seen lizards do).
Lizards are really dumb, even for animals. When the group returns, the druid would be wise to enter alone in case the lizard forgot his/her scent, and try again if need be (+2 or higher DM's judgement bonus to the Wild Empathy check). If the group had some meat (like from killing a foe), that would ensure success for the Animal Handling check to get it to leave everyone alone.
If the druid failed at any point, a fight ensues.

And then yes, they would get XP for the encounter.

That sounds like a good plan... I like it. Too late now, but for future wild animal encounters it sounds like a good idea.

Thanks!
BW0222
07-16-07, 05:45 PM Jason Snyder

Party enters room with monitor lizard in it. The lizard isn't trained as an attack animal or anything. It's just there to eat whatever happens by. It starts out as "unfriendly". Everyone rolls initiative. The party's druid goes before the lizard. The druid attempts to use her Wild Empathy ability. Her check comes up as 18, which is sufficient to change Unfriendly to Indifferent.

Wild empathy works like a diplomacy check. That takes full minute (ten rounds), or a full round action at -10. Typically, it is useless once you start combat, since it may already be hostile and not listening to you by the time you finish. There is no point in rolling initiative unless one side is going to attack.

More likely scenerio, party looks into a room and sees a monitor lizard on a rock. Druid says, "I'll handle it.". Druid enters the room and over the next minute tries giving it some food, making lizard sounds, tries to keep it calm, etc. Lizard no longer considers the druid (or likely his party) as a threat.

1) So... what happens next? I just had the lizard sit there and the party was able to bypass the lizard. Is that correct? Would the lizard attack the party, but be friendly with the druid?

Unless the party is doing something to possible make the lizard hostile, no. Assuming the party wasn't waving torches, remains calm, weren't swinging swords, etc. the lizard should have no reason to attack them. Druid might be able to (using the push skill under handle animal) to get the lizard to move to a corner. Maybe it follows the druid for a bit looking for more food. Maybe it sits there crewing on peanut butter for a half hour.

2) The party comes back that way again. Is the lizard still pacified?

Depends. Typical lizard likely wouldn't remember the druid after a few hours, then again, maybe the food was really tasty? Typically, it would be indifferent again.

3) Should the party get experience for the encounter? From the DMG, it seems to indicate that since they were able to go on and do what they were trying to do (get past the lizard to get on with the quest), they should receive experience pts. That's fine, but it does seem to greatly trivialize the encounter.

Typically yes. Unless the goal was to kill the lizards in the cave, then they should get XP for sneaking past it, charming it, tricking their way around it, etc. Depending upon the situation you might give more or less XP. For example, leaving a potentially dangerous monster behind them might not be too smart if they have to flee (without the druid) back through here. On the flip side, it might actually keep folks from following them. Overall, typically it would be the same XP as for killing it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jason Snyder 07-16-07, 08:12 AM	Ok, this is kind of a dumb question, but I just want to check if I ruled on this correctly. Party enters room with monitor lizard in it. The lizard isn't trained as an attack animal or anything. It's just there to eat whatever happens by. It starts out as "unfriendly". Everyone rolls initiative. The party's druid goes before the lizard. The druid attempts to use her Wild Empathy ability. Her check comes up as 18, which is sufficient to change Unfriendly to Indifferent. 1) So... what happens next? I just had the lizard sit there and the party was able to bypass the lizard. Is that correct? Would the lizard attack the party, but be friendly with the druid? 2) The party comes back that way again. Is the lizard still pacified? 3) Should the party get experience for the encounter? From the DMG, it seems to indicate that since they were able to go on and do what they were trying to do (get past the lizard to get on with the quest), they should receive experience pts. That's fine, but it does seem to greatly trivialize the encounter. Thanks. Jason
Magic_is_Mighty 07-16-07, 10:01 AM	I'm guessing that the Lizard would only be friendly towards the druid. However, If you are the DM then its up to you but I think that the Wild Empathy would only work for the druid. If the DM allows you could possibly roll again however it would be an empathy check for your entire group. :D
Bihlbo 07-16-07, 11:34 AM	I don't like it when one check bypasses a foe. Even when you charm someone you should be required to adequately roleplay how you charmed the person and there should be a reason why you could be allowed to get away. I would have done this: The lizard is indifferent to the druid, but will still be willing to attack everyone else. The druid would need to use animal handling to get the lizard to avoid everyone else, but this should be fairly easy since the lizard is outnumbered by threatening-looking and larger foes (just going by what I've seen lizards do). Lizards are really dumb, even for animals. When the group returns, the druid would be wise to enter alone in case the lizard forgot his/her scent, and try again if need be (+2 or higher DM's judgement bonus to the Wild Empathy check). If the group had some meat (like from killing a foe), that would ensure success for the Animal Handling check to get it to leave everyone alone. If the druid failed at any point, a fight ensues. And then yes, they would get XP for the encounter.
Jason Snyder 07-16-07, 02:58 PM	I don't like it when one check bypasses a foe. Even when you charm someone you should be required to adequately roleplay how you charmed the person and there should be a reason why you could be allowed to get away. I would have done this: The lizard is indifferent to the druid, but will still be willing to attack everyone else. The druid would need to use animal handling to get the lizard to avoid everyone else, but this should be fairly easy since the lizard is outnumbered by threatening-looking and larger foes (just going by what I've seen lizards do). Lizards are really dumb, even for animals. When the group returns, the druid would be wise to enter alone in case the lizard forgot his/her scent, and try again if need be (+2 or higher DM's judgement bonus to the Wild Empathy check). If the group had some meat (like from killing a foe), that would ensure success for the Animal Handling check to get it to leave everyone alone. If the druid failed at any point, a fight ensues. And then yes, they would get XP for the encounter. That sounds like a good plan... I like it. Too late now, but for future wild animal encounters it sounds like a good idea. Thanks!
BW0222 07-16-07, 05:45 PM	Jason Snyder Party enters room with monitor lizard in it. The lizard isn't trained as an attack animal or anything. It's just there to eat whatever happens by. It starts out as "unfriendly". Everyone rolls initiative. The party's druid goes before the lizard. The druid attempts to use her Wild Empathy ability. Her check comes up as 18, which is sufficient to change Unfriendly to Indifferent. Wild empathy works like a diplomacy check. That takes full minute (ten rounds), or a full round action at -10. Typically, it is useless once you start combat, since it may already be hostile and not listening to you by the time you finish. There is no point in rolling initiative unless one side is going to attack. More likely scenerio, party looks into a room and sees a monitor lizard on a rock. Druid says, "I'll handle it.". Druid enters the room and over the next minute tries giving it some food, making lizard sounds, tries to keep it calm, etc. Lizard no longer considers the druid (or likely his party) as a threat. 1) So... what happens next? I just had the lizard sit there and the party was able to bypass the lizard. Is that correct? Would the lizard attack the party, but be friendly with the druid? Unless the party is doing something to possible make the lizard hostile, no. Assuming the party wasn't waving torches, remains calm, weren't swinging swords, etc. the lizard should have no reason to attack them. Druid might be able to (using the push skill under handle animal) to get the lizard to move to a corner. Maybe it follows the druid for a bit looking for more food. Maybe it sits there crewing on peanut butter for a half hour. 2) The party comes back that way again. Is the lizard still pacified? Depends. Typical lizard likely wouldn't remember the druid after a few hours, then again, maybe the food was really tasty? Typically, it would be indifferent again. 3) Should the party get experience for the encounter? From the DMG, it seems to indicate that since they were able to go on and do what they were trying to do (get past the lizard to get on with the quest), they should receive experience pts. That's fine, but it does seem to greatly trivialize the encounter. Typically yes. Unless the goal was to kill the lizards in the cave, then they should get XP for sneaking past it, charming it, tricking their way around it, etc. Depending upon the situation you might give more or less XP. For example, leaving a potentially dangerous monster behind them might not be too smart if they have to flee (without the druid) back through here. On the flip side, it might actually keep folks from following them. Overall, typically it would be the same XP as for killing it.