Animal Companions and Bought Animals [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animal Companions and Bought Animals [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
zoombaba
07-08-05, 04:58 PM I have player who bought a guard dog for 200 gp. I was busy working with another player, so I didn't want to slow the game down to figure out how to deal with the dog. Long story short, he manuevered the dog like it was his PC, it gave him an extra attack, extra damage, it was way unbalancing.

I know what I did wrong now that I checked up the rules on animal companion in the DMG. I'll be enforcing Handle Animal rolls, taking an action to make any serious commands, and so on.

Here what I don't get -- I don't see what's wrong with buying an attack dog, but really, what's the difference here and the animal companion? Shouldn't the attack dog be even more limited than an animal companion? Or can a player really buy a class ability for 200 gp?
Chobemaster
07-08-05, 05:11 PM The attack dog is less loyal than an animal companion, and should probably be treated as an NPC ally and controlled by the DM.
Thoronmir
07-08-05, 05:23 PM I have player who bought a guard dog for 200 gp. I was busy working with another player, so I didn't want to slow the game down to figure out how to deal with the dog. Long story short, he maneuvered the dog like it was his PC, it gave him an extra attack, extra damage, it was way unbalancing.

I know what I did wrong now that I checked up the rules on animal companion in the DMG. I'll be enforcing Handle Animal rolls, taking an action to make any serious commands, and so on.

Here what I don't get -- I don't see what's wrong with buying an attack dog, but really, what's the difference here and the animal companion? Shouldn't the attack dog be even more limited than an animal companion? Or can a player really buy a class ability for 200 gp?First, unless he’s a Druid or a Ranger (at least level 4), he does not have an Animal Companion … he has a pet. Buying an animal does not make that animal a Companion … Druids’ and Rangers’ Companions receive benefits that ordinary animals do not. For one thing, they get to learn bonus tricks. Also, handling a Companion is a Free Action. Companions gain the benefit of spells that affect their masters. Just check out the Animal Companion blurb in the PHB under Druid and you’ll see all the ways Companions are superior to their brethren. However, keep in mind that Companions are not magical beasts or otherwise different from run-of-mill versions of their breed.

As you noted, Handle Animal requires a Move Action to control the animal. That means that Bob the Fighter can never use a Full Attack Option and handle Fido the Guard Dog in the same round. However, Bob need not handle Fido every round for Fido to attack … once Bob issues the Attack command, Fido will attack until he runs out of apparent enemies. But, if Bob wants to select Fido’s targets, Bob must handle Fido each time to change targets.

I would assume that a Guard Dog has been trained for a specific purpose within the meaning of the Handle Animal skill … specifically, trained to Guard. That means Fido knows the following tricks: Attack, Defend, Down, and Guard. Bob would have to train Fido to learn any more (assuming Fido has any unused slots for new tricks).

Handling an animal is pretty simple … it’s a DC 10 check for the beast to perform any trick he knows. However … and this may prove important … Handle Animal is a trained only skill. So, unless Bob has invested ranks in the skill, he still has a pet … but it’s a pet Bob can’t get to rollover much less attack.

Finally, the DM controls the animal. The PC can issue commands, but it’s for the DM to determine how the animal executes those commands.
kaldrin
07-08-05, 07:27 PM I was just going to point out that Animal Companions get all sorts of abilities and benefits as the character goes up in level. Having a pet will mean nothing when you're fighting a CR10 creature.

It's not that unbalancing. With the Handle Animal skill he can train it for a few tricks like track, attack and guard or something like that.

The main point is that the dog will always just be a dog and will not grow with the character.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
zoombaba 07-08-05, 04:58 PM	I have player who bought a guard dog for 200 gp. I was busy working with another player, so I didn't want to slow the game down to figure out how to deal with the dog. Long story short, he manuevered the dog like it was his PC, it gave him an extra attack, extra damage, it was way unbalancing. I know what I did wrong now that I checked up the rules on animal companion in the DMG. I'll be enforcing Handle Animal rolls, taking an action to make any serious commands, and so on. Here what I don't get -- I don't see what's wrong with buying an attack dog, but really, what's the difference here and the animal companion? Shouldn't the attack dog be even more limited than an animal companion? Or can a player really buy a class ability for 200 gp?
Chobemaster 07-08-05, 05:11 PM	The attack dog is less loyal than an animal companion, and should probably be treated as an NPC ally and controlled by the DM.
Thoronmir 07-08-05, 05:23 PM	I have player who bought a guard dog for 200 gp. I was busy working with another player, so I didn't want to slow the game down to figure out how to deal with the dog. Long story short, he maneuvered the dog like it was his PC, it gave him an extra attack, extra damage, it was way unbalancing. I know what I did wrong now that I checked up the rules on animal companion in the DMG. I'll be enforcing Handle Animal rolls, taking an action to make any serious commands, and so on. Here what I don't get -- I don't see what's wrong with buying an attack dog, but really, what's the difference here and the animal companion? Shouldn't the attack dog be even more limited than an animal companion? Or can a player really buy a class ability for 200 gp?First, unless he’s a Druid or a Ranger (at least level 4), he does not have an Animal Companion … he has a pet. Buying an animal does not make that animal a Companion … Druids’ and Rangers’ Companions receive benefits that ordinary animals do not. For one thing, they get to learn bonus tricks. Also, handling a Companion is a Free Action. Companions gain the benefit of spells that affect their masters. Just check out the Animal Companion blurb in the PHB under Druid and you’ll see all the ways Companions are superior to their brethren. However, keep in mind that Companions are not magical beasts or otherwise different from run-of-mill versions of their breed. As you noted, Handle Animal requires a Move Action to control the animal. That means that Bob the Fighter can never use a Full Attack Option and handle Fido the Guard Dog in the same round. However, Bob need not handle Fido every round for Fido to attack … once Bob issues the Attack command, Fido will attack until he runs out of apparent enemies. But, if Bob wants to select Fido’s targets, Bob must handle Fido each time to change targets. I would assume that a Guard Dog has been trained for a specific purpose within the meaning of the Handle Animal skill … specifically, trained to Guard. That means Fido knows the following tricks: Attack, Defend, Down, and Guard. Bob would have to train Fido to learn any more (assuming Fido has any unused slots for new tricks). Handling an animal is pretty simple … it’s a DC 10 check for the beast to perform any trick he knows. However … and this may prove important … Handle Animal is a trained only skill. So, unless Bob has invested ranks in the skill, he still has a pet … but it’s a pet Bob can’t get to rollover much less attack. Finally, the DM controls the animal. The PC can issue commands, but it’s for the DM to determine how the animal executes those commands.
kaldrin 07-08-05, 07:27 PM	I was just going to point out that Animal Companions get all sorts of abilities and benefits as the character goes up in level. Having a pet will mean nothing when you're fighting a CR10 creature. It's not that unbalancing. With the Handle Animal skill he can train it for a few tricks like track, attack and guard or something like that. The main point is that the dog will always just be a dog and will not grow with the character.