Blink Dog Trouble [Archive] - Wizards Community

Blink Dog Trouble [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
CloudWalker
03-16-06, 08:36 PM Ok, I have this player (I campaign a game and play in several games) who absolutely is FANATIC about having a Blink Dog. It was fine at first, but now it's gotten to the point where he ruined a whole adventure.

At every plot point he'd ask, "Are there Blink Dogs here?" When I said, ONCE, yes, LOTS OF THEM, but that they were all dead, he immediately said he was going to find a ressurrection spell.

He's a Halfling Rogue, see, and he wants to be a Halfling Outrider. He's gone to EVERY town and asked "Is there a pet shop?" I've had him thrown out of many shops. Several times. It's seriously annoying.

If he had shut up and just taken levels in Halfling Outrider, I would have given him a Blink Dog. Or a war dog of some sort.

I've discussed it with him, penalized him for it--he simply will not stop. So, take a vote on it.

What's the best approach?

a.) Give him a Blink Dog and have it Blink to the Plane of Negative Energy.
b.) Give him a Blink Dog with Int of 0, making it, essentially, dead (or, so stupid as to go in the wrong direction).
c.) Give him an ancient Blink Dog too old to be ridden.
d.) Give him a Blink Dog, but then immediately cause a gust of wind to fly from nowhere and whisk him away to the to highest peak of our world, where he will ONLY have his Blink Dog to help him survive (nor armor or weapons).
e.) Take a bland approach and simply get rid of his character.
f.) Magically enhance the Blink Dog so he can never leave its back.
g.) Give him a Blink Dog but have it die the next session.
h.) Just give him a regular Blink Dog to shut him up (I don't like this way).
i.) Eradicate Blink Dogs from my world.
j.) Other?
tharivol266
03-16-06, 08:59 PM id say if he can figure out a way to communicate with it let him have one if he makes it want to join him. it has 10 int. just dont tell him(unless he asks) that the blink dog's teleportation(dimenion door ability) doesn't carry him too (see blink dog description) heck you might as well make it an adventure to find a relic that allows him to talk to blink dogs for oh say ten minutes a day divided as he chooses then have him work to find the blink dogs den. make him work for it rather than let it bug you. dont give up and just give one to him. and keep in mind that the blink dog is intelligent and wont follow his orders unconditionally.
Mock26
03-16-06, 09:04 PM I would say that you give him a blink dog and see what happens. If he shuts up and integrates the dog well with his character, that would be great. If not, then play it by ear. One possible outcome is that every time the dog blinks he doesn't blink with it. Or, he might take the dog into a fight that would scare the dog too much and the dog would refuse to move forward or possible flee.

One possiblity would be to give him a regular dog but with a magical collar that allows the dog's owner to blink the dog, but, it will only have a certain number of charges.

However, only give him the dog if you think his character deserves it. Don't give him a blink dog just to shut him up. That will condone his annoying activity for acquiring other things in the game.

Take care and have a great day....

ciao,
john.
Uratoh
03-16-06, 09:09 PM Arms & Equipment Guide, P. 82. 10K for a trained (well, negotiated with) blink dog. A Ring of Blinking will synchronize with the dog's blink.
CloudWalker
03-16-06, 09:21 PM When first he asked, I told him, "I'll look into it," but then I never got around to it, and this erupted. I finally did look into it, but by then I didn't think his attitude merited a Blink Dog.

I might just give it to him, and then see what results from so doing. But that would make it seem like ANYONE could beg for something and get it eventually. There's the dilemma. Life, and DnD, doesn't give you everything you ask for.
bholdr_mage
03-16-06, 09:34 PM Ah, yes the blink dog.

A fairly cunning critter, a character of mine had a young blink dog pup early in his adventuring life. While the blink dog didn't mature until later, the story element of the puppy was great; especially how he got all scared and jumped in my arms when frightened.

I'd say do the same thing to this player. Give him a puppy and see how he treats it. If well, and he bonds with it, then great; they'll be a superb team.

One big question though? Why do you have concern? Sure, the blinking gives the critter a much better advantage at protection and attacks, but they're like what, a challenge rating 2? All an oponent has to do with a blinking creature is hold their action and wait for the blinking attacker. :P

Seriously, would you not give a pegasus or a griffon to a paladin? These creatures are much more powerful, IMO, than the blink dog. It's still cool and all, but not nearly as powerful.

If you are still thinking the doggie is way too powerful, have the outrider take a feat or something like leadership to attract the pup. This shows you how much he is willing to sacrifice.

If he powergames, remember, "anything you can do, DMs can do better." Start giving listen checks, hold actions, blast the grown dog into oblivion, or whatever you need to, but don't take the coolness out of the dog. As I stated before, griffons and ilk are much more fearful than a blink dog. If I was a grisly bear, I'd much rather have a measly dog annoying me than a rhino mount charging me....ouch!
CloudWalker
03-16-06, 09:41 PM Power is perhaps my least concern. I did not know how powerful a Blink Dog would be until I read up on it, but it's his obsessive behavior that's making me think twice.

I'll try it at tomorrow's session (or Sunday if not tomorrow), and then get back to you all on what he does.

Thanks, and keep the suggestions coming if you have them.
Corinthians
03-16-06, 09:52 PM id say if he can figure out a way to communicate with it let him have one if he makes it want to join him. it has 10 int. just dont tell him(unless he asks) that the blink dog's teleportation(dimenion door ability) doesn't carry him too (see blink dog description) heck you might as well make it an adventure to find a relic that allows him to talk to blink dogs for oh say ten minutes a day divided as he chooses then have him work to find the blink dogs den. make him work for it rather than let it bug you. dont give up and just give one to him. and keep in mind that the blink dog is intelligent and wont follow his orders unconditionally.

There are several ways to talk to a creature that doesn't speak your language that don't involve some epic quest. And you can use a ring of blinking to attune yourself to the blink dogs blinking ability, as per AEG pg. 82
Uratoh
03-16-06, 10:05 PM The ring only 'synchs' to the dog's blink, for convenience, you only roll once for the effect. it states in the text there's no known way to let the rider go along with the d-door effect.
Corinthians
03-16-06, 10:11 PM The ring only 'synchs' to the dog's blink, for convenience, you only roll once for the effect. it states in the text there's no known way to let the rider go along with the d-door effect.

yea i misread, i revised my post.
tharivol266
03-16-06, 10:33 PM i knew about the blinking. and as for the talking w/o talking is it good enough to influence a chaotic fun loving animal into hauling someone around on its back for an untold amount of time?
HorgeshII
03-16-06, 11:37 PM Just to avoid any potential abuse, you might want to remind the player that no action can be taken following a dimension door. No DD in and attack/cast; you blink in, and you're done for the round. If he does get the dog, that is.
Bayne
03-16-06, 11:48 PM Tell him in game that since his character keeps asking about them, the blink dogs being intelligent, have started to avoid him at all costs, but if he shuts up about and keeps a low profile on the subject he might have a better chance of finding one.

Pretty much just make sure he knows that if he stops bugging you about he'll get one eventually.
Missing Minds
03-17-06, 11:53 AM HorgeshII, there is a PcR in one of the many many FR books, (I want to say it was the eastern peoples, marches, or something like that) and it did have an ablity to attack after DD, shadow jumping, etc. You got your full attack at that. Granted as written you could abuse it horribly, but as I never did abuse it, my DM let me have it.

OP, here is another idea for you. Give him a ring of wishing, or give him a wish. If he doesn't wish for the blink dog, well... he lost his one chance. If he does, base it around on how well of a wish he makes.

Also, doesn't True Res require that the target in question wants to return? Aka you could say all of the dogs are in heaven and have no intention to return to the life that they once had.
Illion the Red
03-17-06, 12:03 PM Blink Dogs and Displacer Beasts are mortal enemies. Have the PC come upon a fight between them. If he arrives/helps in time, he can try to befriend the surviving Blink Dog. If he just watches or anything along those lines...well, he had his chance.

A twist on this is that the Blink Dog(s) die(s) in the fight, but was defending the den and the only remaning pup of the litter. If the PC can track back to the den and rescue the pup AND raise it properly, it will be a loyal friend - treating the PC like a loved Uncle.
HalasterAteMyHamster
03-17-06, 12:22 PM Blink Dogs are intelligent NPCs. Tell him to take the Leadership and give him one as his cohort.
FeceMan
03-17-06, 02:10 PM Just to avoid any potential abuse, you might want to remind the player that no action can be taken following a dimension door. No DD in and attack/cast; you blink in, and you're done for the round. If he does get the dog, that is.
Dimension Door (Su)
A blink dog can teleport, as dimension door (caster level 8th), once per round as a free action. The ability affects only the blink dog, which never appears within a solid object and can act immediately after teleporting.
To the OP: Shouldn't you be glad that your player is taking such an interest in blink dogs? It's clear that he wants one, and, if he was being serious about trying to resurrect the blink dogs, it shows his devotion to them. Why don't you let him have a blink dog, for a bit and see how it works out? If he is abusing it, just have the blink dog leave him.
HalasterAteMyHamster
03-17-06, 02:12 PM To the OP: Shouldn't you be glad that your player is taking such an interest in blink dogs? It's clear that he wants one, and, if he was being serious about trying to resurrect the blink dogs, it shows his devotion to them. Why don't you let him have a blink dog, for a bit and see how it works out? If he is abusing it, just have the blink dog leave him.
It being a free action doesn't matter. It's still based on the spell, that doesn't allow any actions afterwards.
revnk
03-17-06, 06:44 PM You could always continue to say "no" and simply put up with his Blink Dog obsession as a running character joke. Or perhaps give him an out-of-game explanation for why you think the Blink Dog won't work within the campaign. While I'm not sure there's any problem with him having a Blink Dog, there might be a problem with your players thinking they can have anything they want as long as they're obnoxiously persistent about it. And animal creatures can restrict players in various ways just as much as they open doors--I currently have a situation with a Druid in a dungeon where we're sometimes tacitly ignoring various points in the layout where her wolf companion would not be able to climb something, jump something, or use something. (The party has come up with some clever ways of drawing the wolf up or down a level with ropes--it's been tacitly assumed that the wolf is okay with being hauled around like a cargo container.)

But that's just me. It's totally your call.

Good luck.
FeceMan
03-18-06, 12:52 AM It being a free action doesn't matter. It's still based on the spell, that doesn't allow any actions afterwards.
It says the blink dog can act immediately after teleporting as well. That, combined with it being a free action, leads me to the conclusion that blink dogs can dimension door behind an enemy and attack all in one round.
terrashand
03-18-06, 01:02 AM That is why they are so horrible. You never know where they are from 1 round to the next.
trolloc
03-18-06, 01:16 AM how about this...

you know how little kids ask parents they want a pet like a dog, but the 'rents think their kid is too young, so they give him a goldfish or hamster. The kid will learn responsability.

how about he gets a normal dog name Blinky or something. See if he takes really good care of him/her. If he shows much care, then award him the Blink dog.
bartleby42
03-18-06, 01:31 AM a-f are just mean and pointless.
h-i are a little too bland and leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Here's what you should do:

Have the PC's hear about a "kennel" for Blink dogs.

When they get there they find rows and rows of forcecages with Blinkdogs in them being trained for riding, fighting ect....
The conditions of the Kennels should be worse than bad. Think Upton Sinclair's The Jungle bad.
Have filth covering everything, the dogs looking starved and without hope, and the cruel gnomeish trainers should be played up to being the vilest offenders there are.

(Side note: Evil Gnomes make me laugh)

When the PCs investigate have them find the Blink dog resistance, who are planing a raid to free thier brethern. Let the PCs ride the blink dogs into battle and slice gnomes up. Once free have a long period of celebration where the blink dogs speak about how wonderful their freedom is and how haveing a master is the worst of all things that can happen to them. Lay it on thick. Make the Blink dogs thank the halfling for respecting thier freedom over his personal wants.

Make him feel like scum for wanting to own one.

Then make him decide wheter or not to press one or two into service. If he does he gains the emity of all Blink dogs. Though his mount will serve him faithfully, it will only follow commands that are granted to it.
ex.
Party wakes up, no blink dog.
Halfling - "Crap where is that dog!!!"
2- hours later
Blink Dog - "Morning."
Halfling - "Where were you?"
BD - Around.
H- Why weren't you here when I got up.
BD - Oh, you wanted to leave when you got up. I didn't know that. You see I'm a dumb beast who should be controled by brilliant master, you need to explain things clearly to me.
H - You can think for yourself.
BD - Not according to you.

Small infractions that will make the Halfling rue the choice, that and the Blink dogs occasionaly trying to kill him.
CloudWalker
03-18-06, 11:12 AM Here's what I did:

I sent the PCs into a strange place where the skies were always dark (and such other things as go into the normal description of a session), etc, etc.

Well, they found a Blink Dog being chased by a hunter who they met before (One Shot Jim, they refer to him as), and knew to be ruthless. Well, Faerin (the guy who they named One Shot Jim) was VERY in to hunting halflings, they came to found out, but even more so this Blink Dog, which couldn't Blink away because of a few different things that were happening simultaneously.

Anyway, our Rogue WAS SURE he would die if he challenged Faerin, and only our Barbarian was up for helping him.

Needless to say, the Rogue died, and the Barbarian narrowly escaped with his life (and several arrows sticking out of him--looks like One Shot has become Multishot).

However, I made up some random circumstances and the Rogue was indeed revived, and not collected as a trophy to be stuffed and hanged in Faerin's drawing room.

And, guess what? The Blink Dog came back for him and licked his face (pretty scary for any Halfling). Well, needless to say, it has become his ally, but we will see how this turns out (DMs posess the power to "smite" things, and I am always at the ready to do so). The REALLY GOOD part is that he finally shut up about it.

Next, he wants a vorpal weapon, but he's not shouting about it or anything. Thanks, all.
jagraham
03-18-06, 11:21 AM Make the blink dog the object of a quest so the player directs his energies at getting the party to follow the plot hook. Also, because it is a reward for a quest, you aren't just giving in.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
CloudWalker 03-16-06, 08:36 PM	Ok, I have this player (I campaign a game and play in several games) who absolutely is FANATIC about having a Blink Dog. It was fine at first, but now it's gotten to the point where he ruined a whole adventure. At every plot point he'd ask, "Are there Blink Dogs here?" When I said, ONCE, yes, LOTS OF THEM, but that they were all dead, he immediately said he was going to find a ressurrection spell. He's a Halfling Rogue, see, and he wants to be a Halfling Outrider. He's gone to EVERY town and asked "Is there a pet shop?" I've had him thrown out of many shops. Several times. It's seriously annoying. If he had shut up and just taken levels in Halfling Outrider, I would have given him a Blink Dog. Or a war dog of some sort. I've discussed it with him, penalized him for it--he simply will not stop. So, take a vote on it. What's the best approach? a.) Give him a Blink Dog and have it Blink to the Plane of Negative Energy. b.) Give him a Blink Dog with Int of 0, making it, essentially, dead (or, so stupid as to go in the wrong direction). c.) Give him an ancient Blink Dog too old to be ridden. d.) Give him a Blink Dog, but then immediately cause a gust of wind to fly from nowhere and whisk him away to the to highest peak of our world, where he will ONLY have his Blink Dog to help him survive (nor armor or weapons). e.) Take a bland approach and simply get rid of his character. f.) Magically enhance the Blink Dog so he can never leave its back. g.) Give him a Blink Dog but have it die the next session. h.) Just give him a regular Blink Dog to shut him up (I don't like this way). i.) Eradicate Blink Dogs from my world. j.) Other?
tharivol266 03-16-06, 08:59 PM	id say if he can figure out a way to communicate with it let him have one if he makes it want to join him. it has 10 int. just dont tell him(unless he asks) that the blink dog's teleportation(dimenion door ability) doesn't carry him too (see blink dog description) heck you might as well make it an adventure to find a relic that allows him to talk to blink dogs for oh say ten minutes a day divided as he chooses then have him work to find the blink dogs den. make him work for it rather than let it bug you. dont give up and just give one to him. and keep in mind that the blink dog is intelligent and wont follow his orders unconditionally.
Mock26 03-16-06, 09:04 PM	I would say that you give him a blink dog and see what happens. If he shuts up and integrates the dog well with his character, that would be great. If not, then play it by ear. One possible outcome is that every time the dog blinks he doesn't blink with it. Or, he might take the dog into a fight that would scare the dog too much and the dog would refuse to move forward or possible flee. One possiblity would be to give him a regular dog but with a magical collar that allows the dog's owner to blink the dog, but, it will only have a certain number of charges. However, only give him the dog if you think his character deserves it. Don't give him a blink dog just to shut him up. That will condone his annoying activity for acquiring other things in the game. Take care and have a great day.... ciao, john.
Uratoh 03-16-06, 09:09 PM	Arms & Equipment Guide, P. 82. 10K for a trained (well, negotiated with) blink dog. A Ring of Blinking will synchronize with the dog's blink.
CloudWalker 03-16-06, 09:21 PM	When first he asked, I told him, "I'll look into it," but then I never got around to it, and this erupted. I finally did look into it, but by then I didn't think his attitude merited a Blink Dog. I might just give it to him, and then see what results from so doing. But that would make it seem like ANYONE could beg for something and get it eventually. There's the dilemma. Life, and DnD, doesn't give you everything you ask for.
bholdr_mage 03-16-06, 09:34 PM	Ah, yes the blink dog. A fairly cunning critter, a character of mine had a young blink dog pup early in his adventuring life. While the blink dog didn't mature until later, the story element of the puppy was great; especially how he got all scared and jumped in my arms when frightened. I'd say do the same thing to this player. Give him a puppy and see how he treats it. If well, and he bonds with it, then great; they'll be a superb team. One big question though? Why do you have concern? Sure, the blinking gives the critter a much better advantage at protection and attacks, but they're like what, a challenge rating 2? All an oponent has to do with a blinking creature is hold their action and wait for the blinking attacker. :P Seriously, would you not give a pegasus or a griffon to a paladin? These creatures are much more powerful, IMO, than the blink dog. It's still cool and all, but not nearly as powerful. If you are still thinking the doggie is way too powerful, have the outrider take a feat or something like leadership to attract the pup. This shows you how much he is willing to sacrifice. If he powergames, remember, "anything you can do, DMs can do better." Start giving listen checks, hold actions, blast the grown dog into oblivion, or whatever you need to, but don't take the coolness out of the dog. As I stated before, griffons and ilk are much more fearful than a blink dog. If I was a grisly bear, I'd much rather have a measly dog annoying me than a rhino mount charging me....ouch!
CloudWalker 03-16-06, 09:41 PM	Power is perhaps my least concern. I did not know how powerful a Blink Dog would be until I read up on it, but it's his obsessive behavior that's making me think twice. I'll try it at tomorrow's session (or Sunday if not tomorrow), and then get back to you all on what he does. Thanks, and keep the suggestions coming if you have them.
Corinthians 03-16-06, 09:52 PM	id say if he can figure out a way to communicate with it let him have one if he makes it want to join him. it has 10 int. just dont tell him(unless he asks) that the blink dog's teleportation(dimenion door ability) doesn't carry him too (see blink dog description) heck you might as well make it an adventure to find a relic that allows him to talk to blink dogs for oh say ten minutes a day divided as he chooses then have him work to find the blink dogs den. make him work for it rather than let it bug you. dont give up and just give one to him. and keep in mind that the blink dog is intelligent and wont follow his orders unconditionally. There are several ways to talk to a creature that doesn't speak your language that don't involve some epic quest. And you can use a ring of blinking to attune yourself to the blink dogs blinking ability, as per AEG pg. 82
Uratoh 03-16-06, 10:05 PM	The ring only 'synchs' to the dog's blink, for convenience, you only roll once for the effect. it states in the text there's no known way to let the rider go along with the d-door effect.
Corinthians 03-16-06, 10:11 PM	The ring only 'synchs' to the dog's blink, for convenience, you only roll once for the effect. it states in the text there's no known way to let the rider go along with the d-door effect. yea i misread, i revised my post.
tharivol266 03-16-06, 10:33 PM	i knew about the blinking. and as for the talking w/o talking is it good enough to influence a chaotic fun loving animal into hauling someone around on its back for an untold amount of time?
HorgeshII 03-16-06, 11:37 PM	Just to avoid any potential abuse, you might want to remind the player that no action can be taken following a dimension door. No DD in and attack/cast; you blink in, and you're done for the round. If he does get the dog, that is.
Bayne 03-16-06, 11:48 PM	Tell him in game that since his character keeps asking about them, the blink dogs being intelligent, have started to avoid him at all costs, but if he shuts up about and keeps a low profile on the subject he might have a better chance of finding one. Pretty much just make sure he knows that if he stops bugging you about he'll get one eventually.
Missing Minds 03-17-06, 11:53 AM	HorgeshII, there is a PcR in one of the many many FR books, (I want to say it was the eastern peoples, marches, or something like that) and it did have an ablity to attack after DD, shadow jumping, etc. You got your full attack at that. Granted as written you could abuse it horribly, but as I never did abuse it, my DM let me have it. OP, here is another idea for you. Give him a ring of wishing, or give him a wish. If he doesn't wish for the blink dog, well... he lost his one chance. If he does, base it around on how well of a wish he makes. Also, doesn't True Res require that the target in question wants to return? Aka you could say all of the dogs are in heaven and have no intention to return to the life that they once had.
Illion the Red 03-17-06, 12:03 PM	Blink Dogs and Displacer Beasts are mortal enemies. Have the PC come upon a fight between them. If he arrives/helps in time, he can try to befriend the surviving Blink Dog. If he just watches or anything along those lines...well, he had his chance. A twist on this is that the Blink Dog(s) die(s) in the fight, but was defending the den and the only remaning pup of the litter. If the PC can track back to the den and rescue the pup AND raise it properly, it will be a loyal friend - treating the PC like a loved Uncle.
HalasterAteMyHamster 03-17-06, 12:22 PM	Blink Dogs are intelligent NPCs. Tell him to take the Leadership and give him one as his cohort.
FeceMan 03-17-06, 02:10 PM	Just to avoid any potential abuse, you might want to remind the player that no action can be taken following a dimension door. No DD in and attack/cast; you blink in, and you're done for the round. If he does get the dog, that is. Dimension Door (Su) A blink dog can teleport, as dimension door (caster level 8th), once per round as a free action. The ability affects only the blink dog, which never appears within a solid object and can act immediately after teleporting. To the OP: Shouldn't you be glad that your player is taking such an interest in blink dogs? It's clear that he wants one, and, if he was being serious about trying to resurrect the blink dogs, it shows his devotion to them. Why don't you let him have a blink dog, for a bit and see how it works out? If he is abusing it, just have the blink dog leave him.
HalasterAteMyHamster 03-17-06, 02:12 PM	To the OP: Shouldn't you be glad that your player is taking such an interest in blink dogs? It's clear that he wants one, and, if he was being serious about trying to resurrect the blink dogs, it shows his devotion to them. Why don't you let him have a blink dog, for a bit and see how it works out? If he is abusing it, just have the blink dog leave him. It being a free action doesn't matter. It's still based on the spell, that doesn't allow any actions afterwards.
revnk 03-17-06, 06:44 PM	You could always continue to say "no" and simply put up with his Blink Dog obsession as a running character joke. Or perhaps give him an out-of-game explanation for why you think the Blink Dog won't work within the campaign. While I'm not sure there's any problem with him having a Blink Dog, there might be a problem with your players thinking they can have anything they want as long as they're obnoxiously persistent about it. And animal creatures can restrict players in various ways just as much as they open doors--I currently have a situation with a Druid in a dungeon where we're sometimes tacitly ignoring various points in the layout where her wolf companion would not be able to climb something, jump something, or use something. (The party has come up with some clever ways of drawing the wolf up or down a level with ropes--it's been tacitly assumed that the wolf is okay with being hauled around like a cargo container.) But that's just me. It's totally your call. Good luck.
FeceMan 03-18-06, 12:52 AM	It being a free action doesn't matter. It's still based on the spell, that doesn't allow any actions afterwards. It says the blink dog can act immediately after teleporting as well. That, combined with it being a free action, leads me to the conclusion that blink dogs can dimension door behind an enemy and attack all in one round.
terrashand 03-18-06, 01:02 AM	That is why they are so horrible. You never know where they are from 1 round to the next.
trolloc 03-18-06, 01:16 AM	how about this... you know how little kids ask parents they want a pet like a dog, but the 'rents think their kid is too young, so they give him a goldfish or hamster. The kid will learn responsability. how about he gets a normal dog name Blinky or something. See if he takes really good care of him/her. If he shows much care, then award him the Blink dog.
bartleby42 03-18-06, 01:31 AM	a-f are just mean and pointless. h-i are a little too bland and leave a bad taste in your mouth. Here's what you should do: Have the PC's hear about a "kennel" for Blink dogs. When they get there they find rows and rows of forcecages with Blinkdogs in them being trained for riding, fighting ect.... The conditions of the Kennels should be worse than bad. Think Upton Sinclair's The Jungle bad. Have filth covering everything, the dogs looking starved and without hope, and the cruel gnomeish trainers should be played up to being the vilest offenders there are. (Side note: Evil Gnomes make me laugh) When the PCs investigate have them find the Blink dog resistance, who are planing a raid to free thier brethern. Let the PCs ride the blink dogs into battle and slice gnomes up. Once free have a long period of celebration where the blink dogs speak about how wonderful their freedom is and how haveing a master is the worst of all things that can happen to them. Lay it on thick. Make the Blink dogs thank the halfling for respecting thier freedom over his personal wants. Make him feel like scum for wanting to own one. Then make him decide wheter or not to press one or two into service. If he does he gains the emity of all Blink dogs. Though his mount will serve him faithfully, it will only follow commands that are granted to it. ex. Party wakes up, no blink dog. Halfling - "Crap where is that dog!!!" 2- hours later Blink Dog - "Morning." Halfling - "Where were you?" BD - Around. H- Why weren't you here when I got up. BD - Oh, you wanted to leave when you got up. I didn't know that. You see I'm a dumb beast who should be controled by brilliant master, you need to explain things clearly to me. H - You can think for yourself. BD - Not according to you. Small infractions that will make the Halfling rue the choice, that and the Blink dogs occasionaly trying to kill him.
CloudWalker 03-18-06, 11:12 AM	Here's what I did: I sent the PCs into a strange place where the skies were always dark (and such other things as go into the normal description of a session), etc, etc. Well, they found a Blink Dog being chased by a hunter who they met before (One Shot Jim, they refer to him as), and knew to be ruthless. Well, Faerin (the guy who they named One Shot Jim) was VERY in to hunting halflings, they came to found out, but even more so this Blink Dog, which couldn't Blink away because of a few different things that were happening simultaneously. Anyway, our Rogue WAS SURE he would die if he challenged Faerin, and only our Barbarian was up for helping him. Needless to say, the Rogue died, and the Barbarian narrowly escaped with his life (and several arrows sticking out of him--looks like One Shot has become Multishot). However, I made up some random circumstances and the Rogue was indeed revived, and not collected as a trophy to be stuffed and hanged in Faerin's drawing room. And, guess what? The Blink Dog came back for him and licked his face (pretty scary for any Halfling). Well, needless to say, it has become his ally, but we will see how this turns out (DMs posess the power to "smite" things, and I am always at the ready to do so). The REALLY GOOD part is that he finally shut up about it. Next, he wants a vorpal weapon, but he's not shouting about it or anything. Thanks, all.
jagraham 03-18-06, 11:21 AM	Make the blink dog the object of a quest so the player directs his energies at getting the party to follow the plot hook. Also, because it is a reward for a quest, you aren't just giving in.