Post/Author/DateTime	Post
KnaveofClubs 08-12-06, 12:35 PM	Last night I had been going through the druid section in the player's handbook just scanning at the different animal companions. All the first level compainions were quite useless to a druid; only the wolf had some real merit, and that was for combat and tracking. Everything else was either a scout (the birds) or mount, which could easily be replaced by buying such a thing or by wildshape. Then it crossed my mind...why not use the viper as a weapon? Coiled around you're arm it would act as the perfect complement to your abilities in battle. I already have an idea of how it would work but I would like to know how others would handle the rules for it.
Pangeon 08-12-06, 12:45 PM	*THWAK* *MEOW!* But seriously, you probably wouldn't want to swing around your pet viper like a club. Animal companions do get tons of bonus tricks though, so you COULD teach it to, say, sneak up and bite people, which would be a lot more practical. That's where spells like animal growth, magic fang, greater magic fang, etc. come in handy. And riding dogs are awesome animal companions. We had a 1st level druid's animal companion deal more damage than the party barbarian in a couple of battles.
KnaveofClubs 08-12-06, 12:49 PM	the actual idea was sort of a touch attack (possibly with reach)OR, the viper, clung to my arm, readied an attack to strike at the same moment I did.
utilitarian 08-12-06, 04:57 PM	Y'know if memory serves me correctly there are a type of snake (Serpent Kingdoms book?) that are actually used by the Yuan Ti as arrows. They go all rigid and then get shot out and bite people. It's awesome.
Darkuwa 08-12-06, 05:09 PM	Riding dog>wolf
kelvinaw273 08-12-06, 05:25 PM	In certain circumstances, it might be doable, but risking your animal companion as a weapon constantly does not gel with the way druids are supposed to respect nature ... I mean your companion is not there just to die for you. If you treat them as an expendable resource, I imagine the DM would feel quite justified in making you wait for the next one.
Organ 08-12-06, 05:34 PM	Back off!!!! I've got a badger and I'm not afraid to use it! :D
Climhazzard 08-12-06, 08:26 PM	You know, I was reminded of 'Kung Pow!: Enter the Fist' after I saw this title... Wood-chuck 2 gp 1d4 1d6 x2 — 60 lb. Bludgeoning Wood-chuck: The wood-chuck is a special druid weapon. With a wood-chuck, you get a +2 bonus on Ignore Reality checks (including the roll to avoid being laughed at if such an attempt fails). Why does it weigh 60 pounds you ask? Because a woodchuck weighs 30 pounds, and you need two woodchucks. How does a druid get two woodchucks? Hey, I didn't say it was legal... :P
TLomon 08-12-06, 10:27 PM	I thought those were gopher chucks.
KurenaiYami 08-12-06, 10:44 PM	You wouldn't really need to do anything. Have your snake on your arm. That arm can't be used for anything else of merit. You would simply hold up the snake so it can use it's bite attack. Though, sticking a snake in an opponent's face may provoke an AoO.
Drodain 08-12-06, 10:55 PM	i would say that would could get very interesting, i might allow it in one of my games, i did something like that once, only i only used it when i was shaking someones hand :)
Climhazzard 08-13-06, 09:43 AM	I thought those were gopher chucks. Hence the +2 to Ignore Reality checks...yeah, that's my excuse. ;)
Drucilla_Rocks_my_Socks 08-13-06, 11:20 AM	On riding dogs...I DM for a party that LOVES riding dogs...they had 2 out of 4 players with them...anyways they both died horrible deaths when fighting a dire wolf...