Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Cyber-Dave Nov 23, 2008 13:43:22	I was thinking about which mechanics one should use for a Talenta Halfling clawfoot Ranger animal companion. The lizard seemed like the obvious choice at first. However, the clawfoot is supposed to be fast and stealthy. Its primary abilities should be stealth and jumping. The Cat gets athletic and stealth as its trained skills... this seems to be a perfect fit. On the other hand, the Clawfoot had strength and dex as its highest stats, and this seems to fit with the Lizard. :/ But, maybe that is not really necessary in 4e. I am assuming the clawfoot got a high strength in 3e for a bonus to hit and damage... but the cat uses its dexterity for that in 4e. So, cat or lizard? Which stat block represents a clawfoot better?
#2 miviks Nov 25, 2008 6:55:51	I was thinking about which mechanics one should use for a Talenta Halfling clawfoot Ranger animal companion. The lizard seemed like the obvious choice at first. However, the clawfoot is supposed to be fast and stealthy. Its primary abilities should be stealth and jumping. The Cat gets athletic and stealth as its trained skills... this seems to be a perfect fit. On the other hand, the Clawfoot had strength and dex as its highest stats, and this seems to fit with the Lizard. :/ But, maybe that is not really necessary in 4e. I am assuming the clawfoot got a high strength in 3e for a bonus to hit and damage... but the cat uses its dexterity for that in 4e. So, cat or lizard? Which stat block represents a clawfoot better? I think you answer this best yourself. it seems as if the Cat is a better fit. Just reflavour and add scales. Done! ;)
#3 wizardmon Nov 25, 2008 9:57:28	I think you answer this best yourself. it seems as if the Cat is a better fit. Just reflavour and add scales. Done! ;) I kind of think the opposite. Take lizard and switch Endurence for Stealth. Its just skill training, and as long as the DM feels that it is a setting-appropriate change to a statblock, then its done!
#4 Talae Nov 25, 2008 11:33:08	It really comes down to the other things, like for instance...speed vs defenses and bonus on opportunity attacks. Either could be argued for, so I say it is up to you and your group.
#5 Cyber-Dave Nov 25, 2008 16:32:57	I kind of think the opposite. Take lizard and switch Endurence for Stealth. Its just skill training, and as long as the DM feels that it is a setting-appropriate change to a statblock, then its done! Doesn't fix the problem that the Clawfoot is supposed to be fast, and the Lizard only has a movement of 6. The cat, while it does not have a movement of 8 (like in 3e) at least has a movement rate of 7... But, I really don't know which one I feel fits best. I'm just playing devil's advocate. I am sort of leaning towards cat at the current moment in time though.
#6 vanforge Nov 30, 2008 3:04:07	I would actually say wolf. Clawfoots are naturaly pack hunters, which wolves are. Clawfoots are quick which wolves are. Clawfoots are also good at seeing things, which wolves are. You just might want to ask for stealth instead of Endurance.
#7 Tyranthraxus Nov 30, 2008 20:01:05	Are Clawfoots supposed to be stealthy? I know they are fast, which is why the Halflings ride them, but I dont see the Stealthy part. If you are using an animal companion as a Riding beast, then it should have Endurance. Im not sure if the person who created the thread had this in mind for his mount, but I think a mount should definetly have endurance. Clawfoots were fast because they were FASTER than the Halflings who used them (of course nearly everything else was faster).
#8 inkblot Dec 02, 2008 0:46:40	Has anyone brought up yet that all mounts must be large in 4th edition? 4e has some weird hate-on for mounts. Anyway, it's a pretty simple houserule to say that small creatures can ride medium creatures, but I thought it should be mentioned.
#9 rekko Dec 03, 2008 7:08:36	Maybe a mount becomes a large creature when mounted, and thus, to simplify things WotC wrote that all to-be mounts are large creature at base. What's the size of a riding dog? Rekko
#10 Cyber-Dave Dec 06, 2008 0:13:29	Are Clawfoots supposed to be stealthy? I know they are fast, which is why the Halflings ride them, but I dont see the Stealthy part. Page 279 of the ECS. Clawfoots highest two skills are jump and hide. If you are using an animal companion as a Riding beast, then it should have Endurance. Im not sure if the person who created the thread had this in mind for his mount, but I think a mount should definetly have endurance. Why? I see no reason why it should "definitely have endurance." The original clawfoot had nothing that was equivalent to endurance. Clawfoots were fast because they were FASTER than the Halflings who used them (of course nearly everything else was faster). No, they were fast because they have a movement rate of 8 squares. Considering how slow halfling were in 3e, if we went by your logic of ratio, then the mount in 4e should have a movement of more then 8 squares. I am not, however, advocating this position.
#11 Cyber-Dave Dec 06, 2008 0:14:13	Has anyone brought up yet that all mounts must be large in 4th edition? 4e has some weird hate-on for mounts. Anyway, it's a pretty simple houserule to say that small creatures can ride medium creatures, but I thought it should be mentioned. Good catch. Sort of throws a wrench in my plans...