How do you Train a Dire Bear? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

How do you Train a Dire Bear?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
celder1
Oct 16, 2008 3:23:02 Through a short series of fortunate events, our fighter (Kevanym) has found herself a baby dire bear that has taken a liking to her:D ...Mama is dead, and daddy will be, at the next session, baby is already the size of a small horse, and Kev thought it would be a BULLY idea to train baby to either be a mount, or just a general wrecking crew in a fight...any ideas on specific spells/rituals that can be used in the rules, or are we just going to have to convince our DM that this would just be full of awesomeness and he should allow it in some capacity?
#2
thegreatgalstaff
Oct 16, 2008 16:09:56 Well I have a couple suggestions.....

If the fighter has the "Mounted Combat" feat he is more than skilled enough to ride it.

and in the DMG it states that any Creature of a large or larger size can be ridden as a mount as long as its willing, that's the hard part, you might want to try this...

Ask your DM to design a Skill challenge, and make the fighter do it, or show him this skill challenge (I used examples from the DMG pages 76-80)...
------------------------------
Train beast skill challenge
Complexity 3

8 successes before 4 failures

Insight: DC Easy
you realize that this is a simple creature with instincts and primal needs. This helps you think up new ways to try to connect with the creature and to train it. This may only be done once

Perception: DC: Easy
you figure out how the creature responds is responding to food and other stimuli, this does not count as a success but it grants you a +2 to the next skill check.

Intimidate: DC Moderate: since the creature is still young if you can try to convince it that you are the Den leader, and it will be more likely to let you ride it or train it.

Nature: DC Moderate
you know the behaviors of Bears and how to train them better, along with knowing its limitations.

Athletics: DC Moderate
you try to ride the bear in order to try to tame it and train it for use in combat. A failed check her means you got tossed around like a ragdoll and lose one healing surge.

Diplomacy: DC HARD
you try to reason with it, by offering food or just talking to it, but due to its low intelligence its hard to get what you are saying across.

Success: the bear becomes tame enough to be a mount, as long as you feed it :evillaugh

Failure: The bear is angry with your attempts and attacks you.
---------------------------------

If that does not work ask if you can pay someone to train it. by the sounds of it its not going to attack as long as the character that it thinks is its mother is around.

you can also try this

Ask if the DM is willing to make a homebrew feat, something like this...
-----------------------------------
Animal Trainer

perquisites: Wisdom of 13+ and Diplomacy or Intimidate or Nature

Benefit: you know how to train creatures to be used for mounts. the creature must be large or larger, it must be willing to be trained or at least friendly in nature.
If the creature you are training has no specific mount skill, you may chose one from this list to give it:

Slash (Lvl 5), when the rider attacks the mount may also.

Ram (Lvl 5), on a successful charge your mount knocks a creature of its size or smaller prone.

Special: if the creature is a unusual mount, a skill Challenge may be required.
-------------------------------------

ok, the feat is not completely done, but its a start.

Other than what I have posted I have one more suggestion....
try talking to your DM and say it would make the game more fun and would not "Unbalance" the game if you allowed it to be a mount, just look at the mounts in the Adventurers Vault and balance it according to those.

I hope that this was at least helpful,
tell you the truth I think a Dire Bear would make a cool mount:D

This post has been approved by PETA
People for the Ethical Treatment of Adventurers
#3
celder1
Oct 16, 2008 17:19:52 Wow,

I have been reading your posts about the board for a few days and have always appreciated your insight--As per normal, those are GREAT suggestions--I am going to print out your post and I bet my DM will totally bite off on it!!!

And I agree, our dwarf wants to sell it for the gold, but I think the idea of a Dire Bear mount reeks of sweetness!!! Imagine rooling up to the tavern...

"Hey can I borrow the stable for my mount"
"We have a stall"
"You don;t understand--I need the stable, or else you will end up with my mount, and random horse-shaped piles of bones...your call"
#4
thegreatgalstaff
Oct 16, 2008 17:59:33
I am going to print out your post and I bet my DM will totally bite off on it!!!

Well I'm not really sure about the "Bite off on it!!!" line
but I guess you liked it.... this is the most important piece of advice.

He is the DM, It is his world and it is his to control, but if you present it in a calm and collected, well informed manner most DMs will allow "unusual" things.

Don't know how I forgot that nugget of wisdom.
Well good luck , be sure to post how it went!
#5
vaderseviltwin
Oct 17, 2008 9:10:51 I seem to recall a documentary on tv some years ago about a man described as "the best bear trainer in the world".

When asked how he did it, he answered that you had to know that you would be hospitalised on a regular basis by even the most friendly and well-trained bear. And secondly, that any time he was with the bear, there was always a friend nearby with a loaded rifle.

Pardon the pun, but you need to bear in mind that you are handing your gm an excuse to attack you on a regular basis. It's a great idea, but like so many great (and cool) ideas the reality is that it is incredibly dangerous and could so easily go horribly wrong.

Having said all of that I applaud her for a great idea! And if your GM signs off on the idea then this could lead to many an awesome adventure, go for it!

I let a dragonborn player talk to a captured Kobold from the Kobold Hall scenario in the back of the DMG. After 10 mins of impassioned and clever conversation between them I allowed each to make an appropriate skill roll, the dragonborn now has a very loyal and helpful kobold squire!
#6
CCS
Oct 17, 2008 20:51:47 Carefully.
#7
drackthor
Oct 17, 2008 21:55:36
Carefully.

I actually entered this thread with the intention of saying just that.

You are a gentleman and a scholar of forum etiquette, and I salute you.
#8
eabeu
Oct 17, 2008 22:43:21 Why, this way of course. Because nothing says D&D like mind controlled, depressed bears slaughtering your enemies.
#9
grug_the_just
Oct 17, 2008 22:48:15
Carefully.

Blast, equally beat to the punch.

No matter, I had an alternative.

How do you Train a Dire Bear?

Take away it's credit card...

Ah well, I tried.
#10
greatfrito
Oct 18, 2008 0:57:58
Why, this way of course. Because nothing says D&D like mind controlled, depressed bears slaughtering your enemies.

Mind Controlled battle-bears?

That's maybe even cooler than Bear-Cavalry.

I [heart] Red Alert.
#11
entropy_judge
Oct 18, 2008 12:15:22
Carefully.

And here I've been congratulating myself for not posting that (or rather, "Very Carefully") for two days, and you had to go ruin the fun. That and "With a 1st Edition Ranger," were the two things running through my head. I couldn't, in good conscience, post them here.

Edit: Also, this (FOUL LANGUAGE WARNING, AND LOTS OF IT): http://www.badassoftheweek.com/voytek.html
#12
wizarddog
Oct 18, 2008 13:06:39 You do realize that the bear will start cutting into your XP unless the GM adds additional monsters to offset the bear.

Given that this a fantasy game, we can assume humanoids can develop relationships with monsters and animals that transcend reality. If the DM allows, you can use whatever is at your disposal. I think the mounted combat feat is the best PC application to show you are not trying to get something for free. ;)
#13
doomsought
Oct 18, 2008 13:30:10 Animal friendship ritual...
I hate how its was called a "Class feature," no, my player, your animal companion is a result of a spell.
#14
tigerdave
Oct 18, 2008 17:25:57
any ideas on specific spells/rituals that can be used in the rules, or are we just going to have to convince our DM that this would just be full of awesomeness and he should allow it in some capacity?

Marshmallows. Neither bears nor DMs can refuse them. Especially the colored, fruity-flavored ones.

Mmmmm.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 celder1 Oct 16, 2008 3:23:02	Through a short series of fortunate events, our fighter (Kevanym) has found herself a baby dire bear that has taken a liking to her:D ...Mama is dead, and daddy will be, at the next session, baby is already the size of a small horse, and Kev thought it would be a BULLY idea to train baby to either be a mount, or just a general wrecking crew in a fight...any ideas on specific spells/rituals that can be used in the rules, or are we just going to have to convince our DM that this would just be full of awesomeness and he should allow it in some capacity?
#2 thegreatgalstaff Oct 16, 2008 16:09:56	Well I have a couple suggestions..... If the fighter has the "Mounted Combat" feat he is more than skilled enough to ride it. and in the DMG it states that any Creature of a large or larger size can be ridden as a mount as long as its willing, that's the hard part, you might want to try this... Ask your DM to design a Skill challenge, and make the fighter do it, or show him this skill challenge (I used examples from the DMG pages 76-80)... ------------------------------ Train beast skill challenge Complexity 3 8 successes before 4 failures Insight: DC Easy you realize that this is a simple creature with instincts and primal needs. This helps you think up new ways to try to connect with the creature and to train it. This may only be done once Perception: DC: Easy you figure out how the creature responds is responding to food and other stimuli, this does not count as a success but it grants you a +2 to the next skill check. Intimidate: DC Moderate: since the creature is still young if you can try to convince it that you are the Den leader, and it will be more likely to let you ride it or train it. Nature: DC Moderate you know the behaviors of Bears and how to train them better, along with knowing its limitations. Athletics: DC Moderate you try to ride the bear in order to try to tame it and train it for use in combat. A failed check her means you got tossed around like a ragdoll and lose one healing surge. Diplomacy: DC HARD you try to reason with it, by offering food or just talking to it, but due to its low intelligence its hard to get what you are saying across. Success: the bear becomes tame enough to be a mount, as long as you feed it :evillaugh Failure: The bear is angry with your attempts and attacks you. --------------------------------- If that does not work ask if you can pay someone to train it. by the sounds of it its not going to attack as long as the character that it thinks is its mother is around. you can also try this Ask if the DM is willing to make a homebrew feat, something like this... ----------------------------------- Animal Trainer perquisites: Wisdom of 13+ and Diplomacy or Intimidate or Nature Benefit: you know how to train creatures to be used for mounts. the creature must be large or larger, it must be willing to be trained or at least friendly in nature. If the creature you are training has no specific mount skill, you may chose one from this list to give it: Slash (Lvl 5), when the rider attacks the mount may also. Ram (Lvl 5), on a successful charge your mount knocks a creature of its size or smaller prone. Special: if the creature is a unusual mount, a skill Challenge may be required. ------------------------------------- ok, the feat is not completely done, but its a start. Other than what I have posted I have one more suggestion.... try talking to your DM and say it would make the game more fun and would not "Unbalance" the game if you allowed it to be a mount, just look at the mounts in the Adventurers Vault and balance it according to those. I hope that this was at least helpful, tell you the truth I think a Dire Bear would make a cool mount:D This post has been approved by PETA People for the Ethical Treatment of Adventurers
#3 celder1 Oct 16, 2008 17:19:52	Wow, I have been reading your posts about the board for a few days and have always appreciated your insight--As per normal, those are GREAT suggestions--I am going to print out your post and I bet my DM will totally bite off on it!!! And I agree, our dwarf wants to sell it for the gold, but I think the idea of a Dire Bear mount reeks of sweetness!!! Imagine rooling up to the tavern... "Hey can I borrow the stable for my mount" "We have a stall" "You don;t understand--I need the stable, or else you will end up with my mount, and random horse-shaped piles of bones...your call"
#4 thegreatgalstaff Oct 16, 2008 17:59:33	I am going to print out your post and I bet my DM will totally bite off on it!!! Well I'm not really sure about the "Bite off on it!!!" line but I guess you liked it.... this is the most important piece of advice. He is the DM, It is his world and it is his to control, but if you present it in a calm and collected, well informed manner most DMs will allow "unusual" things. Don't know how I forgot that nugget of wisdom. Well good luck , be sure to post how it went!
#5 vaderseviltwin Oct 17, 2008 9:10:51	I seem to recall a documentary on tv some years ago about a man described as "the best bear trainer in the world". When asked how he did it, he answered that you had to know that you would be hospitalised on a regular basis by even the most friendly and well-trained bear. And secondly, that any time he was with the bear, there was always a friend nearby with a loaded rifle. Pardon the pun, but you need to bear in mind that you are handing your gm an excuse to attack you on a regular basis. It's a great idea, but like so many great (and cool) ideas the reality is that it is incredibly dangerous and could so easily go horribly wrong. Having said all of that I applaud her for a great idea! And if your GM signs off on the idea then this could lead to many an awesome adventure, go for it! I let a dragonborn player talk to a captured Kobold from the Kobold Hall scenario in the back of the DMG. After 10 mins of impassioned and clever conversation between them I allowed each to make an appropriate skill roll, the dragonborn now has a very loyal and helpful kobold squire!
#6 CCS Oct 17, 2008 20:51:47	Carefully.
#7 drackthor Oct 17, 2008 21:55:36	Carefully. I actually entered this thread with the intention of saying just that. You are a gentleman and a scholar of forum etiquette, and I salute you.
#8 eabeu Oct 17, 2008 22:43:21	Why, this way of course. Because nothing says D&D like mind controlled, depressed bears slaughtering your enemies.
#9 grug_the_just Oct 17, 2008 22:48:15	Carefully. Blast, equally beat to the punch. No matter, I had an alternative. How do you Train a Dire Bear? Take away it's credit card... Ah well, I tried.
#10 greatfrito Oct 18, 2008 0:57:58	Why, this way of course. Because nothing says D&D like mind controlled, depressed bears slaughtering your enemies. Mind Controlled battle-bears? That's maybe even cooler than Bear-Cavalry. I [heart] Red Alert.
#11 entropy_judge Oct 18, 2008 12:15:22	Carefully. And here I've been congratulating myself for not posting that (or rather, "Very Carefully") for two days, and you had to go ruin the fun. That and "With a 1st Edition Ranger," were the two things running through my head. I couldn't, in good conscience, post them here. Edit: Also, this (FOUL LANGUAGE WARNING, AND LOTS OF IT): http://www.badassoftheweek.com/voytek.html
#12 wizarddog Oct 18, 2008 13:06:39	You do realize that the bear will start cutting into your XP unless the GM adds additional monsters to offset the bear. Given that this a fantasy game, we can assume humanoids can develop relationships with monsters and animals that transcend reality. If the DM allows, you can use whatever is at your disposal. I think the mounted combat feat is the best PC application to show you are not trying to get something for free. ;)
#13 doomsought Oct 18, 2008 13:30:10	Animal friendship ritual... I hate how its was called a "Class feature," no, my player, your animal companion is a result of a spell.
#14 tigerdave Oct 18, 2008 17:25:57	any ideas on specific spells/rituals that can be used in the rules, or are we just going to have to convince our DM that this would just be full of awesomeness and he should allow it in some capacity? Marshmallows. Neither bears nor DMs can refuse them. Especially the colored, fruity-flavored ones. Mmmmm.