Pet Question 4E - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Pet Question 4E

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
FearTheLiving
Mar 29, 2013 7:08:32 So I'm fairly new to D&D only having played 4 sessions total and I was wondering how pets work. I'm currently playing 4e and wanted a pet Raven for story purposes, but not even as a minion more as a cosmetic item that would send messages and pretty much hang around.

Would that be possible or does it have to be a minion to learn abilites and what not? Any help would be appreciated or even a link or page in the PHB I might have missed. Thanks.
#2
Omegasupreme651
Mar 29, 2013 8:00:03 If you're not planning on it being a minion to do your bidding.... I think you're good to go w/ the pet. If it were a dire wolf or something, your DM may make you run it differently, but as you said "cosmetic", you're probably ok to have it, like you would if you had a pet mouse or something that you carry in your pocket.

However, be prepared for the DM to potentially mess w/ it.... meaning - you might get it stolen, or killed for food if you're not careful....
#3
FearTheLiving
Mar 29, 2013 8:44:43
If you're not planning on it being a minion to do your bidding.... I think you're good to go w/ the pet. If it were a dire wolf or something, your DM may make you run it differently, but as you said "cosmetic", you're probably ok to have it, like you would if you had a pet mouse or something that you carry in your pocket.

However, be prepared for the DM to potentially mess w/ it.... meaning - you might get it stolen, or killed for food if you're not careful....

Alright, thanks for the quick reply.
#4
CliveDauthi
Mar 29, 2013 10:06:04
Omegasupreme651 is right, just make it part of your characters fluff.

Alternatively; depending on your class, there will more than likely be powers which you could describe your pet doing for you; or feats (quick draw- could rp it as your bird retrieving things from your pack for you, ext.)

Also if you ever consider getting an arcane familiar; you could just re-skin any of them to be a bird.

GoodLuck.
#5
Matyr
Mar 29, 2013 12:48:43 There is also a Raven Familiar.

Gives you bonuses to finding hidden objects and, when in active mode, you can use it to listen to things. Its not a great familiar, but it isn't terrible either. If you want to have a mechanical benefit for it, do that. Otherwise it is just a mundane pet so ask the DM to let you have it. The only thing to be wary of is using your pet for mechanical benefit if you get it for free. That is often frowned upon.
#6
Tech-Priest
Mar 29, 2013 13:08:20 Go with an arcane character of some sort, take Arcane Familiar. Done.

Otherwise, there's the Animal Master theme, Fey Beast Tamer theme, the Druid class itself, Shaman class's spirit companion, and so on...there's many options at your disposal. However your DM allows it to happen, roll with it.
#7
Centauri
Mar 29, 2013 13:38:42 I agree with not using any mechanics for this. But be prepared for its message delivery abilities to be hampered for "story purposes."
#8
Sea-Envy
Mar 29, 2013 17:14:43 If you and you DM ever want your pet to get involved in action, adventure and "Butt Kicking for Goodness!!!"
But do not want to take any of the themes/feats/classes mentioned above there are companion character rules in DMG2.
#9
FearTheLiving
Apr 01, 2013 3:49:40 Thanks for the info also while looking through themes I actually found one that pretty much does exactly what I wanted "Animal Master", Raven was even one of the preset animals I could pick.
#10
trashoon
Apr 01, 2013 11:29:30 pets. mind of ther own

like an npc critter. handle animal can teach it tricks. but dm sets its history you just say what you call your pet.

you could get a fake bird as an acessory to your jacket

mechanical bird

ghost bird

zombie

the bird wich is your ancestors in flesh form.

overall make the bird feel like it is a nother intresting element to the story.

because has any one ever made you acknowledge a critter in a story of ultimate combat?

its done like apart of an intro,till the run off screen. or parts of the story folows the animal part in sabotauge the enemy strong hold

or even a tragic loss, perhaps its realy your brother trapped within.

read single player campains under the whats the player to do.........lets just say you have complete control of character creation

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 FearTheLiving Mar 29, 2013 7:08:32	So I'm fairly new to D&D only having played 4 sessions total and I was wondering how pets work. I'm currently playing 4e and wanted a pet Raven for story purposes, but not even as a minion more as a cosmetic item that would send messages and pretty much hang around. Would that be possible or does it have to be a minion to learn abilites and what not? Any help would be appreciated or even a link or page in the PHB I might have missed. Thanks.
#2 Omegasupreme651 Mar 29, 2013 8:00:03	If you're not planning on it being a minion to do your bidding.... I think you're good to go w/ the pet. If it were a dire wolf or something, your DM may make you run it differently, but as you said "cosmetic", you're probably ok to have it, like you would if you had a pet mouse or something that you carry in your pocket. However, be prepared for the DM to potentially mess w/ it.... meaning - you might get it stolen, or killed for food if you're not careful....
#3 FearTheLiving Mar 29, 2013 8:44:43	If you're not planning on it being a minion to do your bidding.... I think you're good to go w/ the pet. If it were a dire wolf or something, your DM may make you run it differently, but as you said "cosmetic", you're probably ok to have it, like you would if you had a pet mouse or something that you carry in your pocket. However, be prepared for the DM to potentially mess w/ it.... meaning - you might get it stolen, or killed for food if you're not careful.... Alright, thanks for the quick reply.
#4 CliveDauthi Mar 29, 2013 10:06:04	Omegasupreme651 is right, just make it part of your characters fluff. Alternatively; depending on your class, there will more than likely be powers which you could describe your pet doing for you; or feats (quick draw- could rp it as your bird retrieving things from your pack for you, ext.) Also if you ever consider getting an arcane familiar; you could just re-skin any of them to be a bird. GoodLuck.
#5 Matyr Mar 29, 2013 12:48:43	There is also a Raven Familiar. Gives you bonuses to finding hidden objects and, when in active mode, you can use it to listen to things. Its not a great familiar, but it isn't terrible either. If you want to have a mechanical benefit for it, do that. Otherwise it is just a mundane pet so ask the DM to let you have it. The only thing to be wary of is using your pet for mechanical benefit if you get it for free. That is often frowned upon.
#6 Tech-Priest Mar 29, 2013 13:08:20	Go with an arcane character of some sort, take Arcane Familiar. Done. Otherwise, there's the Animal Master theme, Fey Beast Tamer theme, the Druid class itself, Shaman class's spirit companion, and so on...there's many options at your disposal. However your DM allows it to happen, roll with it.
#7 Centauri Mar 29, 2013 13:38:42	I agree with not using any mechanics for this. But be prepared for its message delivery abilities to be hampered for "story purposes."
#8 Sea-Envy Mar 29, 2013 17:14:43	If you and you DM ever want your pet to get involved in action, adventure and "Butt Kicking for Goodness!!!" But do not want to take any of the themes/feats/classes mentioned above there are companion character rules in DMG2.
#9 FearTheLiving Apr 01, 2013 3:49:40	Thanks for the info also while looking through themes I actually found one that pretty much does exactly what I wanted "Animal Master", Raven was even one of the preset animals I could pick.
#10 trashoon Apr 01, 2013 11:29:30	pets. mind of ther own like an npc critter. handle animal can teach it tricks. but dm sets its history you just say what you call your pet. you could get a fake bird as an acessory to your jacket mechanical bird ghost bird zombie the bird wich is your ancestors in flesh form. overall make the bird feel like it is a nother intresting element to the story. because has any one ever made you acknowledge a critter in a story of ultimate combat? its done like apart of an intro,till the run off screen. or parts of the story folows the animal part in sabotauge the enemy strong hold or even a tragic loss, perhaps its realy your brother trapped within. read single player campains under the whats the player to do.........lets just say you have complete control of character creation