Hello! So, I saw that Archive of Nethys updated recently with a slew of options, including the Animal Trainer archetype from Extinction Curse. Intrigued due to discussions with my friends on obtaining an animal companion in other classes, my group and I looked at it. Obviously, the context of the archetype is in relation to the main sub-system of Extinction Curse, the circus, so seeing that a good chunk of the mechanics boosted the animal companion's performance skill made sense -if was a tad disappointing.
However, we hit some confusion when we looked at the Mature Trained Companion feat at 6th level, which gives Mesmerizing Performance. While the action seemed somewhat weak, that wasn't the issue - rather, it is the callout of a Will save DC the target must make, but no guidance on how to calculate it.
Full Description of Mesmerizing Performance, sans save results wrote:
The companion maintains its performance to captivate a single target within 30 feet that witnessed its successful performance. The target must attempt a Will save.
We searched around a bit, but the only frame of reference was the Vulture animal companion having callout text.
Vulture Support Benefit wrote:
Support Benefit The vulture retches and vomits onto a foe within 10 feet. Until the start of your next turn, if you hit and deal damage to the target, the target must succeed at a Fortitude save or become sickened 1 (sickened 2 on a critical failure). The DC of the Fortitude save is 12 (or 14, if the vulture is a specialized animal companion) + your level + the vulture’s Constitution modifier
The only other place to look are the listed proficiencies for animal companions.
Listed Proficiencies wrote:
Animal companions calculate their modifiers and DCs just as you do with one difference: the only item bonuses they can benefit from are to speed and AC (their maximum item bonus to AC is +3). An animal companion has the same level you do.
An animal companion begins with base ability modifiers of Str +2, Dex +2, Con +1, Int –4, Wis +1, Cha +0
Looking at the above, we had a couple of takeaways. One: the trained companion's DC for Mesmerizing Performance is RAW 10 due to a lack of proficiency (+0) and no positive charisma modifier (what would, we assume, be added to the DC). Two: The archetype is a bit of a letdown overall, since it is locked into a fairly tight gimmick, as opposed to being a more general 'have an animal companion and associated feats.' On that later, I can personally assume Piazo did not wish to take away design space from Rangers or Druids, nor force them to have to take an archetype to make their companions better.
In terms of the former, however, we are unsure. So my question is, what should the DC be based on? Is it like the vulture companion, effectively trained, then expert with Charisma replacing Constitution as the added stat [or some other stat doing so, based on GM fiat]? Is it based on the character's Class DC or Spell DC as applicable? Or is it truly meant to be a DC 10 save?
tl;dr: Group unsure about Mesmerizing Performance DC; wishes to know what it should be.
