So, I wanted to get everyone's opinion on how to handle this. The rogue in my group, Neville Bluefeather, decided he wanted to keep the baby owlbear in the first adventure. The ranger in the group advised against it but Neville insisted on adopting the damn critter. I told him that at the very least he will have to train it. But how does a 3'5" gnome handle a grown 8' tall owlbear in the future?
What would you guys do if a party member decided to keep the owlbear?
I'd make the little guy such a pain in the arse that the character would want to get rid of it. How is he going to feed it during a three day stint in 3FoE? Can't see him taking it along. Nice fun trying to move siliently with a with a squawking baby owlbear in the background. Also, it wouldn't be long before the owlbear would peck and claw the little halfling, making his life miserable. IMC, everyone decided to sell the thing after realizing how much they could get for it. I gave them a couple of different possible buyers, including the Emporium (who low-balled them) They settled on a buyer from the Free City.
I told them how much they could get for it by selling it. The gnome rogue wants to train it to be a mount! He didn't seem interested. I should make it a pain . . . hmmmm . . . well they are going to the observatory to seek out filge and Alastor's family's bones. Anyone have ideas of how to make George a nuisance?
I told them how much they could get for it by selling it. The gnome rogue wants to train it to be a mount! He didn't seem interested. I should make it a pain . . . hmmmm . . . well they are going to the observatory to seek out filge and Alastor's family's bones. Anyone have ideas of how to make George a nuisance?
Have it freak out when it gets a whiff of the undead around the obervatory. Have it screech, drawing tons of attention and Filge will know they are coming for sure and be well prepared.
My players are selling the baby owlbear on consignment via Taggin, since not many in town can actually afford such a beast. At the moment Taggin has it on rent (unbeknownst to the players) to be a displayed at the emporium, which the players discovered last session via scuttlebutt from some miners eating at the Rusty Bucket. Eventually someone from the Free City will purchase it to be a watchdog... perhaps someone from a later episode (and the baby owlbear might make a re-appearance).
The elf fighter in my group hired a druid to take care of it for most of the campaign. Then, at 15th level, he payed for a wish spell to make the owlbear full-grown and then an awaken spell to make it intelligent. Then he took Leadership and now has an owlbear barbarian as his cohort...
Oddly enough, the druid in my group killed it immediately. I'm still not entirely sure why...
Anyone have ideas of how to make George a nuisance?
Use this chart
My group managed to subdue both the mother owlbear and they baby owlbear. They sold them both to the Emporium; the baby became another one of the "attractions", the Emporium sold the mother off to the Free City arena. Oh yes, my players will face one very enhanced (fiendish? levels of figher? magical experimentation to make her more powerful? not sure yet) and pissed off momma owlbear in the arena. And when she catches the scent of the adventurers who stole her baby from her...well, you can guess its not going to be a pretty sight :)
My group managed to subdue both the mother owlbear and they baby owlbear. They sold them both to the Emporium; the baby became another one of the "attractions", the Emporium sold the mother off to the Free City arena. Oh yes, my players will face one very enhanced (fiendish? levels of figher? magical experimentation to make her more powerful? not sure yet) and pissed off momma owlbear in the arena. And when she catches the scent of the adventurers who stole her baby from her...well, you can guess its not going to be a pretty sight :)
That is going to be one fantabulous encounter! My party killed Mamma owlbear and then took George as a pet, well the gnome rogue took him as a pet and wants to train him as a mount. I wish they had just sold it although this does make things more interesting.
Should George become a feature of our adventuring group does anyone have info on owl bears? How fast do they mature? How long do they live? etc.
I am keeping track of time in my game so we can keep track of when George starts growing up.
I would go off of standard bears, if nobody finds anything for owl bears.
Should George become a feature of our adventuring group does anyone have info on owl bears? How fast do they mature? How long do they live? etc.
I am keeping track of time in my game so we can keep track of when George starts growing up.
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Tatyanna, do you have access to "Savage Species"? I'm betting you could reverse-engineer the mechanics of an owlbear using rules in that sourcebook.
As for making it a permanent companion, I wouldn't rule out the possibility, but do think you should use the chart linked above (have you checked it out?) to make it a major pain in the meantime. Our ongoing Eberron campaign features a halfling bard who purchased a dinosaur (clawfoot from the "ECS") as soon as possible. Later, when she took Leadership, it was indeed awakened and is now her cohort as a viciously effective Fighter/Barbarian. The dino, 'Hayai', is one of the most fun aspects of that group, I think.
With the owlbear, though, I don't believe it can be awakened with the RAW, since they're magical beasts and not animals.
My group managed to subdue both the mother owlbear and they baby owlbear. They sold them both to the Emporium; the baby became another one of the "attractions", the Emporium sold the mother off to the Free City arena. Oh yes, my players will face one very enhanced (fiendish? levels of figher? magical experimentation to make her more powerful? not sure yet) and pissed off momma owlbear in the arena. And when she catches the scent of the adventurers who stole her baby from her...well, you can guess its not going to be a pretty sight :)
OH that is too sweet. You will Definately have to give us a 'blow by blow' on how that encounter goes. I will be VERY interested in hearing that story!
My Group killed Mamma, but captured 'George' as well. Not sure what their overall plans are at this point - depends on how Balabar Smenk feels....<evil laugh>
-Drake
George, eh? Is that, by any chance, a reference to the big galoot (Dog? Abominable Snowman?) who grabs Bugs Bunny in his arms with adoptive intentions, saying, "I will hug him and kiss him and name him George."
That Owlbear Chart is Parting Shot worthy.
I will talk to the author and ask him if I can submit it,
giving him full credit of course.
Listen. An Owlbear was originally created by magic gone wrong.
As soon as it becomes adult it will have to kill anything that
moves or suffer screaming headaches.
Only mating lust or maternal instinct will sway it from it's
deadly rounds.
The ranger knew it was unnatural.