Attacking and Combat Maneuvers for Animals


Rules Questions


I recognize that an animal trained to attack can be directed to attack with a DC 10 handle animal check. Simple enough. However...

1) Does this training imply that the animal has been trained to know how to attack strategically? For example: if it incapacitates an opponent with one attack on its first action in a round, will it then engage another adjacent opponent with its other attacks or move up to its speed toward another opponent WITHOUT needing another handle animal check?

2) Can the animal be commanded to preform a bull-rush, over-run or some other combat maneuver? Or would these be additional tricks? Which maneuvers are part of the "attack" training, if any?

3) Can the animal be directed to charge? This is neither a trick, combat maneuver, nor run-of-the-mill attack.

4) Related to items 2 & 3, if mounted, can you direct a mount to perform a combat maneuver or charge (I recognize that charge seems to be a yes, given the mounted combat rules which address this explicitly)? If the answers to 2 & 3 are "No," why would an animal know these attack modes when you are on it's back, but not otherwise?

Thanks for any discussion and clarifications!


Eelario wrote:

I recognize that an animal trained to attack can be directed to attack with a DC 10 handle animal check. Simple enough. However...

1) Does this training imply that the animal has been trained to know how to attack strategically? For example: if it incapacitates an opponent with one attack on its first action in a round, will it then engage another adjacent opponent with its other attacks or move up to its speed toward another opponent WITHOUT needing another handle animal check?

2) Can the animal be commanded to preform a bull-rush, over-run or some other combat maneuver? Or would these be additional tricks? Which maneuvers are part of the "attack" training, if any?

3) Can the animal be directed to charge? This is neither a trick, combat maneuver, nor run-of-the-mill attack.

4) Related to items 2 & 3, if mounted, can you direct a mount to perform a combat maneuver or charge (I recognize that charge seems to be a yes, given the mounted combat rules which address this explicitly)? If the answers to 2 & 3 are "No," why would an animal know these attack modes when you are on it's back, but not otherwise?

Thanks for any discussion and clarifications!

This is probably not the answer you're looking for, but I would simply raise the animal's INT score to 3 at the earliest opportunity, which means the animal can understand language. So, in essence, you don't have to deal with tricks at all anymore - just tell the animal to flank/charge/trip whoever.

Also, I would say that animals that hunt in packs (wolves and lions chiefly) would pretty much automatically know to flank, whereas something like a bear or a boar would just run in and start smashing/goring.

EDIT: I just realized that this pretty much only applies to Animal Companions. I'm not sure how you would deal with regular trained animals.


Kryptik wrote:

This is probably not the answer you're looking for, but I would simply raise the animal's INT score to 3 at the earliest opportunity, which means the animal can understand language. So, in essence, you don't have to deal with tricks at all anymore - just tell the animal to flank/charge/trip whoever.

Also, I would say that animals that hunt in packs (wolves and lions chiefly) would pretty much automatically know to flank, whereas something like a bear or a boar would just run in and start smashing/goring.

EDIT: I just realized that this pretty much only applies to Animal Companions. I'm not sure how you would deal with regular trained animals.

Yeah, I'm only asking about regular animals, not animal companions.

Does anyone have any input at all on this subject? Even opinions from other players are better than nothing. Bring it on!

--E


I know its a bad thing to bring up Rl in a game Discussion :P but Pretty sure police dogs can be trained to go for the weapon hand of n assailant deliberaly knock them over and so on.

Trip and Maybe Disarm would probly be reasonable, Charge as well. I really wouldnt know about bull Rush though.

no idea if the actual mechanics cover any of this may be best to just go with what feels appropriate.


Technically speaking, I'd say you could train them to do explicit maneuvers on command, or define one as default. Now, I hate counting off tricks. Mostly because many animals aren't as limited as the low number of tricks would suggest, and because its unneeded bookkeeping. I'd just throw it in as part of guard/attack training if you have to.

For untrained animals, I'd say it depends on the animal. As mentioned, wolves and the like will likely flank and trip you like crazy. A bear will smash, trash, and use his improved grab ability.

Generally, if it has an ability like that, it will likely use it as a default.

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