Here is a thought:
I am currently playing a ranger (urban variant, APG)and it's getting close to animal companion time. Looking at the options for someone who is firmly rooted in the city atmosphere, the obvious choice is Dog. Looking at the Ranger's list, there are clearly superior options out there like the cheetah and Wolf. Looking at these I had a idea. Could I disguise the wolf as a dog? Can I use my disguise check? Obviously it's up to the DM, but what are your thoughts? The wolf will start off medium, and become large, making it much more difficult, but until then why not?
Why am I suddenly reminded of Ace the Bat Hound? ;)
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If it were my game, why not.
Course, there would be roleplaying opportunities galore.
-Wolf: "You are NOT putting that sweater and pink bow on me. I am NOT a poodle no matter what your low intelligence thinks."
-Ranger: "Come on, it'll keep the guards off our backs."
-Wolf: "One step closer and I swear I will bite you. You know I have been wanting to since that "stray cat" incident."
-Ranger: "Seriously, I'm a city boy at heart, how was I supposed to know it was a skunk?"
-Wolf: "Cause it STUNK! You pink skins can't smell ANYTHING with that pathetic nose you have."
-Ranger: "Well, this time there will be no skunks. Lots of poodles though. Lots of LADY poodles."
-Wolf: "Remind me to pee on you in your sleep. Get it over with and I will attempt to regain my dignity later."
It's really about having some fun. I could have some fun with it...
You can always choose a large dog like a mastiff like the one in Harry Potter. Remember this is fantasy many creatures could be domesticated in D&D & live in an urban setting. In Eberron I play a urban ranger whos a goblin and explores sewers & cogs under Sharn my companion is a crocodile.Check with your DM, but I dont see why you cant put a collar on a wolf and maybe dye his fur using diguise skill.
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Here is a thought:
I am currently playing a ranger (urban variant, APG)and it's getting close to animal companion time. Looking at the options for someone who is firmly rooted in the city atmosphere, the obvious choice is Dog. Looking at the Ranger's list, there are clearly superior options out there like the cheetah and Wolf. Looking at these I had a idea. Could I disguise the wolf as a dog? Can I use my disguise check? Obviously it's up to the DM, but what are your thoughts? The wolf will start off medium, and become large, making it much more difficult, but until then why not?
Take "Dire Rat" and disguise it as an angry, overgrown Chihuahua.
You could teach the cheetah to "bark" and dare anyone to disagree with you that it's really a dog.
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Take "Dire Rat" and disguise it as an angry, overgrown Chihuahua.Here is a thought:
I am currently playing a ranger (urban variant, APG)and it's getting close to animal companion time. Looking at the options for someone who is firmly rooted in the city atmosphere, the obvious choice is Dog. Looking at the Ranger's list, there are clearly superior options out there like the cheetah and Wolf. Looking at these I had a idea. Could I disguise the wolf as a dog? Can I use my disguise check? Obviously it's up to the DM, but what are your thoughts? The wolf will start off medium, and become large, making it much more difficult, but until then why not?
Or just come up to a guard or whoever and say "It's a dire rat... what I could have a chihuahua if you prefer... yeah I thought you'd prefer a rat too."
One campaign I played in turned out to be majority city play after a few sessions (I had rolled the character up prior and there was a plot twist) and I had a Ranger with a wolf as well. Stats were very good and I had taken forgery with extra skill points *so* I forged papers saying I was the guardian of a royal wolf hound or some such for one of the nobles from the outskirts of the kingdom. There were a couple of amusing RP situations that arose which made it that much more fun as well from the DM's perspective. I think he enjoyed the idea when I brought it up after realizing the problem instead of just having to "hand wave it" due to PC glow.
As for the problem of the wolf changing sizes, unless PFRPG has changed this, animal companions don't increase in size. HD are added but there is no size bump as technically the HD are a bonus, if the animal ceases to be your companion those HD go away which would cause the creature to "shrink" all of the sudden. It also keeps the companion from having to recalculate stats as size changes which simplifies things. Same with familiars, even though they may have multiple HD due to the caster's leveling up, they won't increase in size.
There are dogs that count as size Large. Meet George...
As for the problem of the wolf changing sizes, unless PFRPG has changed this, animal companions don't increase in size.
Ya, PFRPG changed that. It's different for every animal companion but some of them, like the boar, dog, wolf, and tyrannosaur, change size. In addition to the animal companion progression all the animals that can be made companions have their own starting statblocks with sizes and information on size increases (when they happen, how the statblock changes).
It's better this way. You don't have to wait until you're high levels before taking a tyrannosaurus as a companion. You can get it at 1st level. It's just medium sized. But it grows up as you gain levels...
As for the problem of the wolf changing sizes, unless PFRPG has changed this, animal companions don't increase in size.Ya, PFRPG changed that. It's different for every animal companion but some of them, like the boar, dog, wolf, and tyrannosaur, change size. In addition to the animal companion progression all the animals that can be made companions have their own starting statblocks with sizes and information on size increases (when they happen, how the statblock changes).
It's better this way. You don't have to wait until you're high levels before taking a tyrannosaurus as a companion. You can get it at 1st level. It's just medium sized. But it grows up as you gain levels...
Do you happen to know which book/pages that show that? I ran through the PFRPG core book the animal companion rules in druid/ranger blocks and besides some odd wording and stat changes that were listed on the leveling table (text said 4th and 7th, table said 9th) there was nothing that indicated there was a size change for them. Not trying to be contrary, just would like to get all the rules for classes our group use normally consolidated ;-)
Here's the problem (isn't there always a problem?)
It doesn't matter what disguise you use. Go ahead and use magic to make the <whatever> look like a kitten. What does matter is that you're planning on taking a wild animal into an urban setting for prolonged periods of time.
Take a tiger.
Sure, it's your companion. Sure, you teach it tricks like "heel", "stay", and "attack". Do you teach it "don't feed just because you're hungry and there's a perfectly delectable horse right there?" How do you cope with the sensory nature of a city? Your tiger is going to be wildly out of its element and bombarded by stimulus from all sides that is going to be hard to control. You'd probably be pushing it constantly. Don't fail or it might just eat the cleric you're negotiating some potion purchases from.
Wild animals are wild. In the wild, that works. It's easy to hand-wave that the ranger is able to convince his companion not to eat his fellow adventurers. It's more difficult to imagine a wild animal in a city not managing to get into serious trouble.
Here's the problem (isn't there always a problem?)
It doesn't matter what disguise you use. Go ahead and use magic to make the <whatever> look like a kitten. What does matter is that you're planning on taking a wild animal into an urban setting for prolonged periods of time.
Take a tiger.
Sure, it's your companion. Sure, you teach it tricks like "heel", "stay", and "attack". Do you teach it "don't feed just because you're hungry and there's a perfectly delectable horse right there?" How do you cope with the sensory nature of a city? Your tiger is going to be wildly out of its element and bombarded by stimulus from all sides that is going to be hard to control. You'd probably be pushing it constantly. Don't fail or it might just eat the cleric you're negotiating some potion purchases from.
Wild animals are wild. In the wild, that works. It's easy to hand-wave that the ranger is able to convince his companion not to eat his fellow adventurers. It's more difficult to imagine a wild animal in a city not managing to get into serious trouble.
Those aren't "real" problems though. As an animal companion those are things that aren't really issues. Do you feed your companion? Why would it go eat something?? Given the "reasoning" for animal companions if you weren't feeding or giving the companion leave to go hunting where it wouldn't cause trouble, you aren't going to have a companion for long, it will leave you. And if you let things get that bad, your character deserves what they get from that. Animal companions aren't really "wild" animals anymore, they become loyal to the character they are bonded with, that loyalty overrides its basic impulses otherwise it would NEVER fight to the death for a companion EVER.
Wild animals are wild, wild animals are what a fighter goes and buys from an exotic pet vendor, maybe with some expensive and special training. They aren't Animal Companions, this label, these special rules for this specific creature, mean a completely different thing than what you are suggesting. The only reason an animal companion would get into serious trouble is if it's character initiates it or does something to cause it.
As for the wolf, the riding dog is a decent replacement. Mechanically the riding dog and wolf are very very close, assuming your DM is reasonable it is quite possible they would allow you to have a (fluff) "dog" with wolf mechanics. Many animals are named something yet are used to represent a wide variety of creatures, chances are the only reason riding dogs are even described seperately is because they need a higher strength score to carry a rider and gear.
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Do you happen to know which book/pages that show that? I ran through the PFRPG core book the animal companion rules in druid/ranger blocks and besides some odd wording and stat changes that were listed on the leveling table (text said 4th and 7th, table said 9th) there was nothing that indicated there was a size change for them. Not trying to be contrary, just would like to get all the rules for classes our group use normally consolidated ;-)
Look at the actual stats given under the druid or ranger class for the various animal companions (or, for that matter, look at the animals in the Bestiary designated as possible animal companions)
You will see that many of the sizes increase when the animal gets its 4th or 7th level improvements.
For example:
Wolf
Starting Statistics: Size Medium; Speed 50 ft.; AC +2 natural armor; Attack bite (1d6 plus trip); Ability Scores Str 13, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6; Special Qualities scent.
7th-Level Advancement: Size Large; AC +2 natural armor; Attack bite (1d8 plus trip); Ability Scores Str +8, Dex –2, Con +4.
Disguise My Animal Companion?
Hee hee hee.
"No, that's no beast! That's just uncle Horse. He's from forn parts, they don't believe in shaving there."
Worked with the Librarian...
Do you happen to know which book/pages that show that?As for the problem of the wolf changing sizes, unless PFRPG has changed this, animal companions don't increase in size.Ya, PFRPG changed that.
The next page. Pg 53 and 54 of the core book. Take your tiger...
Starting Statistics: Size Medium; (rest of stats)
7th-level adjustment: Size Large; (rest of stats)
First thing on those lines is the size change. The only animal companions listed in the core rulebook that don't have a size change listed are the bird, camel, horse, and pony. 13 out of 17 change size.
Those aren't "real" problems though. As an animal companion those are things that aren't really issues. Do you feed your companion? Why would it go eat something?? Given the "reasoning" for animal companions if you weren't feeding or giving the companion leave to go hunting where it wouldn't cause trouble, you aren't going to have a companion for long, it will leave you. And if you let things get that bad, your character deserves what they get from that. Animal companions aren't really "wild" animals anymore, they become loyal to the character they are bonded with, that loyalty overrides its basic impulses otherwise it would NEVER fight to the death for a companion EVER.
Wild animals are wild, wild animals are what a fighter goes and buys from an exotic pet vendor, maybe with some expensive and special training. They aren't Animal Companions, this label, these special rules for this...
Fair enough. We're going to disagree.
Typically, no, my rangers don't feed their companions. Why? Because they're both in the wild almost all of the time. Also, typically my rangers are feeding themselves with Survival. Next, where exactly are you shopping in a city to pick up tiger-feed? Yes, you can buy a side of beef, but where exactly are you taking that and letting the tiger savage it? What measures are you taking to clean it up.
Rangers don't usually micro-manage these things because they don't need to in the wild. In an urban setting it doesn't work that way.
As for the assertion that animal companions are somehow domesticated, I'm afraid I absolutely disagree with that. Familiars, yes. Animal companions no. They retain their animal nature (and type). They can be called and released at the ranger's whim. You don't need to worry that your ex-companion no longer knows how to feed itself because it became reliant on you. No, they retain all their normal instincts. Those are what I see as a problem.
Yes, there's a bond between the ranger and his companion, but that isn't a "do whatever I think you should do" and "don't do what I don't want you to do" bond. And it's personal. Animal companions won't automatically guard fellow adventurers unless ordered to or there's an extenuating reason. (They might arguably try but if they take damage or the danger is seriously frightening, they're gone.)
That's how I see animal companions. It's just like having a dog. It loves you. But it's still a dog. Now, most dogs aren't terribly blood-thirsty, and most don't attack humans to start with. Take animals that DO and turn those into your pet. Bad idea, but PFRPG has rules that prevent it from turning on it's "master". Says nothing about a nice juicy tempting city full of purse-chihuahuas. Mmmmm. Snack time.
Thank you both Marc and Nebulous_Mistress, our group has gone both ways in the past (they get larger or they don't) until the official answer came down. It is also listed under druid for Nature's Bond, right there saying it changes size. Just another of those little changes with rules in multiple places!
@Anguish
When in the wild, yes I feed animal companions - RAW doesn't have a trick to allow for the animal to wander off and feed itself so I take the guess work and gray area out of it. If you are going to tell an animal companion to Heel and follow you through the urban setting, it won't attack anything unless it comes under attack itself or is told to do so, read the Handle Animal description for the tricks. Need to go someplace without the animal companion? We usually leave it in the stables with a "Stay" and a large tip to cover the cost of buisness that might be lost (other combat trained animals might be OK with a tiger or wolf in the stables but the normal riding horse won't be) and a very strong warning not to pet or poke at the animal or else... Same for feeding. A wild animal on stay will not attack other creatures but will defend itself, it will HAPPILY sit in the stall with its food and water, all while not causing any problems until you return.
If your rangers aren't micro managing animal companions they are doing themselves a disservice during playtime, period. It's a free action and you have 6 skill points +/- as a ranger as well as a bonus to handle animal skills, using a known trick until you can successfully "push" an unknown trick isn't a hardship. Actually it should be an early ranger's modus operandi truthfully.
Did I ever say domesticated? Did I? I said Animal Companion, which gives the creature tricks and or training for a general purpose. Proper use of these tricks negate all the complaints and issues you are saying would arise. Yes it is still wild, but yet it can do things a domesticated/trained animal can be called up to do as well. The bond overrides the instincts of that wild animal. So it isn't domesticated, nor is it wild anymore, it is something else.
Basically it is like a trained warhorse, do warhorses go rampaging around in cities? Snacking on everything they could possibly eat?? I guess my problem with your problem is that you are intentionally making it a problem when one doesn't exist. Not to mention a wild animal's instinct isn't to ravage the entire city, it is actually going to be to get out of the city, it might fight if cornered or if it is attacked or starving, fighting and ravaging is really a last resort for a wild animal. A starving companion is one of the only things I could see being an issue. If you tell it to stay and then don't feed it for several days, it will probably go looking for food. As a ranger who is bringing an animal companion into an urban setting - THIS SHOULD NEVER OCCUR, unless the player is a moron and or looking for trouble. If that is possible (you will be gone for awhile where the companion cannot go), you pay for that stable in advance and pay for someone to buy food daily and feed it. That is what stable hands/npcs are for after all.
I never said it was a "do whatever I think you should do/read my mind" bond, I said that understanding and use of the abilities granted by the bond and skill, negate all your problems. You are right, it is like having a dog, except better. All of the typical animal companions are as intelligent as the dog, by the rules, go look at the stat block (minus snakes, crocodiles and sharks). Take the best trained behaved dog you have ever seen, now take that same personality and intelligence and stick it in any of the listed animal bodies on the companion list. In short that is what the ability does, turns any of those animals into "Ranger/Druid's Best Friend" as a loyal companion.
I'm not trying to change your mind on how you run it, just pointing out how you seem to run animal companions isn't how the game does. Moderately intelligent play and the liberal use of the "Defend", "Heel" and "Stay" command fix most of your issues.