Greetings all,
In a campaign I will be joining soon, I will be starting at level 5 as a ranger using the core rulebook and advanced players guide.
My ranger, with a druid level of 2 and thus camel (acquired at level 4) level 2, took a lance and wants to charge, but the camel's only known combat trick will be stay.
According to the rules, this mount/animal companion (due to being a horselord/infiltrator) is NOT combat trained, which means I would have to make a DC 20 ride check each round as a move action, which means I can't make a full-round charge.
Unless I justify it through a back story or spend a massive amount of time in the campaign making handle animal checks, this camel will be "combat trained" at level 15.
My question in all of this is, am I right about all of this? Do you think it would be justifiable to say this character spent past levels training this camel? Also, I realize my DM will be the final say in all of this. Also also, I am new to using mounts and charging, so anything you guys and gals have to offer is appreciated.
Oh, here is another question, am I right in thinking I can't attack AND overrun as part of a charge? Reading past thread I am inclined to say, no, I can't.
Thanks for the advice and for taking the time to reply.
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As I count it, that camel can know at LEAST 7 tricks. If it doesn't know them yet then you need to make the handle animal checks to teach them to it. The primary thing you will be looking for is the general purpose "combat riding," which teaches them attack, come, defend, down, and heal. It also gives the animal light, medium, and heavy armor proficiencies for free.
This animal will be combat trained, and suitable for riding.
As I count it, that camel can know at LEAST 7 tricks. If it doesn't know them yet then you need to make the handle animal checks to teach them to it. The primary thing you will be looking for is the general purpose "combat riding," which teaches them attack, come, defend, down, and heal. It also gives the animal light, medium, and heavy armor proficiencies for free.
This animal will be combat trained, and suitable for riding.
I like this answer...
...said 7 tricks would be in addition to the bonus tricks correct?
Thanks for the answer :)
no, you get 3 tricks per point of intelligence (2 x 3 = 6) plus the animal companion bonus tricks (only one at your level)
total 7
cheers
Ah, I see, so I could narratively justify the 7 tricks known as having been taught to it 1 level prior. Interesting.
Also, I am not seeing where it says an animal companion/mount trained for combat gains armor proficiency for free.
Also, I am not seeing where it says an animal companion/mount trained for combat gains armor proficiency for free.
I could look it up for you, but they FAQ'd that one out of existence.
Masterwork studded leather is your friend here.
Armor Proficiency, Light (Combat)
You are skilled at wearing light armor.
Normal: A character who is wearing armor with which he is not proficient applies its armor check penalty to attack rolls and to all skill checks that involve moving.
Studded leather has an armor check penalty of -1.
Masterwork reduces this by 1 to 0.
So while not proficient you take a -0 penalty to attack rolls and to all skill checks that involve moving. Meaning that unless your camel needs to be able to cast spells, they'll be fine.
Also, I am not seeing where it says an animal companion/mount trained for combat gains armor proficiency for free.I could look it up for you, but they FAQ'd that one out of existence.
Masterwork studded leather is your friend here.
Armor Proficiency, Light (Combat)
You are skilled at wearing light armor.
Normal: A character who is wearing armor with which he is not proficient applies its armor check penalty to attack rolls and to all skill checks that involve moving.
Studded leather has an armor check penalty of -1.
Masterwork reduces this by 1 to 0.
So while not proficient you take a -0 penalty to attack rolls and to all skill checks that involve moving. Meaning that unless your camel needs to be able to cast spells, they'll be fine.
Surprisingly enough, something in the back of my brain told me to go with that exact set up! Thanks for the information, I appreciate it!
Also
Combat Training (DC 20): An animal trained to bear a rider into combat knows the tricks attack, come, defend, down, guard, and heel. Training an animal for combat riding takes 6 weeks. You may also “upgrade” an animal trained for riding to one trained for combat by spending 3 weeks and making a successful DC 20 Handle Animal check. The new general purpose and tricks completely replace the animal's previous purpose and any tricks it once knew. Many horses and riding dogs are trained in this way.
I don't think it would be a stretch to say they have combat trained camels. I know the US tried to use some in arizona during the civil war. Results were.. mixed.
If you HAVE to train it yourself, You get a +4 bonus to this because its your animal companion. That uses 6 of its 7 tricks. For your free trick track is a good choice. When you miss the tracking roll, phone a friend. Scent tracking ignores most of the modifiers that will mess you up.
Also
Combat Training (DC 20): An animal trained to bear a rider into combat knows the tricks attack, come, defend, down, guard, and heel. Training an animal for combat riding takes 6 weeks. You may also “upgrade” an animal trained for riding to one trained for combat by spending 3 weeks and making a successful DC 20 Handle Animal check. The new general purpose and tricks completely replace the animal's previous purpose and any tricks it once knew. Many horses and riding dogs are trained in this way.
I don't think it would be a stretch to say they have combat trained camels. I know the US tried to use some in arizona during the civil war. Results were.. mixed.
If you HAVE to train it yourself, You get a +4 bonus to this because its your animal companion. That uses 6 of its 7 tricks. For your free trick track is a good choice. When you miss the tracking roll, phone a friend. Scent tracking ignores most of the modifiers that will mess you up.
Thanks for the ideas! I will probably just write it into the story for what my ranger did at level 4-5
hehe Civil War Camels ^_^
I don't think it would be a stretch to say they have combat trained camels. I know the US tried to use some in arizona during the civil war. Results were.. mixed.
British and Commonwealth troops successfully used camels in WW1 in the Egypt and Palestine campaigns. They functioned just like the Light Horse regiments as mounted infantry.
From the Australian War Memorial website:
The Imperial Camel Corps (ICC) was formed in January 1916 in order to deal with the revolt of pro-Turkish Senussi tribesmen in Egypt’s Western Desert. The first four companies were recruited from Australian infantry battalions recuperating after Gallipoli. Four battalions were eventually formed. The 1st and 3rd were entirely Australian, the 2nd was British, and the 4th was a mix of Australians and New Zealanders. The ICC also had its own machine gun unit, and a battery of light artillery recruited in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Boon Companion that thing, use that to raise Intelligence to 3 and get rid with tricks once and for all
Uh... NOTHING EVER stated that Int above 3 removes need for Tricks / Animal Handling.
Search the Blog for this, Paizo directly addressed it in a FAQ there.
Your Companion can become smarter, and GMs should reasonably allow them to `expand` upon their known/pushed Tricks to deal with unknown situations a bit better, but they still use the Tricks/Animal Handling system.