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I'm worried that a pack mule will end up being so much cheese. While maintaining verisimilitude, how can I realistically manage the donkey as a DM? I've seen a few bits and pieces, like you can never ever make it travel through deep mud. But when it comes to stabling, what happens to it when left outside for extended periods of time, etc., I don't have a clue. I need something comprehensive when it comes to DMing beasts of burden.
Is it April first already?
First off, you should know that there is a pretty distinct difference between a Mule and a Donkey (more specifically, a Mule has a Donkey for a father and a Horse for a mother.)
Next, go to the library or use your trusty interwebs and start reading on how these creatures react to scenarios.
Lastly, keep in mind that the different trick trainings will overcome these default reactions and behavioral patterns.
(Also, if you feel like being a dick dm, feel free to increase the Donkey's Handle Animal DC's by 5 for being so stubborn. I wouldn't, but there are some people who are into that.)
That wouldn't be a 'dick dm' move, it would just be a dick move.
Donkeys are lovely animal, who with good treatment and training are very obident. Stop perpetuating the myth of these lovely animals 'stubboness'.
Shakes fist. That said, if they genuinely where stubbon, there would be nothing wrong with altering the DC.
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Initially I read this as the GM was being a donkey...
I don't see any problem with using a pack mule or a donkey. There are realistic problems that arise from them (terrain, taking them inside etc.) but there are also advantages (treasure holder!). There is a reason why donkeys were (and still are) used to carry stuff, don't worry about it too much, it's just part of the game. If the situation calls for the party to be unable to carry large amounts of equipment, put it in a location where it's inaccessible to the donkey or just kill it. As the GM you are GOD of the world, something as small as this doesn't need to be a huge issue.
Having worked with a donkey ages ago in the Boy Scouts, I concur with the sweet disposition angle. Ours was a sturdy trooper that responded well to inept Scouts, was incredible surefooted (Guess who never took a spill on a 5 mile mountain trail), set a slow and steady pace and stood stone still for loading and unloading. However, they are still herbivores and require training to cope with dangerous situations, the bear sign we found got under her skin and she was skittish for the whole morning hike back.
Have a tentacled monstrosity from a nearby pond eat it!
What's that? It's been done before you say..? ;)
You mean Bill the Pony? He actually survived, he just got separated from the party. He made his way back to town.
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We had one of these in the back of the language class in maurtiania. It was a young one, i used to feed it orange slices and scratch its ears.
When i went away to the capital to get an ultrasound , it brayed all night, and almost knocked over the fence to say hello to me when i came back.
When the donkey was old enough to start pulling a cart, the kids dragged it by its ears over to the cart. I said "whoaaa..[french] you don't need to do that. Watch. [english ]Eeyore, go over to the cart. Donkey walks over to the cart, walks past it, and backs up into the bars on the cart.
Sundown came, donkey came home, they go to drag it back into the pen by the ears. "Whoaaa.. no need watch. Eeyore, go back in the pen... donkey trotted back over to the pen.
their father watched the exchange and said "you have to teach me english" i said "huh.. why? " "So i can talk to the donkey.
You mean Bill the Pony? He actually survived, he just got separated from the party. He made his way back to town.Yes, sorry, you're quite right... and Ol' Yella' retired to a luxury farm somewhere we can't visit him too... ;)
I'm quite serious. The pony reoccurred in the book later.
It is a world filled with magic. Don't track copper pieces, ammunition, or encumbrance ever.
But if you must give the party a portable hole or a magic donkey that turns into a statue they can put in their pocket and when it is activated not only is it a donkey but it can fly using wind walk.
Also make magic donkey talk and sound like Eddie Murphy.
If anyone in the party has a reasonable handle animal skill the donkey is simply extra carrying capacity that follows them around. Unless the party wants to go nuts and haul it up with ropes and pullies, it probably needs to stop at any vertical surface you reach. Other than than it should be able to follow the party almost anywhere.
If they leave it out in front of the dungeon tied up it stays there (and might be eaten by the time you get back). If they don't tie it up it will probably try to make its way into town (and might be eaten on the way)
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Quite a few horse owners will put a donkey in the herd... to chase away predators!
Horses are flight animals; if they're scared, they run away. fast.
Donkeys (and ponies for that matter) are braver in that sense and will chase away coyotes and lone wolves. Donkeys are more vocal than ponies, so they have the advantage of acting as an alarm system; similarly to a dog barking at intruders.
Our ponies chased away quite a few things from raccoons to deers and coyotes are never heard near our property. One came back skunked a few times (bleh!). I heard donkey are even more efficient at this.
I dont see what the fuss is about, players have animal companions. Plenty of horses and the like running about. I encourage players to bring things like donkeys/mules.
Mules went into mines all the time, so how is a dungeon any different.
I believe there was a rendering in the 1e players handbook with dwarven adventurers leading a donkey into a dungeon.
Beasts of burden and ten foot poles were all the rage in the 80s DnD.
With that being said, no reason donkeys cant catch stray cross bow bolts during combats, or attract predators like wolves while the party is resting, or have giant owls swoop down and try to carry them off as Nooooo!
Not to mention food and tents and the like.
When we were playing darksun back in the day... water was all the rage. Water weighs alot.
We traveled in a wagon. Which my character hardly, if ever left. he had a crossbow, and he was lazy (9 con)
We had one of these in the back of the language class in maurtiania... "So i can talk to the donkey.
ROFL! Egad! That takes me back! We fed ours apple slices.
Donkeys are more vocal than ponies, so they have the advantage of acting as an alarm system; similarly to a dog barking at intruders.
True, Forgot that our donkey woke us EVERY morning at sunrise, AKA feeding time. My dog does this by sitting on my arm or chest.
You mean Bill the Pony? He actually survived, he just got separated from the party. He made his way back to town.Have a tentacled monstrosity from a nearby pond eat it!
What's that? It's been done before you say..? ;)
Also, if I remember clearly, Bill got smarter from hanging out with the elvish horses at Rivendell, making his return to civilization much easier.
Nice to see all the love for the donkies.
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As a DM I would make the players continually make animal training checks to make it do anything unnatural such as going into a dungeon, being near combat and not retreating, etc. Also remember a party member must stay with it to keep it put in combat unless it is tied down (standard action). It might also not allow party members to enter its squares in combat. Don't forget about feed. I wouldn't allow it to forage, but require food to be brought.
I see great benefits to bringing a donkey along, but it has to be balanced with the negatives.
Dave
Donkeys are too good for grass now? Foraging for a donkey could be as easy as lowering its head.
As for handle animal, let them buy one that's specially trained for a bit more gold.