
Swordwind |
Long time lurker first time poster. I've a question that I'd like to have answered here. It's about three particular skills. Ride and Handle animal in combat. I'll give examples and then allow you to answer them to the best of your ability. I'm really looking for a RAW answer to it and I can't find anything.
We assume Animal companion is trained in all tricks for this simulation.
Example One: Druid and Animal Companion(AC) are in combat. Druid is Knocked out and has at least a +11 in Handle animal so he has auto success in commanding his AC in combat with his tricks. His last command is attack bad guy. Another PC with Speak with Animals decides to command druids AC to defend him while he is hurt as a move action and then spend his standard on something else. Does the other PC get to command druids AC? Or is is opposed Handle animal rolls?
Example Two: Same as example one but Druid is awake, near his AC and has rolled a 15 handle animal to make his AC attack bad guy. But other PC says no, you defend me with a handle animal roll of 16. So does druids AC defend other PC on the next round or does druid have to oppose the roll with another handle animal?
Example Three: PC are walking down a hallway and hear growling, they round the corner and see three wolves, PCs go first as they were aware, druid rolls handle animal and causes wolves to back down. Then rolls again to control them. Thus gaining new wolves as allies and even turns them back at their trainers. Druid rolls amazing Handle animal in this particular roll.
Bonus example: PC are fighting a mounted fighter. Druid walks over to mounted fighter and rolls handle animal to force mount to stop fighting them and to basically sit down so other PCs can kill the rider. Rolls handle animal to do this. Lets assume druid beats fighter in his ride check to resist and his handle animal.
These are issues that have happened in a couple games I've ran and played in. So tell me where it says a PC or NPC can't cause another Animal companion or Mount to stop what it is doing and make it sit out of the fight for a number of rounds. Till its master is dead.
Does it boil down to opposed Handle animal rolls/ride rolls?

BigNorseWolf |
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Example One: Druid and Animal Companion(AC) are in combat. Druid is Knocked out and has at least a +11 in Handle animal so he has auto success in commanding his AC in combat with his tricks. His last command is attack bad guy. Another PC with Speak with Animals decides to command druids AC to defend him while he is hurt as a move action and then spend his standard on something else. Does the other PC get to command druids AC? Or is is opposed Handle animal rolls?
DM's call. There's no listed bonus to handle animal when casting speak with animals, but there should be a significant benefit for talking to something thats probably friendly with you anyway.
Animals are not automatons. What is the animals personality like? Is it going to gleefully charge into combat and stay there because it likes fighting, or is it going to be more worried about its master/friend and start withdrawing?
Example Two: Same as example one but Druid is awake, near his AC and has rolled a 15 handle animal to make his AC attack bad guy. But other PC says no, you defend me with a handle animal roll of 16. So does druids AC defend other PC on the next round or does druid have to oppose the roll with another handle animal?
The druid's animal companion listens to his druid.
Example Three: PC are walking down a hallway and hear growling, they round the corner and see three wolves, PCs go first as they were aware, druid rolls handle animal and causes wolves to back down. Then rolls again to control them. Thus gaining new wolves as allies and even turns them back at their trainers. Druid rolls amazing Handle animal in this particular roll.
RAW wild empathy takes a minute, and like diplomacy won't work on something that wants to kill you.
Bonus example: PC are fighting a mounted fighter. Druid walks over to mounted fighter and rolls handle animal to force mount to stop fighting them and to basically sit down so other PCs can kill the rider. Rolls handle animal to do this. Lets assume druid beats fighter in his ride check to resist and his handle animal.
Handle animal doesn't have a "Force other animal that doesn't know you from adam to do something" option. The horse is going to listen to the person riding it.
These are issues that have happened in a couple games I've ran and played in. So tell me where it says a PC or NPC can't cause another Animal companion or Mount to stop what it is doing and make it sit out of the fight for a number of rounds. Till its master is dead.
Show me where it says that crossbow bolts don't sprout flying monkey wings when they're fired.

Swordwind |
So basically common sense vs rule exploiting by the looks of it. The main thing I was looking for was a solid rule answer for the AC being unable to be controlled by another PC as long as the druid was awake and directing his companion.
Yet where does it state that another PC can't take control of another persons AC in a combat state with the skill?
So basically Wild Empathy takes to long to stop a raging or hungrey beast from wanting to kill you and everything else that is hostile and wants to kill you can't be stopped by a handle animal roll, but with magic it can be.
For some reason the PFS groups in the area tend to avoid the topic alot and I had to get a clearer answer about that. Thanks.