You can buy a pet of whatever kind, then use handle animal to train the pet and teach it tricks. You don't get to push or command them as a free action like a character with the animal companion class feature can however, and they don't start with any tricks unless you buy a pet that's combat trained. If one is combat trained, he has a single specific training. If you wanted to keep one just for show, you don't even have to teach him any tricks. I do it all the time. The pet won't advance like an animal companion however, and likely won't stay combat relevant because of this.
You can't use diplomacy for handle animal. There is a huge difference between training an animal with a whip or practice than talking to one nicely. Notably most animals have 2 intelligence and don't speak back. Though I'd ask your DM about training bears by speaking bear, if you happen to speak bear.(I recommend over a fine dessert. Cheesecake?)
You can't use diplomacy for handle animal. There is a huge difference between training an animal with a whip or practice than talking to one nicely. Notably most animals have 2 intelligence and don't speak back. Though I'd ask your DM about training bears by speaking bear, if you happen to speak bear.(I recommend over a fine dessert. Cheesecake?)
Did you not read the ability?
These dhampirs gain the ability to communicate with bats, rats, and wolves as if under the effects of a speak with animals spell
This is clearly one of the few cases they can talk & make diplomacy checks with animals.
You can't use diplomacy for handle animal. There is a huge difference between training an animal with a whip or practice than talking to one nicely. Notably most animals have 2 intelligence and don't speak back. Though I'd ask your DM about training bears by speaking bear, if you happen to speak bear.(I recommend over a fine dessert. Cheesecake?)Did you not read the ability?
These dhampirs gain the ability to communicate with bats, rats, and wolves as if under the effects of a speak with animals spellThis is clearly one of the few cases they can talk & make diplomacy checks with animals.
Nope just noticed that, but I stand by my ruling on bears.
Well the thing with handle animal/diplomacy is why the alternate racial feature specifically referenced 'speak with animals.' I think that he might be able to interact with them like they were intelligent creatures, and thus he can give them (simple) instructions to follow without needing a 'trick.' I think the easiest way is the way he originally read it: use diplomacy like it was handle animal for 'pushing' them for specific actions.
Still, they will just be normal animals, so I think you would have to restrict your requests to either their natural behaviors (asking a dog to track someone) or fairly obvious actions (fetch this, attack that). Keep that in mind and they will work well as servants for certain menial tasks. I would not use them as combatants anymore than I would a level 1 commoner though. So treat them the same like somewhere between a familiar and a hireling.
Nope just noticed that, but I stand by my ruling on bears.
Well yeah, they don't get to talk to bears lol.
As for the tricks, you don't need them if you can communicate with them. You can explain to them what you need them to do, and they'll decide if they want to/can do it. Now, you could still teach them tricks, but IMO you don't need to unless you plan on leaving your pet with the party for long periods of time.
That is kind of why I'd advice birds as a focus for this. They tend to be small, inconspicuous, and really...what kind of creatures are you facing that have time to kill each and every bird they see? With the racial trait, it will serve well as a scout since it can describe what it saw, and it doesn't matter if its stealth check fails. The bird isn't magical, so there should be little reason for them to target it.
Just tell it to fly off when the fight actually begins, and you will be fine unless someone gets off a fireball in the surprise round.