Playing a PC disguised as Animal Companion

[CKorfmann]

I've had this idea for a while. It might not be new, but it was new to me at the time. The concept is for a character that is disguised as an animal companion or familiar of another NPC or character under my control (remember the old movie Lady Hawk?). I'm curious what would be the best way to achieve this. I have considered the PC being a high level Druid with the Leadership feat and having a Ranger or Wizard Cohort. I have also considered having the PC be a natural Lycanthrope. It seems like the Leadership feat would be required to pull it off. As for motivation, there could be any number of reasons for doing so, so I'm mostly interested in the best way to make it work mechanically. I'd appreciate your insight.

[Zwordsman]

Kitsune race I think is the easiest. There is a feat somewhere (i'm pretty sure it's official paizo, in some random module..) that lets you take the shape of a small fox. So you could be in kitsune shape, random race shape, and kitsune shape. Thats the best way I can see it.

I've had a design of one that was a sorcerer. My GM allowed Natural spell to work in my kitsune form, and added in still spell. Basically I fake out who is casting magic.. so they charge the guy I hang out on.. who is a super melee guy. Who then just cuts them down while I fling spell doom.

Assuming I understood your idea correctly anyway. It's easier to do in a home game or if you always have a friend in the know with you and you guys design it. Leadership would work as well

Of course if you like being the beat face and don't mind the small size, you could be the physical half and hang out with a caster who has arcane bond isntead of familiar. Hop off their shoulder in a kitsune pounce feat move and wham

[Timebomb]

You're thinking of Fox Shape

Though it really would hurt any weapon user, being tiny size you have natural reach of 0', and I would think that most DMs would conclude that you are no longer able to wield long spears and other weapons that increase your reach. You might be able to argue a Kobald Long Lash Tail Attachment.

I would go with a bard or witch or something else that doesn't typically need to use weapons or spells. Seeing a fox that howled or looked at you funny wouldn't be that odd compared to the other things that normally make up a party.

[Finn Kveldulfr]

I've actually played a Kitsune character (with fox shape) in a home game, who spent a lot of time pretending to be another character in our group's familiar/companion/something-or-other. In that game, where my fox-character was a Fire Oracle, the GM also let me take 'Natural Spell' (that wouldn't fly in PFS, but I don't think it's an unreasonable house rule for shape-shifting races), and that let me remain thoroughly effective in fox-form. While the other character I was working with was a PC played by someone else in our group-- it should work just as well with an NPC.

[Bacon666]

If gm allows... Awakened animal...

I once, as a gm, had an awakened horse sorc necromancer animate a "knight" as a BBEG... Quite fun as several sessions went by until the group found out that the horse that kept running away was the baddie B-)

[Zwordsman]

amusing thought...
Monk or brawler in fox shape form. the npc/other player just fast balls you onto the bad guy's face like Beast Master movie of the 90's and you just flurry of bites (via feral combat training)

I like the fox pet who uses fire breath or lightening blasts.

I've been slowly considering altering my version into a draconic dragon disciple. so just bam dragons breath and being oddly duragble for such a small thing.

but as others said if your the tiny thing you really need to be sure how your goign to combat. being very small fox you lose some str but gain dex. I think magic users or the bard ideas seem the strongest for this kind of thing

Even if your gm doesn't allow natural spell, then for the utter flavor (and potentially difficulty in hitting you and killing you in specific) silent and still spells have potential.

I can not remember the rules on using things like metamagic rods while in shapes though... probably can not activate them. unless they hang off your npc and you can touch it that way haha

[Bob Bob Bob]

I recommend getting full DM buy-in and trying to play Sir Bearington. The short answer is you're a bear. I'm not sure it's even an awakened bear, just a bear. Max Disguise, Bluff, and get a cohort or party member who can speak with animals. Get yourself a top hat and monocle, pretend you're a human (disguise). Pretend you can speak common they just can't understand your accent (bluff). Speak through your manservant/party member. This same plan can be used for Groot, though I think you have to actually awaken a tree before it starts moving.

[shroudb]

With kitsune you can go either enchanter sorc or witch and charm/entralk/mind control/etc a farmer to keep your secret safe and accompany you in your journeys

(In case where leadership won't fly, which is !most of the games)

[Dustyboy]

Bat skinwalker with an ape animal companion? Give him a had of disguise and make him out to be a monk with a vow of silence.

[KestrelZ]

There are lots of ways to wildshape / polymorph / shift into an animal form.

Just don't forget one of the following skills in case you face an opponent that knows animal behavior -

Bluff - more about acting like an animal with less than human intelligence and cognizance during a quick encounter (combat, etc.).

Disguise - Can be used sort of in place of bluff. It can also provide long term acting ability when you must act as an animal in places where you might be observed for long periods of time.

Knowledge: nature - May or may not be needed depending on your GM. At the very least, it might let you know when you messed up your bluff or disguise should you think back on a slip up.

[Count Coltello]

This made me think of all the games we were allowed pack animals or horses my horse should of been a buffy bard lol woulda helped loads