Animal Companion silliness...


Advice


A question...

In the description of a "Cat, Small" it gives a suggested equivalent of cheetah or leopard. Likewise, under "Cat, Big" is states lion or tiger.

If I those to make a "Cat, Big" my companion, and given the location, I choose a lion/panther type description, does it get the RACIAL skill modifiers for that animal?

If not, why? And is there any reason why my animal companion is a stunted and albino version of the animal it's emulating?

I'm not saying my "Cat, Big" should be a 6 HD large tiger (at my lvl 1 it'd be a 2 HD, medium tiger), but if it is a tiger why shouldn't it get the racial modifiers that are based on the animal's camouflage and habits?

Ditto for all the other animals, like the Wolf's bonus to survival for tracking.

If I missed this, I'm sorry I wasted your time, but please direct me to the rule in question.


If you cannot supsend that disbeleif just dont Pick a tiger AC until level 6. but with the skills you are a bit out of luck. And i Think that is ok AC is already a powerfull thing.

Sovereign Court

They simply did this because of "Balance" so if someone picked a Lion, he wouldn't feel like that he took a weaker option compared to a Tiger.

You can of course talk to your DM and make your case about getting these bonuses but well, rule wise, they don't.


And the rules for ACs are under druids in the core rule book.


In your opinions, would allowing the racial skill modifiers really unbalance the AC? I am the GM, but I am looking for other people's input.

By the way, when I make any rule changes, which I rarely do, I always make them global, not just for a single character.

Sovereign Court

It wouldn't simply because most of the time, they cannot even use their racial modifiers. Like how many times are you having adventures in tall grass (tiger racial modifier)?


I was doing some quick checks and I found at least one NPC druid's AC listed with what appears to be racial modifiers. But that's not exactly clear in the AC rules.

Tangletooth in Burnt Offerings is listed with Acrobatics +9 (+17 when jumping.) That looks like a racial modifier.

Silver Crusade

LamentoftheLost wrote:

I was doing some quick checks and I found at least one NPC druid's AC listed with what appears to be racial modifiers. But that's not exactly clear in the AC rules.

Tangletooth in Burnt Offerings is listed with Acrobatics +9 (+17 when jumping.) That looks like a racial modifier.

Don't forget that jumping includes a bonus if speed is greater than 30.


LamentoftheLost wrote:

In your opinions, would allowing the racial skill modifiers really unbalance the AC? I am the GM, but I am looking for other people's input.

By the way, when I make any rule changes, which I rarely do, I always make them global, not just for a single character.

I think yes ACs are already plenty good. Make a few feats that allow a PC to get better skill on his AC so it will be a Trade of and not just extra power to a already powerfull class.


Ahh, thanks, Paul... I missed that.

Grand Lodge

Of course an eidolon will end up always mopping the floor with an animal companion, and can take the "Skilled" Evolution.

Grand Lodge

Darn.... From the title, I thought this thread would be about silly things you could do with your animal companion, especially out of combat tricks.

Trying to distract a crowd by playing "Fetch" with your animal companion while your teammates break down a door.

Having your tiger grapple someone using the "Maneuever (grapple)" trick and then interrogate the villain, while commenting on how you hadn't fed your tiger yet.

Flirting with a guard outside a stall, and asking him if he wants to come pet your tiger while the rest of your group sneaks inside to steal the place blind.

I would love to hear about the silly things other players do with their animal companions.

Hmm

Grand Lodge

Hmm wrote:

Darn.... From the title, I thought this thread would be about silly things you could do with your animal companion, especially out of combat tricks.

Trying to distract a crowd by playing "Fetch" with your animal companion while your teammates break down a door.

Having your tiger grapple someone using the "Maneuever (grapple)" trick and then interrogate the villain, while commenting on how you hadn't fed your tiger yet.

Flirting with a guard outside a stall, and asking him if he wants to come pet your tiger while the rest of your group sneaks inside to steal the place blind.

I would love to hear about the silly things other players do with their animal companions.

Hmm

I like this idea.

My PFS druid uses the sling a lot, and he's trained his snake to fetch the sling when he switches to his scythe or a wand. It's quite amusing hearing the GM describe a snake getting the sling onto its back and then slithering up behind me to give it back.

The same druid has also at times carried the snake when in snowy environments to keep the snake warm. My part members where more than a little disturbed by an anaconda slithering out of my druid's coat when we finally made camp in cave in the Realm of the Mammoth Lords.

Grand Lodge

I love the idea of having your snake fetch your sling! That's awesome!

Hmm

Grand Lodge

Yeah, the snake thinks it's awesome too, judging from how the GM describes the immense expression of self-satisfaction on the snake's face every time he does it.

Other ideas that I haven't put into play:

- Having an AC with a really good climb check hang from the ceiling in a meeting room in order to drop on enemies.

- Telling innkeepers that their family pet and my AC got hitched, whether or not it's true.

- Having a Dire Rat, sending them into an evil business-owner's establishment, and then come in, claiming to be a health inspector so I can investigate freely. (Every character I've made has claimed to be a health inspector at some point.)

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