My PFS character (sylvan sorcerer) has a roc animal companion, currently medium size. He would soon hit level 7, i.e. becoming large, and I am starting to worry about space.
As a medium creature, it hasn't been a problem. In narrow passages (i.e. 5-ft wide), it would just walk with 20 ft movement, which doesn't impede the parties' movement usually. Encounters then usually happen in larger caverns and rooms, for which it can then fly.
At large, though, those narrow passages become a problem. For it to squeeze through, its speed becomes 10 ft, which would slow down the party tremendously. (Alas, narrow frame only removes combat penalties, not movement penalties.) Granted, most GMs don't track movement time, but still... And then in rooms, I'm not sure what the wingspan of a large roc would be, and hence, whether it would be able to fly in typical rooms.
As a sylvan sorcerer, I do not have access to reduce animal (hr/lvl). Other size reducing spells I can think of are in min/lvl so won't last.
What would be the wingspan of a large roc? The closest equivalent I could find is the giant eagle, with a wingspan of 30 ft. If's that the case, the roc would not be able to fly in most normal rooms.
What solutions do my sylvan sorcerer have to allow his roc companion to navigate through typical PFS scenarios? What I can think of so far:
- Forgo the size change at level 7, but this loses the massive strength and con bonus
- Get a different animal companion instead (but I'll miss him)
- Build up my UMD and get a wand of reduce animal. Could be unreliable, if I should roll a 1.
- Ring of spell knowledge: would this work?
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You can also use Reduce Person because of your animal link though it's duration is minutes per level. A large Roc is the size of a large creature -- 4 squares 2x2 -- so you only have to worry about narrow spaces. You can get him at level 8 the narrow frame feat, like I did for my tiger.
Other Ideas:
Carry Companion is on your spell list. Get a scroll 5 pack and turn him into a figurine when you need to do so.
If you can get your UMD to 19, a wand of Reduce Animal will Always work for you. As a sorcerer, this isn't going to be as difficult as you might think. My sylvan sorc, Zahra, got there at 7th level with a heavy skill investment, circlet of persuasion and a charisma headband.
Since it's only one level until his next feat, use carry companion as your backup when UMDing Reduce Animal does not work.
Hmm
Unfortunately, I do not Knights of the Innner Sea, so no access to Carry Companion.
Reduce Person, with its short duration, I think would be more for combat use if the room is small, and I want the roc to be able to fly. Feasible, but I would still have the problem of its slow speed moving through narrow passages.
Narrow Frame, although removing the combat penalties, does not affect the move penalty, i.e. 10 ft equivalent move through narrow passages, and likely not being to fly in small rooms.
Let me look at the UMD option. Might be best.
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A Wand Key Ring may help you in that regard.
I forgot about the glorious wand key ring. So perfect for that spell you absolutely must carry off!
Hmm
I just realized that that is a decoder ring...
Additional factor is that being large often gets in the way of party members. But, being able to have a melee person mount the roc could make up for that easily.
Wand/UMD, with a potion as backup, or know reduce person (or page of spell knowledge for reduce person).
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My suggestions is to go large and ride it out. Literally, since they make great mounts. Open areas will obviously be just fine for you. When it comes to indoors, well, by level 7 Large creatures are fairly common enough and you'll mostly run into areas that are at least 10 feet wide. In all honesty, those "Drinking Straw" encounters will be far more harmful to your party's ranged attackers. Meanwhile, you are a fully functional 9th level arcane caster who simply has to leave his pet in the background for that encounter. Archer tears make a fine exotic material component. I suggest you save a few empty vials.
Polymorph spells suffer from the same problem as reduce person - short duration even with spell sponge. Limited for exploration. Great for buffing though.
Wand Key Ring looks interesting but it's 8 lbs! Wow...
Lau is right, as a medium creature your roc can currently quite happily fly down 5' halls/tunnels. Your large roc will quite happily fly anywhere it has 10' of space.
Turning might be an issue mind unless you can easily make the DC 20 fly check.
I might need to a bit more research as a quick glance doesn't show me that you can't squeeze whilst flying. Kind of makes sense though, taking your time to avoid hitting the canyon walls.
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I might need to a bit more research as a quick glance doesn't show me that you can't squeeze whilst flying. Kind of makes sense though, taking your time to avoid hitting the canyon walls.
As far as I know there's no such rule. You suffer movement penalties for squeezing like everyone, but there's no extra rule stopping you entirely.
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Belt of the Weasel can help by giving your companion the Compression ability.
-j
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Belt of the Weasel can help by giving your companion the Compression ability.
-j
That's an interesting one, should keep it in mind for when my druid graduates to mammoth rider. Narrow Frame will only take you so far.
This belt looks great! Would have to wait til he's level 8 to get the feat Extra Item Slot, but otherwise, the compression is fantastic. The +2 Dex is goes well with his weapon finesse. Just need to get through level 7 then.
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The squeezing rules contain no limitation on using it with any type of movement method.I might need to a bit more research as a quick glance doesn't show me that you can't squeeze whilst flying. Kind of makes sense though, taking your time to avoid hitting the canyon walls.As far as I know there's no such rule. You suffer movement penalties for squeezing like everyone, but there's no extra rule stopping you entirely.
If your GM objects, here is a video you can show him:
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This belt looks great! Would have to wait til he's level 8 to get the feat Extra Item Slot, but otherwise, the compression is fantastic. The +2 Dex is goes well with his weapon finesse. Just need to get through level 7 then.I thought all animals had a belt slot?
Critters start with neck and armor by default, and can get extra slot as a feat to add something else that their companion could normally add in a regular campaign. (whereas in a regular campaign they get something they couldn't add at all)
And animal archive made belt and belt (saddle) different slots, keeping even more critters away from that slot.
The squeezing rules contain no limitation on using it with any type of movement method.I might need to a bit more research as a quick glance doesn't show me that you can't squeeze whilst flying. Kind of makes sense though, taking your time to avoid hitting the canyon walls.As far as I know there's no such rule. You suffer movement penalties for squeezing like everyone, but there's no extra rule stopping you entirely.
That was my initial thoughts, but wanted to double check before I stated it definitively. Still can't find anything so I feel more confident now.
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The squeezing rules contain no limitation on using it with any type of movement method.I might need to a bit more research as a quick glance doesn't show me that you can't squeeze whilst flying. Kind of makes sense though, taking your time to avoid hitting the canyon walls.As far as I know there's no such rule. You suffer movement penalties for squeezing like everyone, but there's no extra rule stopping you entirely.If your GM objects, here is a video you can show him:
Perhaps so, but realism and game rules don't always mix. Many GMs will rule in favor of RAW, and accordig to RAW, this is an accurate depiction of a horse on the game board.
