Druid’s Animal Companion

[Grisu]

Druid’s Animal Companion

Hi,

Does the druid's animal companion always fight for the druid or must it be convinced in some way.

My players 4th level druid has a dire bat as a companion wich is a quite powerful ally if it is available all the time (it can fight even better than a 4th level sourcer - and the druid is still free to make his own actions).

Or is a dire bat restricted to fight only after nightfall or only in dungeons, e.g.?

grisu

 

[Pinotage]

A druid still needs to 'handle' the animal, but can do so as a free action. He can 'push' the animal to do things it normally can't or won't as a move action (one could argue fighting in daylight being one of these). Animal companions can also only do those things that they are trained in via tricks and the Handle Animal skill, unless pushed. (the latter being worth a look in this instance).

A dire bat's a strong companion at that level, but might not be at higher levels.

Pinotage

 

[Bront]

In many cases, the Dire Bat will fight along side it's master, but it will probably need handle animal checks to force it to fight in unfavorable conditions such as bright light, in heavy winds/rain, etc.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I've found that requiring druids (or rangers) to make Handle Animal checks (and specifying tricks) is one of the most overlooked parts of the class(es).

 

[Grisu]

Can someone give me an example of gameplay how this could work (in a combat situation)?

 

[Klaus]

The animal companion fights to protect itself or the druid master. But do not overlook the tricks and tasks found in the Handle Animal skill description, or the animal companion's bonus tricks (they're there for a reason).

For instance, the dire bat is being attacked by a troll, while the druid is being attacked by an ogre. The druid must make a Handle Animal check to make the dire bat retreat from the troll and attack the ogre.

Unless the dire bat has the 'attack' trick twice (making it willing to attack unnatural creatures), it'll refrain from attacking undead, elementals and other weird stuff. So it must be 'pushed' by the druid, which is a move action (see 'Push an Animal' action in the Handle Animal skill description).

 

[Pinotage]

Let's see. The druids and party are in combat against some ogres. One of the ogres manages to push over a large statue which falls on the wizard and pins it. The druid has a dire bat companion that knows the trick 'attack'. The druid comes up with a plan and commands the cleric to tie a rope to the statue, while commanding (as a free action) the dire bat to attack the ogre and keep it away from the pinned wizard. Since the dire bat knows the 'attack' trick, the druid only needs to make a DC 10 Handle Animal check to get the bat to attack the ogre. The druids gets a +4 bonus to this check when handling its animal companion.

The druid succeeds and the dire bat attacks the ogre which gets wounded on the ogre's attack. With the rope secured to the statue, the druid calls the dire bat back to drag the statue off the wizard. Since the dire bat doesn't know the trick 'work', he needs to use a move action to do this. In addition, he needs to make a DC 25 check to push the animal to perform a task it's not familiar with. The DC increases to 27 since the dire bat is wounded. Thankfully the druids rolls well and succeeds at the handle animal check and the strong dire bat can help the fightter pull the statue off the wizard.

That help? Take a good look at the description of the Handle Animal skill, since it clarifies all these points.

Pinotage

 

[Grisu]

Thanks for explaining, I got the idea

 

[lukelightning]

I've found that requiring druids (or rangers) to make Handle Animal checks (and specifying tricks) is one of the most overlooked parts of the class(es).

I prefer it this way, as long as the player does a reasonable job in keeping the animal "realistic" in behavior.

 

[ceratitis]

I prefer it this way, as long as the player does a reasonable job in keeping the animal "realistic" in behavior.

agreed, as long as the animal isnt too powerful to tilt the game. imho the animal should be like a follower ie never as important as any of the PCs
Z