RufusDaMan
First Post
I would treat wardogs, and other trained/bought pets that obviously have offensive capabilities like an NPC under my control. I roll for them, not the PC-s and the PC-s have little or no control over their actions. An adventurer's mastiff is likely to grow accostumed to fight and battle, and therefore it would not get frightened (unless the PC-s are facing something like a Devil, Demon, Undead, Dragon or sth similar). Yeah it might be useful for attacking some guards, and bandits, but it is just a generic NPC. It's not a character, it is not protected by any means, it's an asset. it will probably die in a combat soon.
If the PC has animal handling it can teach the creature to attack specific targets, cease combat and stuff like that, but that needs many months of living together. I would have this as a bonus action, but the animal gets no bonuses and I would require a handle animal roll to make it work. The DC of the roll would depend on how long the animal was trained.
With this method a mastiff that the players managed to keep alive for many months has more "value" than a new one they just purchased. I might even add some "levels" to a long lived pet, increasing its health and proficiency bonus, but nothing else.
If the PC has animal handling it can teach the creature to attack specific targets, cease combat and stuff like that, but that needs many months of living together. I would have this as a bonus action, but the animal gets no bonuses and I would require a handle animal roll to make it work. The DC of the roll would depend on how long the animal was trained.
With this method a mastiff that the players managed to keep alive for many months has more "value" than a new one they just purchased. I might even add some "levels" to a long lived pet, increasing its health and proficiency bonus, but nothing else.
