The Grassy Gnoll
Explorer
Can a Gnome Ranger with a wolf companion use the wolf as a mount?
D&D 5E Ranger Companion
- Thread starter The Grassy Gnoll
- Start date
Don't forget to train the animal for combat, though.
The problem with animal companions as mounts is that they are actually less effective than normal mounts. (possibly)
A normal pony or riding dog has the same initiative as you, but uses it's own actions to move and can use it's action to Dash, Dodge, or Disengage without any use of actions on the riders part.
An animal companion wolf mount has the same initiative as you, but uses your action to Dash, Dodge, or Disengage. Sure it can also take the Help and Attack actions but that means in order to Dash while on your wolf you have to give up your action, where another halfling on a pony can have his mount dash and he can fire a short bow. At 7th level you can use your bonus action to order your wolf to Dash, Dodge, Disengage, or Help so you are still using your bonus action to do the 3 three things any other mounted rider's animal can do for free.
The one way to fix this, is to consider that if you are riding your animal companion it gets all the same options as any other animal you would ride. Not sure if this is RAW or not as what is more specific ranger animal companion rules or the general mounted combat rules, normally I would say the class ability is the specific rule and trumps the mounted combat rules but that makes little sense.
A normal pony or riding dog has the same initiative as you, but uses it's own actions to move and can use it's action to Dash, Dodge, or Disengage without any use of actions on the riders part.
An animal companion wolf mount has the same initiative as you, but uses your action to Dash, Dodge, or Disengage. Sure it can also take the Help and Attack actions but that means in order to Dash while on your wolf you have to give up your action, where another halfling on a pony can have his mount dash and he can fire a short bow. At 7th level you can use your bonus action to order your wolf to Dash, Dodge, Disengage, or Help so you are still using your bonus action to do the 3 three things any other mounted rider's animal can do for free.
The one way to fix this, is to consider that if you are riding your animal companion it gets all the same options as any other animal you would ride. Not sure if this is RAW or not as what is more specific ranger animal companion rules or the general mounted combat rules, normally I would say the class ability is the specific rule and trumps the mounted combat rules but that makes little sense.
I'm A Banana
Potassium-Rich
I think that's one of the things that make the animal companion look really weak. "It takes no actions unless you direct it, and directing it takes an action." Which is debatably fine when it's biting someone's face off, but for other circumstances, this makes it less effective as a companion than a familiar or a mount, who can at least do something without you giving up your action to make it happen.
I would rule that beastmaster's pet counts as a animal companion and a mount when the ranger rides it.
I assume the free dodge, dash, or disengage (DDOD I calls it) comes from the rider using his legs or the mount's riding equipment.
The ranger has to use vocal commands as they master and beast are not touching.
But a wolf beast as a mount doesn't have conflicting rules. In fact I'd say a ranger cavalier can do a rogue's double DDOD.
Ranger vocally tells beast to move (free)
Beast uses its action as a mount to dash via rider's physically movement.
Ranger vocally tells beast to dash (ranger action)
Really the question is.
Do ranger companions have actions but just can't use them when the ranger isnt riding them or unconscious?
I assume the free dodge, dash, or disengage (DDOD I calls it) comes from the rider using his legs or the mount's riding equipment.
The ranger has to use vocal commands as they master and beast are not touching.
But a wolf beast as a mount doesn't have conflicting rules. In fact I'd say a ranger cavalier can do a rogue's double DDOD.
Ranger vocally tells beast to move (free)
Beast uses its action as a mount to dash via rider's physically movement.
Ranger vocally tells beast to dash (ranger action)
Really the question is.
Do ranger companions have actions but just can't use them when the ranger isnt riding them or unconscious?
Wepwawet
Explorer
Totally agree. It's as simple as that.
The difference between an animal companion being mounted or not, is the number of allies in the battlefield.
A character and their mount are basically one unit, and the damage tends to be dealt to the character. An animal companion allows for a separate target in the battlefield to distribute enemy damage. And in the case of some animals, contribute to getting advantage and stufff (i think)
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The Grassy Gnoll
Explorer
Where do they come from, is the key. I presume they don't just magically appear, and are instead a real wild wolf who one day looks up, ears pricking, goes "hrrohrwr?" And sets off to find the presence it has felt and has an unstoppable urge to bond with across the miles, etc.
So, prior to its (shudder) imprinting, this creature was a bad mother. A random encounter waiting to happen one moonlit night. In other words, in a fight, it had the ability to choose for itself to attack, dodge, disengage, whatever. By becoming a ranger companion, it's formed a strong bond with the ranger. So it should want to protect it. The RAW kind of indicates, however, that, having trekked across the frozen river and negotiated the goblin forest to find its ranger bondmate, it puts aside its former life of tooth and fang and instead settles down in the corner to lick its balls while it's best bud gets beaten up by kobolds.
I know the bond has to develop for in game mechanic purposes, but...really? Ghost wouldn't let Jon Snurr get beaten up without being told to.
(All this is off topic, to be fair - in terms of can a wolf be gnome ridden it seems "yes" is the answer, so thank you. And I will apply the normal mount rules to the wolf in terms of dodge etc.)
I guess where the ranger needs to take an action to compel the beast to -for example - disengage, is because he has to override the beasts natural instincts to just flee or get medieval on yo' ass? My instinct would be for wolf to Help more than anything else ("My best friend needs me! I will snarl and nip at his enemy's ankles to distract him so my friend can make sausages out of him easier"). But. That's in a fight.
So, prior to its (shudder) imprinting, this creature was a bad mother. A random encounter waiting to happen one moonlit night. In other words, in a fight, it had the ability to choose for itself to attack, dodge, disengage, whatever. By becoming a ranger companion, it's formed a strong bond with the ranger. So it should want to protect it. The RAW kind of indicates, however, that, having trekked across the frozen river and negotiated the goblin forest to find its ranger bondmate, it puts aside its former life of tooth and fang and instead settles down in the corner to lick its balls while it's best bud gets beaten up by kobolds.
I know the bond has to develop for in game mechanic purposes, but...really? Ghost wouldn't let Jon Snurr get beaten up without being told to.
(All this is off topic, to be fair - in terms of can a wolf be gnome ridden it seems "yes" is the answer, so thank you. And I will apply the normal mount rules to the wolf in terms of dodge etc.)
I guess where the ranger needs to take an action to compel the beast to -for example - disengage, is because he has to override the beasts natural instincts to just flee or get medieval on yo' ass? My instinct would be for wolf to Help more than anything else ("My best friend needs me! I will snarl and nip at his enemy's ankles to distract him so my friend can make sausages out of him easier"). But. That's in a fight.
Psikerlord#
Explorer
Some suggested optional rules, from one of the DnD new columns, fixing ranger animal companions would be greatly appreciated.
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