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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jack7" data-source="post: 5686080" data-attributes="member: 54707">I'm with you on this one.  Whereas I'm no modern bent upon the idea of  equality between humans and animals, I am on the other hand very respectful of  animals, and the pets and livestock I do have I tend to treat as animal  companions. (Not equals, if any animal endangered a human then the animal goes  down, I'd kill it myself and have before, but otherwise I treat my animals or  any other tame or domesticated animal as companions and as such they are under  my care. Wild animals I treat respectfully and although I often study them, I  don't harm them.)  It also seems to me though that a Druid,  especially, would have the same sort of attitude towards animals in general, as  say a Saint Francis, and would be expected to treat animals fairly, if not as  actual companions. You wouldn't send your buddy in combat, or your comrades in  arms in to set off suspected traps or to risk himself unnecessarily in dangerous  situations. That defeats the whole idea of a "companion." Especially if there  were much better, much safer, and much more productive ways to use  him.   Which brings up my real point. I think the way the  game is designed, far too many things in-game are considered disposable, rather  than develop-able.  For example I cross breed animals to produce new  breeds of animals (which I hope and certainly work towards) that are smarter, more  adaptable, and who suffer far fewer physical and health problems than either  antecedent or progenitor.  I view these animals as companions, because I  raise them to be (the ones that stay with me and don't go to others), and because  the intent of my experiments is to produce better animals, and because of all of  the work I put into their breeding and development.   If I had a dog (in the real world) or a fantasy  type animal companion (in such a world) that I had put a lot of time and work  into training and developing and breeding and raising then there's no way I'd  squander such a valuable friend and asset in stupid actions and maneuvers. My  intent would be to develop my companions, and that goes for animal companions as  well as those who are my family, friends, and those under my command.    Anyone I'm in charge of or who is my companion or  under my charge, I have responsibilities and duties towards, and I'd much rather  expend my time and effort in developing them than expending them for disposal.  I'd rather exploit for development and mutual long-term advantage, than exploit  for selfish momentary advantage and quick disposal.  I see selfish exploitation as both morally  inferior to mutual advantage, and physically wasteful and senseless to  boot. In my book doubly idiotic unless absolutely necessary.  That being said I think you can solve the problem  by showing your players the ways in which they can use their animal companions  in far more useful and productive ways, and in far less wasteful ways, than as  meat-shields and trap-triggers.   For instance most animals have keenly developed  senses, which can be exploited to great effect if you know what you're doing.  Many are excellent explorers, trackers, surveillers, some even combatants if they are trained  properly and well deployed. And of course many are excellent alarms and forewarners of danger.  My advice is rather than merely taking the  negative approach of "don't do that, it's wrong" (in my opinion it is at least  stupidly wasteful and counter-productive) give them opportunities in which they  can see the true value and the numerous beneficial capabilities of their animal  companions.   In this way they will grow to respect what their  animal companions can actually (and sometimes amazingly) do on an  individual level, and they will begin to think of their animal companions as  assets, rather than mere disposable and easily replaceable objects. They will also begin to understand that animal companions,  like any good ally, can also be a real boon towards their own survival, and that  the abilities of their animal companions will augment and compliment their own  capabilities in a very useful, beneficial way. But since it is just a game then  you as DM must give them opportunities for their animals to be employed in this  way, and they must be willing to come to understand and exploit these potential  new uses of their animal companions.   One thing you might do is introduce an NPC (such  as a Ranger, or a Druid, or even someone with a familiar) who makes very good  use of their companion, and obviously respects and values their companion. As a  guide for how to better develop your player's animal companions. someone to show  them the ropes of how to make best use of an animal, as a rancher might  say.  I think that approach will probably solve the  problem for everyone concerned.  Good luck.</blockquote>

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