Animal Companions and spells

[BVB]

It *is* Andy Collins. It is his site. If you want to doubt it, be my guest. You can live in your happy little fantasy world of paranoid doubt. If you check it out, you'll see what I mean. ...

Oh, I don't care if it *is* Candy Ollins or not. The point is that his well-meaning explanations, interpretations and declarations aren't worth a hill of beans when it comes to *official* errata. Get it? He might as well be a guy in a Santa Claus suit telling me I'll get a pony for Christmas -- until that pony shows up Christmas morning, he's just a nice old man in a silly red suit.

 

[youspoonybard]

If you don't want to take it for what it is, that's fine. It's your game. We've never said it was errata.

But for other people who are trying to figure out how polymorph/wildshape/animal companions work, because it's confusing, this is useful stuff. Please don't denounce it by saying, "It's not errata".

BTW, there's the inconsistancies in calling the Animal Companion animals and magical beasts at different points in the text...so until it's errata'ed, are they both? Just curious...

 

[Urbanmech]

If you just do as the confusing rules say, you don't need to worry about taking away Angel and other Outsider traits because those traits are listed in the creatures Special Qualities line. Polymorph states that you don't get any Special Qualities. I don't think that it is illogical for the spell to say you gain something and then later further define what you actually gain.

I really wish that they would come out with errata because it would be in my best interest as a player to gain the Plant Type traits since I will soon be a 12th lv Druid. As things stand now I can't see a way where I could make a case to my DM to allow what the books don't allow. Saying Andy Collins said so and so on his web site usually doesn't carry much weight at the table.

 

[jgsugden]

This message deleted to make room for pie.

3.1415926...

 

[jgsugden]

Oh, I don't care if it *is* Candy Ollins or not. The point is that his well-meaning explanations, interpretations and declarations aren't worth a hill of beans when it comes to *official* errata. Get it? He might as well be a guy in a Santa Claus suit telling me I'll get a pony for Christmas -- until that pony shows up Christmas morning, he's just a nice old man in a silly red suit.

If you'll notice, I agreed with you on the fact that what Andy said is not errata. You should really read a post before berating someone for what they said.

Official errata has not been released.

When it is, it will clarify the situation as I have discussed.

Regarding animal vs magic beast: There is no *as written* answer right now (pre-errata) because there is a direct conflict in the books. Play as you desire ... no matter what you do, you're in conflict with the books. When errata is released, animal companions will be clarified to be animals.

Regarding taking animal/plant traits when wildshaped: If you read the book as intended, druids gain the traits. The intention was not clearly worded, but future clarifications should clean that up. Even without errata, you should technically be playing it this way if you follow the main rules, but considering that the wording is awkward and that custserv@wizards.com doesn't understand it, it is not surprising that people have taken to a wrong interpretation.

If you want to play a different way, be my guest. Heck, you can even throw a party to celebrate your method. In the end, when errata is released, you'll need to either adopt what I have indicated or make some house rules.

NOW BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP AT THE ALTAR OF THE GREAT COLLINS OR BE SMITED (+4 to hit, +14 damage) BY HIS RIGHTEOUS WRATH!

 

[BVB]

If you'll notice, I agreed with you on the fact that what Andy said is not errata. You should really read a post before berating someone for what they said. ...

Hey now! I wasn't "berating" anyone. You should really read a post carefully before you berate someone for berating someone he hasn't berated.

Don't make me hafta come over there and berate you upside tha head.

 

[jgsugden]

Hey now! I wasn't "berating" anyone. You should really read a post carefully before you berate someone for berating someone he hasn't berated.

Don't make me hafta come over there and berate you upside tha head.

When you ask someone if they 'get it' like that, it is berating. Get it?

My point is made. I've done what I can for the poor souls out there needing guidance in the way of the druid. So with a fond farewell, I leave this thread in the capable hands of youspoonybard.

 

[Nail]

NOW BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP AT THE ALTAR OF THE GREAT COLLINS OR BE SMITED (+4 to hit, +14 damage) BY HIS RIGHTEOUS WRATH!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Run away!!!!!

Look: I don't mind considering what Andy Collins has to say. As you pointed out, he's had a hand in writting this stuff up. Kind of like Monte Cook, Skip, et. al.

The problem I have is with people constantly quoting him (or worse: trying to paraphrase him) as a basis for their arguments. Excessive quoting = poor thinking, IMHO.

In any event, I wish 3.5e dealt with polymorph/wildshape better. They almost had it with MotW, and then apparently tried to simplify it...and created different sorts of wonkiness and confusion. I'm reminded of someone trying to put out a fire with a small wash-cloth; there's always fire at the edges.

(shrug)

 

[youspoonybard]

Capable? Me???

Oi... : P.

I think I understand...any questions?

 

[jgsugden]

(Pssst, youspoonybard ... you don't have to answer any questions. I was just running away so that I didn't have to respond to people that want to hear themself talk.

Although, now that I listen to myself, I sound pretty darn cool. Actually, I sound awesome. I've never really stopped to listen to the sound of my own voice. I really like it! I'll have to do this more often.)