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<blockquote data-quote="CapnZapp" data-source="post: 6947548" data-attributes="member: 12731"><p>I think I would give up any attempt to make it into a game feature (like a feat, or class feature option). </p><p></p><p>It simply will never be balanced. Unless you balance it, where it will never be cool.</p><p></p><p>Simply accept that riding a bear at low level IS and WILL hog more than your fair share of the spotlight (do more than your share of the damage, impress more than your share of the ladies etc)</p><p></p><p>The solution is not to balance the elephant: "wait until level 10; here's a mastiff in the meanwhile" sucks; "perhaps it's a small elephant (that does mastiff damage)?" might be balanced but also completely defeats the purpose. </p><p></p><p>The solution is instead to ask the OTHER PLAYERS:</p><p>a) is it okay that Bob the Elephant-Rider is riding an actual elephant?</p><p>If yes, there is no problem</p><p></p><p>If no, we get to the big one</p><p>b) what can I give you guys? Remember I just gave Bob a frikkin' Elephant!</p><p></p><p>I mean, D&D isn't exactly short of things to be generous with.</p><p></p><p>Perhaps Sue wants a flying castle. And Pete wants a sword that just happens to be a soulsucking demon. And so on.</p><p></p><p>It's only when the party expects a down to earth campaign (at low levels) there's a problem. And even then there's no real problem, because such campaigns don't hand out frikkin Elephants to individual characters!</p><p></p><p>In the grim and gritty version, the Elephant has a mind of its own, and it's probably a sadistical mofo. It poops on everybody it can, driving the party from town to town. It's probably stomped Lord Belfrey's prize goat, and now men at arms are looking for them everywhere they go. If they try to ditch the Elephant, it doesn't muck about. Instead, it easily finds them and demands to be entertained. </p><p></p><p>Sure the goblins aren't as much of a problem in this campaign, but is it really worth it when the party realizes who the real hero is, and who's getting all the xp...?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="CapnZapp, post: 6947548, member: 12731"] I think I would give up any attempt to make it into a game feature (like a feat, or class feature option). It simply will never be balanced. Unless you balance it, where it will never be cool. Simply accept that riding a bear at low level IS and WILL hog more than your fair share of the spotlight (do more than your share of the damage, impress more than your share of the ladies etc) The solution is not to balance the elephant: "wait until level 10; here's a mastiff in the meanwhile" sucks; "perhaps it's a small elephant (that does mastiff damage)?" might be balanced but also completely defeats the purpose. The solution is instead to ask the OTHER PLAYERS: a) is it okay that Bob the Elephant-Rider is riding an actual elephant? If yes, there is no problem If no, we get to the big one b) what can I give you guys? Remember I just gave Bob a frikkin' Elephant! I mean, D&D isn't exactly short of things to be generous with. Perhaps Sue wants a flying castle. And Pete wants a sword that just happens to be a soulsucking demon. And so on. It's only when the party expects a down to earth campaign (at low levels) there's a problem. And even then there's no real problem, because such campaigns don't hand out frikkin Elephants to individual characters! In the grim and gritty version, the Elephant has a mind of its own, and it's probably a sadistical mofo. It poops on everybody it can, driving the party from town to town. It's probably stomped Lord Belfrey's prize goat, and now men at arms are looking for them everywhere they go. If they try to ditch the Elephant, it doesn't muck about. Instead, it easily finds them and demands to be entertained. Sure the goblins aren't as much of a problem in this campaign, but is it really worth it when the party realizes who the real hero is, and who's getting all the xp...? [/QUOTE]
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