Can Blink Dogs carry stuff with them?

[shulamyth]

A group of us are debating on whether Blink Dogs can carry items with them when the use dimension door. This is the line we are disagreeing about:

"Dimension Door (Su): A blink dog can teleport, as dimension door (caster level 8th), once per round as a free action. The ability affects only the blink dog, which never appears within a solid object and can act immediately after teleporting. "

They argue that the reason why they can't carry anything is because most creatures with teleport specify how much they can carry. I say that the "ability affects only the blink dog" is stating that it can't carry anyone with it.

Any rulings on this?

 

[frankthedm]

To me, it seems that nothing goes with the dog. Teleporting effects are pretty good at being specific what and who can be brought along and the word "only" is as specific as words get. It is not like the blink dog needs to have anything go with it to fulfill it's roll as a monster with Treasure:None.

But if the GM wants blink dogs to be able to take objects with them as you make the argument for, it is not an unreasonable decision to make. Indeed in 1E blink dogs lairs had treasure type C*.


*Plus a 50% chance of having 3d4 blink dog puppies with 1-2 HD worth 1000 to 2000 g.p each. Of course getting that money might be difficult :blink:

 

[shulamyth]

Well, the whole argument was because I wanted a Blink Dog cohort and was going to equip it with magical collar and barding. But, turns out we don't need the extra cohort. But useful info none the less. Thanks!

 

[frankthedm]

Well, the whole argument was because I wanted a Blink Dog cohort and was going to equip it with magical collar and barding. But, turns out we don't need the extra cohort. But useful info none the less. Thanks!

Also FWIW the subject of using blink dogs as mounts gets mentioned in the 3.0 arms and equipment guide. Same book that provides ways to use gelatinous cubes as mounts.

And here are some counters of dogs.

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/2810/watsupdawg.png
img710.imageshack.us/img710/2810/watsupdawg.png

 

[kyrand]

I don't really have any specific examples to back me up, but IMO, the clause about it affecting "only" the blink dog is because you can normally carry allies with you via a dimension door spell.

It's been my experience that if a spell affects you, it affects your gear too (ex. invisibility including your gear), but I can see how the wording of the clause might lead to the different conclusion.

 

[Jhaelen]

Of course they can!

You can bring along objects as long as their weight doesn’t exceed your maximum load.

What blink dogs cannot do using their ability is the following:

You may also bring one additional willing Medium or smaller creature (carrying gear or objects up to its maximum load) or its equivalent per three caster levels.

 

[francisca]

I want a Blink St. Bernard, with an Oak Cask of Holding.

 

[Deset Gled]

Of course they can!
What blink dogs cannot do using their ability is the following:

I originally disagreed with you, but have now changed my mind. Here's why:

Target: You and touched objects or other touched willing creatures

... You can bring along objects as long as their weight doesn’t exceed your maximum load. ...

The Blink Dog text "The ability affects only the blink dog" effectively changes the spell to Target: You. The question is: does "You" include you gear?

The answer seems ambiguous. The rules for Spell Descriptions does not comment on it, so we are left to determine the answer from spell examples. In a vast majority of spells where it matters (invisibility, enlarge person, teleport, etc) the text specifically states whether or not worn items are effected, so we don't know if those spells affect items because they affect "you" or because the text says so. In most other spells that target "you", there are no effects that would affect worn items.

The example that proves the case, IMO, is Mirror Image. This spell targets "you" and comments that the images it creates are "indistinguishable" from you. If the spell didn't also affect your items, the targets would be distinguishable from you, and thus the spell would not function as described.

Therefore, I conclude that Blink Dogs can take worn equipment with them when they use DD, but cannot affect non-worn items or other creatures. It also follows that when you determine the maximum weight of object you can bring with you, you do not include the weight of worn items. This is not how I have played in the past, but is necessary for consistency.

 

[frankthedm]

When a critter gets a teleport ability at will, the limitation are generally spelled out, and normally less generous than the actual spell. Notably, for Demons and devils the limit is (self plus 50 pounds of objects only).

 

[shulamyth]

When a critter gets a teleport ability at will, the limitation are generally spelled out, and normally less generous than the actual spell. Notably, for Demons and devils the limit is (self plus 50 pounds of objects only).

And that is where the rest of the group argues that it does not include items.