Does a Bag of Tricks animal require HA?

[Arrowhawk]

I'm curious if anyone has a source which tells whether the person who pulls an animal from a Bag of Tricks needs to roll an HA check to command the animal or whether the animal is magically compelled to obey?

Again, while RAI are welcomed, I'm really hoping to find any official FAQ on the matter.

Thanks.

FYI, here's what SRD says for BoT:

This small sack appears normal and empty. However, anyone reaching into the bag feels a small, fuzzy ball. If the ball is removed and tossed up to 20 feet away, it turns into an animal. The animal serves the character who drew it from the bag for 10 minutes (or until slain or ordered back into the bag), at which point it disappears. It can follow any of the commands described in the Handle Animal skill. Each of the three kinds of a bag of tricks produces a different set of animals. Use the following tables to determine what animals can be drawn out of each.​

 

[Greenfield]

The SRD quote you included answers the question.

The animal isn't simply present for 10 minutes, it serves for 10 minutes, and is apparently trained to accept any of the commands described in the Handle Animals section.

So no, no skill check is required, they come trained, and yes, they're pretty much compelled to serve.

 

[Arrowhawk]

The SRD quote you included answers the question.

The animal isn't simply present for 10 minutes, it serves for 10 minutes, and is apparently trained to accept any of the commands described in the Handle Animals section.

So no, no skill check is required, they come trained, and yes, they're pretty much compelled to serve.

Green, I always appreciated your weighing in given your knowledge and experience with 3.5. Let me offer some counter arguments:

• The item description specifically references the Handle Animal skill: "It can follow any of the commands described in the Handle Animal skill (page 74 of the Player’s Handbook)."
• The phrase "follow a command" has a very specific meaning in the context of the HA skill: "This task involves commanding an animal to perform a task or trick that it knows. For instance, to command a trained attack dog to attack a foe requires a DC 10 Handle Animal check."
• Contrast this to Summon Monster and Summon Natures Ally, both of which share the exact same language, and state that the summoned creature "attacks your opponents to the best of its ability. If you can communicate with the creature, you can direct it not to attack, to attack particular enemies, or to perform other actions."
• If WotC had not intended the Bag of Tricks to require a HA check, they wouldn't have referenced the feat explicitly or used language that is specific to the context of the feat. This is further confirmed by the existence of a stock phrase that WotC uses when they want to convey the ability to direct creatures without the benefit of a HA check.

 

[kitcik]

Greenfield is correct.

The reference to Handle Animal is simply for the list of commands you can use.

There is no other non-obtuse way to interpret "serves."

 

[Greenfield]

I'm going to use a phrase that was never uttered in the last administration's Oval Office: You may be over thinking this one, sir.

The way I see it, if they had meant that you could command them using Handle Animal, they would have said so.

They didn't refer to the Handle Animal skill so much as refer you to a specific portion of that skill write up, the list of commands or "tricks". There wasn't any reference to using the skill, it was simply the easiest way to indicate what the animal can and can't do for you.

 

[Tovec]

The answer to your questions seems clear enough but does no one see the problem with reaching in and feeling a small furry ball when its a (scaly) rhino?

 

[cattoy]

What about Figurines of Wondrous Power?

 

[Arrowhawk]

What about Figurines of Wondrous Power?

IIRC, FoWP says :

The creature obeys and serves its owner.​

The use of "creature" and the lack of any reference to commands limited those that normally require a HA check makes this categorically different, imo.

 

[Dandu]

The answer to your questions seems clear enough but does no one see the problem with reaching in and feeling a small furry ball when its a (scaly) rhino?

Rhinos do not have scales. They have thick hides.

 

[Tovec]

Rhinos do not have scales. They have thick hides.

I realize its still skin, I'm just saying based on every picture I've ever seen of rhinos that they have cracked and scaly skin and not "furry" hair all over. "Furry" is a great description for many animals in the smaller categories and perhaps wolves and bears in the bigger category but I think it seems odd to feel a rhino as furry. I was just being sarcastic anyhow. I love bags of tricks, use them all the time.