Handle Animal - the Defend trick

[Thanee]

What about teaching it the Defend trick twice?

I actually thought about adding that to the above, but left it out, since it's obviously house rule territory.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Abraxas]

This is strange, questions like these just came up in a game I DMed last night.

Last session we noticed, that the Defend trick can quite easily emulate the Attack trick in many situations.
-snip middle stuff-
Do you think it's right or ok to use the Defend trick this way?

Yes

- Will an animal with the Defend (or Guard) trick actually attack unnatural opponents, or not?

With just the Defend (or Guard) trick, No.
WRT the Guard trick specifically, I wouldn't have the animal attack until something tries to move through or past the area its guarding - up till then it should just act threatening (growling, snarling, etc.).

- And if you think not, will it do so, if you have also taught it the Attack trick twice?

Yes.

Heres another question about the animal tricks.
If the character doesn't teach the animal the Come trick does the animal just wander around?

 

[Thanee]

If the character doesn't teach the animal the Come trick does the animal just wander around?

Well, I guess it can be assumed, that an animal (animal companion, mount, guard dog, etc) has some rudimentary training, so it does follow you around normally.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Abraxas]

Well, I guess it can be assumed, that an animal (animal companion, mount, guard dog, etc) has some rudimentary training, so it does follow you around normally.

Right, but since it hasn't been taught to Come when called would it be reasonable for it to get distracted by a rabbit (in the case of a wolf for example) or in chasing down something it started attacking?

Does the Heel command make the Come command unnecessary?

 

[Thanee]

I'd say, that a wolf could get distracted by a rabbit, sure. They are still animals and have their own instincts and all. Down and a few other tricks could call the wolf back, of course.

Heel and Come are very similar, I think. One difference I can think of, if you stand on the opposite side of some obstacle, i.e. a burning bridge, the animal would not come with the Heel, but would with the Come trick. You would have to cross and fetch it to use Heel.

Bye
Thanee