Handle Someone Else's Animal?

[irdeggman]

My dilemma comes from the fact that the RAW don't specify anything about whose animals you can handle.

(Maybe in the BoEF? )

All jesting aside (ho ho), this actually came up in game a session or two ago. I've been mulling it ever since- I allowed it that time, but would like to garner opinions.

Well looking over the Handle Animal skill - it doesn't state that you can change the attitude of the animal - it does say that Wild Emphathy specifically does. I do believe that an attacking dog is on the hostile side for an attitude.

I also agree with Grogtar in that the person trying to "call off the dogs" most likely doesn't know the commands associated with the training involved. In essence what the opposing character is trying to do is toretrain the animal to obey his commands (what ever they are) instead of the ones the original trainer taught him.

 

[domino]

Paladin plus assassin would be a kick-ass combo, too, but that doesn't make it valid.

That's because Paladin-Assassin is explicitly prohibited by the rules.

 

[Terath Ninir]

That's because Paladin-Assassin is explicitly prohibited by the rules.

That's because they thought of it. Most of the druid-whatever combos are just as ridiculous...

 

[domino]

Like...?

 

[DM_Matt]

Paladin plus assassin would be a kick-ass combo, too, but that doesn't make it valid.

It would?

That's because they thought of it. Most of the druid-whatever combos are just as ridiculous...

Multiclass combos? "Munchkin" druids are pretty much just streight druids or druids with one level of monk. Is that the one you think is so absurd? You cant imagine a druid into meditation/communing with nature and learning a fighting style conducive to fighting without weapons and armor, like the animals do?

It makes so much sense that UA has a varient druid that trades some abilities for that stuff.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Druids are a 20 level prestige class. That's all that needs to be said. (And the surest way to find the most broken spells in any new expansion book is to flip to the spell list section and look under druid. Spikes, quill blast, arc of lightning... I rest my case)

 

[Drowbane]

Well, you've got two. (Three, if you count grandma-unfriendly ones.)

Mine: no, no, no, druids and rangers are weak enough as it is!

Shilsen: sure, but crank up the DC.

Take yer pick.

Druids are weak?! Wild Empathy, sure... but Druids as a whole? Maybe if you never play anywhere near the wilderness...

Druids are pretty darn far from weak. And thats with just straight PHB options. Sure, they're not uber insane at low levels, but they can hold thier own. No offense to you and yours, but methinks perhaps you've only seen inept Druids in play (they do exist). Notice that no one has contested your claim that Rangers are weak. Thats just plain truth

Um, Handle Animal shouldn't step on Wild Empathy's toes. This is purely my opinion...

 

[nittanytbone]

I would think that an animal would have to have at least an "indifferent" attitude before you could try to direct its actions.

Thus, any joe with some handle animal could try to push a tame or domestic animal to do something ("NO! Bad fluffy! DOWN! Don't scratch the couch!").

I haven't heard of many cases when regular joes could handle a bear or hawk or other wild animal ("NO! Bad Yogi! DOWN! Don't eat me!").

Thus, your rangers and druids could use animal empathy to improve the attitude to at least indifferent and then try the handle animal.

Its a house rule but I think it makes sene and allows the characters with a greater connection to nature to shine in a small niche as well as use an ability which is often ignored.