Handling a potential "zoo" party

[Kalendraf]

I'm DM'ing a group where the number of familiars, and animal companions has the potential to look like a zoo. I've never faced this situation before, and am wondering how to proceed. First, let me detail the characters:

Ranger9 - No companions yet, but badly wants one.
Druid8 - Has a tiny viper, wants a few larger companions
Wizard7 - Toad familiar
Sorcerer4/Rogue5 - Owl familiar, also wants to take leadership feat for a henchman
Sorcerer6 - Owl familiar
Barbarian/Rogue/Ranger multiclass (9 levels worth) - no interest yet, but possibly forthcoming

So as it currently stands, there are 6 characters and 4 pets/familiars. The threat is that this could expand quickly if I allow it. I realize that many of these critters are quite vulnerable in combat to area effect spells and so forth.

I'm looking for feedback from other DMs that have faced similar situations. I'm specifically interested in any reasons or arguments against allowing more pets into the group, as the pro-argument for more pets has been pretty well aired in my group.

 

[Orco42]

I see no problem with the party. If the Ranger and Druid both gets Rings of Animal Friendship it could get a bit worse (a few dozen animals) but more likely they will just get one or two strong critters.

If it gets too bad just drop a few fireballs on them.

 

[Kip the Bold]

The group I DM for has quite a few familiars and companions...

Rng/Druid has a dire wolverine companion
Rog/Sorc has a weasel familiar
Wiz/Clr has a owl familiar and a toad familiar (via the extra familiar feat)
Monk has none, fortunately

It could be worse, I suppose, but my biggest problem is forgetting about the animals and familiars when the PCs are subjected to area affect spells. Having miniatures for the familiars helps, somewhat.
I don't have a problem with them adding more companions. But if they ALL decided to get the leadership feat and they ALL decided to make or buy rings of animal friendship I'd probally draw the line somewhere. Or maybe I'd just have all thier companions and familiars try to eat each other

 

[Orco42]

Or maybe I'd just have all thier companions and familiars try to eat each other

Kalendraf- You should do what Kip says. And if a player does not like it have the wizard's toad eat all of the characters.

 

[Kalendraf]

I've had one of the owls eye up both the toad and snake in previous sessions hoping to get a quick snack. But in both those situations, there wasn't any easy way for it to get at them. I'll keep a lookout for an opportunity like that again.

 

[I'm A Banana]

My last campaign had this.

Have the players keep track of their own animals...only take control of them when it would be an exceptional case.

I allowed the players to go for them and all their creatures during their turn. It got it over and out of the way without getting too complex.

But, ideally, they'd have different initiative...

Honestly, this is one of the big problems I've been having as DM...how the heck do you deal with battles that drag on simply because not only does the druid need to go for themselves, but they also need to go for each of the 12 Farret companions they have, and the Wizard and the Sorc and the Psion all have a little critter, and the Ranger has 6 farrets, and the Psion has a few people dominated and/or charmed and nearly every player has Leadership...

How the heck do you deal with that many companions?

 

[Krug]

Get them some legendary animals.
Should be fun.. kind of an overload of animals though, ain't it?

 

[Laslo Tremaine]

I'm thinking about retiring my 11th lvl conjurer because I end up having to deal with way too much crap durring combats...

For example:

•11th lvl Conjurer6/Alienist5
•10th lvl Psychic Warrior Cohort
•Mouse familiar (used to be a hawk, but got reincarnated [karma is a bitch]).
•Homonculus
•Any number of summoned creatures...

Admittedly I over-compensate during combat and usually have all my actions figured out before my round comes up, but it's way too much to keep track of and takes too much effort. I'm thinking about running something easier like a Psion or a Fighter/Rogue (with a really low Charisma and no leadership feat)...