My house rules include the following:
Breeds
You can simply select livestock without worrying about the particular breed of animal you have chosen. For some animals, choosing a breed is as simple as determining the breed at the time of purchase. The game makes no distinction between types of chicken, for example. For some animals, however, breed may be extremely important.
Cat: For the most part, cats are not purebred in the Middle World. While there may be purebred lines, which have values greater than that listed here for ornamental purposes, the only significant breed of domesticated cat in the Middle World are the temple cats of Bastet.
Temple Cat: Cost 5 gp. These cats are bred and trained to guard a residence or temple. They are short-furred, cream-coloured with brown points, and possessed of intelligent-seeming blue eyes. Whereas most cats resist training, temple cats can be trained as are other animals, and they perform their guard function without specific training (sometimes even when it is not warranted or desired).
Dog: Most dogs have mongrel bloodlines, but there are several types of dogs, which differ from the base dog listings.
Alaunt: Cost 15 gp. Str 15, Con 17, bite +2 (1d6+1), no Scent, Run as a free feat, –2 circumstance penalty to Handle Animal skill checks. This dog has a reputation for recklessness, and has been known to attack domesticated animals (or even its owner). It is typically used against larger game, such as bears and boars.
Border Collie: Cost 15 gp. Wis 16, Cha 8, grants +2 circumstance bonus per dog to Handle Animal checks for herding, to a maximum of +10. This dog is found aiding in rounding up sheep and other animals, even without special training.
Brockhound: Cost 10 gp. Reduced to size Tiny, +2 to Str and Con. This dog is long and narrow, being bred to hunt badgers in their holes.
Ghosthound: Cost 200 gp. As riding dog, Con 18, Wis 17, Speed 50 ft., +8 racial bonus to Move Silently. These expensive dogs have white bodies with red-tipped ears and muzzles. They do not bark.
Greyhound: Cost 30 gp. Speed 50 ft. This fast hound is a popular hunting dog.
Grim Mastiff: Cost 250 gp. As riding dog, adjusted to size Large, trip special attack (as wolf), Iron Will bonus feat, +4 circumstance bonus to Handle Animal checks. These dogs are large enough to be ridden by humans, but they are more often used as guard animals (a job they can perform without special training). If treated well, grim mastiffs tend to be fiercely loyal to their masters.
Lymer: Cost 20 gp. +4 racial bonus to Move Silently, grants +2 circumstance bonus per dog to Wilderness Lore checks for hunting, to a maximum of +10. This quiet dog is used to determine the lay of the land even before hunting begins.
Mastiff: Cost: 30 gp. Str 17, on 18, no Track feat, trip special attack (as wolf). Often used as a guard dog, the mastiff is both fierce and loyal.
Rat Terrier: Cost 7 gp. Reduced to size Tiny. This dog is used to hunt rats and mice.
Tunnel Hound: Cost 75 gp. Con 18, +4 racial bonus to Hide and Move Silently skill checks, +8 racial bonus to listen checks, Blind-Fight bonus feat. A tunnel hound is a pale grey dog with large ears and eyes. It is bred specifically for underground environments.
Hawk: Different varieties of hawk are used for different purposes in falconry, and may be linked to social class and standing.
Golden Eagle: Cost: 1,000 gp. Stats as Eagle, –4 circumstance penalty to Handle Animal skill checks. Weighing approximately 7 pounds, with a wingspan of 6 feet, golden eagles have long been considered among the premier falconry birds of the sport, but their size and strength make them daunting – even dangerous – to work with. The long, thick talons of the rear and inside toes are the size of grizzly bear claws and can penetrate up to three inches into its victim. A golden eagle has enough strength in their talons to pierce a
man’s skull. These fierce raptors are capable of taking prey well beyond the reach of other birds, however, and eagles have for centuries been flown against deer, antelope and even wolves.
Gyrfalcon: Cost: 50 gp+. Stats as Hawk, advanced to size Small. Royal, majestic and magnificent are just a few descriptions of the largest and most northerly member of the falcon family. The pure white gyrfalcon is reserved for and flown by kings. It is otherwise difficult to decide what colours are most to be desired in gerfalcons, as there exist fine specimens with all shades. The gyrfalcon lacks the manoeuvrability of its smaller cousins, but it more than makes up for this with its powerful flight. The gyrfalcon is primarily flown at pheasant, grouse and duck.
Peregrine: Cost 30 gp. Stats as Hawk. The peregrine falcon is the bird of choice among the falconry elite. Commonly called a duck hawk, this bird’s diet consists of birds that are usually caught on the wing. Peregrines are smaller falcons, but their build and superior hunting qualities allow them to rank with the best of the gerfalcons. Peregrine falcons are flown against grey herons, an exceptionally large target, although grouse, wood pigeons and rooks are common prey.
Saker Falcon: Cost: 40 gp. Stats as Hawk, Str 8, Con 12. By some accounts, the saker falcon is considered one of the best raptors for falconry. The saker falcon is similar to the gyrfalcon in wing and tail measurements but is slightly built and does not weigh as much as the large arctic falcons. These birds not only take avian prey but ground quarry as well, making this species a very well rounded falconry bird.
Lanner Falcon: Cost: 18 gp. Stats as Hawk. Lanner falcons are smaller than true noble falcons and they have in comparison to their bodies a thicker head and throat than other falcons. They primarily prey on smaller avian quarry such as pigeons and upland game birds but have been known to take smaller sized ducks on occasion.
Merlin: Cost: 25 gp. Stats as Hawk. Traditionally a noble lady’s bird, the merlin is also sought after by the upper nobility due to its blinding speed and ferocious nature. Weighing less than a pound with an 18-inch wingspan, the merlin is a versatile hunter. They are courageous and hardy hawks, flying with greater fierceness and more hotly than any other bird of prey; so that they can be flown after partridge and other birds bigger than themselves, and pursue them eagerly even into villages and towns.
Goshawk: Cost: 18 gp. Stats as Hawk. Easily recognized by its blood-red eyes, the goshawk is bloodthirsty, savage, ruthless and elegant. Famous for its tenacity in the pursuit of a wide variety of avian and ground quarry, the goshawk was a favorite of the falconer.
Kestrel: Cost: 6 gp. Stats as Hawk, adjusted to Diminutive size. Also known as the rock kestrel, this petite yet colorful falcon is small and very high-strung. Flown only by the lowest class, this bird preys primarily on insects, small snakes and mice. However, they can be trained to fly against larger quarry such as sparrows, starlings and songbirds.
Horse or Pony: The breed of your horse or pony can alter its price and statistics as well.
Alamanian: Cost: +50%. Suitable for riding horses or light warhorses, the Alamanian horses are desert bred for speed and endurance. Such a horse gains a +5 bonus to its speed, and a +2 bonus to Con. They come in a variety of colours, but the pure white or pure black strains are most prized.
Chalaki: Cost: +100%. Suitable for riding horses or light warhorses. The small, strong horses of the Chalakos nomads have incredible endurance, gaining a +4 bonus to Con
and a +2 bonus to Str. Chalaki horses are often piebald, grey or brown with splotches of darker colour along their rumps.
Dancing Horse: Cost: +50%. Suitable for riding horses or light warhorses. The dancing horse is a yellowish-white colour, sometimes with splashes of darker hues. They have a +4 bonus to Dex and a +4 racial bonus to Jump checks.
Greathorse: Cost: +300% normal. Suitable for draft horses. The greathorse is a heavy horse advanced to size Huge, with an additional +2 bonus to Str. It can pull enormous loads.
Northern Pony: Cost: +25%. This shaggy dark brown pony gains Cold Endurance as a racial feat.
Steppe Pony: Cost: +25%. This somewhat smaller, stocky pony has a +2 bonus to Con.
Boon Companions
You can declare any animal you own (including animal companions) as a boon companion, by spending 100 xp to do so. Thereafter, you may give up to 10% of your xp for any given game session to the animal. The animal is able to gain levels in the Warrior NPC class, and up to three levels in the Beastfolk racial class. The xp you spend on your boon companion(s) are lost to you.
