Is the SRD dog too powerful for a familiar?

[Hairfoot]

And do the SRD stats suit a Jack Russel or yippy lapdog like a Maltese terrier?

Player says yes, I say not with a 1d4+1 melee attack. What do you say?


From the SRD:

DOG
Small Animal
Hit Dice: 1d8+2 (6 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–3
Attack: Bite +2 melee (1d4+1)
Full Attack: Bite +2 melee (1d4+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +7, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +1*
Feats: Alertness, Track

 

[Rolzup]

Frankly, I'd be inclined to think that the wizard who sends his familiar -- dog or no dog -- into combat is just asking for trouble. It's still going to have the hit points of a normal familiar, yes? One shot, and the poor thing is down.

So, yeah...I'd allow it. Be more flavor than anything else, really.

 

[ElectricDragon]

I'd lower the size to Tiny, so -4 Str, +2 Dex, +1 AC/Attack, 1d4 bite goes to 1d3.

So what they would have is:

LAP DOG
Tiny Animal
Hit Dice: 1d8+2 (6 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 17 (+2 size, +4 Dex, +1 natural), touch 16, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–7
Attack: Bite +1 melee (1d3–1)
Full Attack: Bite +1 melee (1d3–1)
Space/Reach: 2 1/2 ft./2 1/2 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +1
Abilities: Str 9, Dex 19, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +5, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +1*
Feats: Alertness, Track

Otherwise, a Small dog would take up its own space. Tiny fits familiars better.

Ciao
Dave

 

[GuardianLurker]

And do the SRD stats suit a Jack Russel or yippy lapdog like a Maltese terrier?

Nope. They represent something more long the size of a large cocker spaniel, a beagle, basset hound or something similar.

Riding dogs are the size of newfies, St Bernards, etc.

Use the wolf stats for things like German Shepherds, Rotweillers, and Huskies.

The size down grade that ED gives is more appropriate for the footballs smaller dogs.

 

[frankthedm]

Half a HD would be fitting for a lap dog. 6 HP is the tissue damge it take to drop 2 medium commoners. And 19 dex feels quite high.

Nope. They represent something more long the size of a large cocker spaniel, a beagle, basset hound or something similar.

A bulldog or other breed of similar size used for attacking might be a better represenative.

The statistics presented here describe a fairly small dog of about 20 to 50 pounds in weight. They also can be used for small wild canines such as coyotes, jackals, and African wild dogs.

 

[Vorput]

On the is it too powerful question, I don't think it matters- at level one, you may see the doggy in combat- after that, the wizard is just asking for a severe experience loss if he sends it in.

Vorp

 

[ElectricDragon]

The HD and hp are unimportant if the creature is to be a familiar, but I agree that the 19 Dex seems too high. I was just using the stats provided to make a quick call.


But why does a dog have a 17 Dex compared to a cat's 15?

Ciao
Dave

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I had a Tiny dog for a familiar in one campaign. It worked quite well. I had Dex 17 for the tiny dog, maybe you need to double check adjusting for sizes? Or maybe I do...

 

[Hairfoot]

I guess the balance issue is that a dog seems more...useful than the regular familiar animals. But in practice I suppose it isn't.

 

[Klaus]

Setting the Time Machine to April 10th, 2004.

I was never satisfied with the dog/riding dog stats, since they fail to represent the wide range of breeds in existence. So I wrote this article with stats for Tiny, Small and Medium dogs:

http://www.fierydragon.com/db/2004-04-10.htm

Tiny Dog: These statistics reflect smaller breeds, like poodles, jack russells and chihuahuas. 1 HD varieties include beagles, border collies and bull terriers, the latter of which have Str 7. Special: A wizard or sorcerer can choose a Tiny dog as its familiar. The dog's master gains a +3 bonus on Listen checks.

Small Dog: These statistics reflect most breeds, including boxers, bloodhounds and collies, as well as most mongrels (mixed-breed). 2HD varieties include huskies, pit bulls and irish setters.

Medium Dog: These statistics reflect larger or fiercer breeds, like german shepherds, dobermans and rottweilers. 3HD varieties include napolitan mastiffs, great danes and pyrenean mastiff.