Lets say...........

[Hypersmurf]

IIRC, the panther is not exactly a figurine of wonderous power. Her current condition is the result of the creation of a figuirine being interupted by Drizzt, saving the panther who was due to be sacrificed to power the figurine, and whop instead became bound to it.

Really?

I thought in Homeland, he first met Guenhwyvar when someone else in his patrol group used the figurine... the figurine had already been created long before?

-Hyp.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Really?

I thought in Homeland, he first met Guenhwyvar when someone else in his patrol group used the figurine... the figurine had already been created long before?

Yep - it was used by a wizard, who enjoyed having a massive black cat chase down fleeing enemies in the tunnels.

Drizzt took the figurine off of the wizard when he killed him on his way out of Menzoberranzan.

 

[kenobi65]

You can certainly use Handle Animal to tame / train animals to act as "companions", but keep in mind that they are not, strictly speaking, Animal Companions (in the druid / ranger sense) -- they don't gain additional hit dice, additional tricks, etc., as you go up in levels, the way that true Animal Companions do.

 

[Scion]

Also, isn't there a feat that will grant you an animal companion? I could have sworn there was one in Races of the Wild.

how about this?

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a

 

[RuminDange]

IIRC, the panther is not exactly a figurine of wonderous power. Her current condition is the result of the creation of a figuirine being interupted by Drizzt, saving the panther who was due to be sacrificed to power the figurine, and whop instead became bound to it.


glass.

Actually there was story that RA Salavtore wrote that details how Guenhwyvar was turned into a figuirine of wonderous power long before she fell into drow hands.

Spoiler

She was going to sacrificed to make a figurine, by a old human ranger turned wizard for an elven friend but they didn't have the heart to carry through so she was released. She ended up rescuing the elf but was mortally wounded and to save her the wizard put her in a portable hole and carried her back and he and elf finished the figuirine as she died. Doing this caused the portable hole to merge with the figuirine and why Guenhwyvar has additional powers.

The following is taken from http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=books/fr/lonedrowstats

Guenhwyvar: Female unique panther; CR 7; Medium magical beast (extraplanar); HD 9d10+36; hp 85; Init +6; Spd 40 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 24, touch 16, flat-footed 18; Base Atk +9; Grp +13; Atk +15 melee (1d8+4, bite); Full Atk +15 melee (1d8+4, bite) and +13 melee (1d4+2, 2 claws); SA improved grab, magic strike, pounce, rake 1d4+2; SQ darkvision 60 ft., devotion, evasion, low-light vision, plane shift 2/day, scent, share spells, tricks; AL NG; SV Fort +10, Ref +12, Will +5; Str 19, Dex 22, Con 18, Int 5, Wis 15, Cha 9.

Skills and Feats: Balance +14, Climb +12, Hide +12, Jump +12, Listen +8, Move Silently +12, Spot +8; Alertness, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Improved Natural Attack (claw), Multiattack, Weapon Finesse.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, Guenhwyvar must hit with her bite attack. She can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If she wins the grapple check, she establishes a hold and can rake.

Magic Strike (Ex): This ability allows Guenhwyvar to treat her natural weapons as cold iron, silver, magic, and good-aligned.

Pounce (Ex): If Guenhwyvar charges a foe, she can make a full attack, including two rake attacks.

Rake (Ex): Attack bonus +15 melee, damage 1d4+2.

Devotion (Ex): Guenhwyvar's devotion to her master is so complete that she gains a +4 morale bonus on Will saves against enchantment spells and effects.

Evasion (Ex): If Guenhwyvar is subjected to an attack that normally allows a Reflex saving throw for half damage, she takes no damage if she makes a successful saving throw.

Plane Shift (Su): Guenhwyvar can plane shift upon command of her master as the spell with up to one other being from The House of Nature to her master and back to the House of Nature every other day for a period of 6 hours. Guenhwyvar cannot heal naturally on the Material Plane but heals at double the rate (18 hp/day) when on The House of Nature. If slain, she reverts to her figurine form and automatically plane shifts back to The House of Nature where she begins to heal as if she were stabilized at -9 hp.

Scent (Ex): Guenhwyvar can detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell.

Share Spells (Ex): As a former animal companion, Guenhwyvar retains her ability share the spells her master casts. At her master's option, she may have any spell her master casts upon himself also affect her so long as she is within 5 feet. Additionally, her master may cast a spell with a target of "You" on Guenhywvar (as a touch range spell) instead of on himself.

Tricks (Ex): Guenhwyvar knows the following ten tricks, as described under the Handle Animal skill in Chapter 4 of the Player's Handbook: attack, come, defend, down, fetch, guard, heel, seek, stay, and track.

Languages: Guenhwyvar understands, but cannot speak, Common and Undercommon

Skills: Guenhwyvar has a +8 racial bonus on Balance and Jump checks, and a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks. She has a +8 racial bonus on climb checks, and she can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened.

Note: Guenhwyvar is owned by the owner of the figurine.

So by that, Guenhwyvar is Drizzt's Animal Companion.

RD

 

[solates]

Normal tamed pets can be somewhat doable. Would take alot of investment in time and money though.

1. Befriend or become the parties druid(this is pretty vital).
2. Have said druid get the craft wondrous item feat.
3. Craft a collar of animal growth.
4. Use some creativity and gear up the animal(dog-like is the easiest) barding, rings, vests and so on can be used. Even a cloak sort of. Even a normal dog at double hd with +6 str dex con, +5 natural armor and wielding +5 natural weaponry can dish out some damage.
5. Find an animal(most likely a dire animal) with ALOT of hitdice. When using animal growth this makes for an effective compatriot.
6. Note which attacks dont require the animal to actually hit a high ac(disarms for example). The idea of a pet dog ripping the baddies sword out of his hand has some potential. VS monsters maybe just providing flanking and going full defensive(harrying the enemy as a dog would do on a boar hunt).

And lets look at the obvious benefits as well. In normal life if someone has a 200lb dog in the back of the truck, you dont go near the truck. While in dnd fantasy takes over this aspect would tend to keep most commoners away from your gear while your away or sleeping. Also a dogs scent ability is a good warning system for sneaking or invisible foes.

If someone would please. 6hd dog animal growth, greater magic claw, +6 to con str dex +5 natural armor bonus, armor spell, shield spell. All of the above can be applied either by permanent magic items or by actual spells.

See if your dm will allow druid spells from swords and sorcery campaign(or allow you to develop them in yours) they also have some really creative animal based buff spells.

And last but not least. A pet is a pet, and while even a police dog is trained to attack, defend, guard and so on, their handlers get attached to them as well. IF someone does kill your pet, exactly unholy vengeance is perfectly understandable(even for a paladin i think).

Solates

 

[boolean]

So by that, Guenhwyvar is Drizzt's Animal Companion.

RD

If Guenhwyvar has an intelligence of five, and can understand common, then why does she need tricks?

 

[amethal]

Were you were thinking of a wolf for flavour reasons, or was it just a random example?

If you compare the wolf stats to the riding dog stats, you'll find they are extremely similar. Buying a big dog is a lot easier than training a wolf cub!

 

[Scharlata]

Lets say that at some point you want an animal companion/familiar but you are not of the druid or sorcerer class or any associated? Could you with a high enough charisma and handle animal roll tame something such as a wolf to have for a companion??? And is there anyone who can tell me how the heck Drizzt Do'Urdin Manages to summon and unsummon Ghwynnevhar?

Hi!

Get assistance by the feat: [Creature Type] Trainer!
Look here: [Creature Type] Trainer by WotC
Enjoy!

 

[RuminDange]

If Guenhwyvar has an intelligence of five, and can understand common, then why does she need tricks?

Good question, but not one I can answer....but the writer of that article of WoTC might can.

RD