bedir than
Full Moon Storyteller
My custom worldspace has three races that start with animal companions in a way that is similar but not equal to the baseline Ranger Beast Companion rule. Most of these Bonded Animals are typical domesticated animals (dogs, horses, some birds).
One of the ways I'm trying to give them a little bit more flavor, and mechanical utility, is to customize their stat block.
So Retrievers have a "monster" feature called Fetch. It lets them Dash over two rounds and retrieve a missile weapon. This also contains a bit of risk, but if you are out of ammo, it could be the difference between life and death.
Sled Dogs are heartier and resistant to cold.
Minor tweaks to the standard array offer flavor to the campaign. In ways this is similar to changing a Guard to a Halfling Guard, or whatever.
Yes, it is becoming some consuming work. But by making mostly minor changes with the 11 different domestic canines I've found that the connection the PLAYER's are developing to their companions is growing.
So, yes, the dude that has a bear feels special. The eventual character that has an axebeak will feel powerful. From a power-gaming perspective those are great companions, but from the role aspect there would of course be characters with intense connections to their pet/work-mate. Giving them a non-generic stat block is a recognition of that even without a custom companion feat.
One of the ways I'm trying to give them a little bit more flavor, and mechanical utility, is to customize their stat block.
So Retrievers have a "monster" feature called Fetch. It lets them Dash over two rounds and retrieve a missile weapon. This also contains a bit of risk, but if you are out of ammo, it could be the difference between life and death.
Sled Dogs are heartier and resistant to cold.
Minor tweaks to the standard array offer flavor to the campaign. In ways this is similar to changing a Guard to a Halfling Guard, or whatever.
Yes, it is becoming some consuming work. But by making mostly minor changes with the 11 different domestic canines I've found that the connection the PLAYER's are developing to their companions is growing.
So, yes, the dude that has a bear feels special. The eventual character that has an axebeak will feel powerful. From a power-gaming perspective those are great companions, but from the role aspect there would of course be characters with intense connections to their pet/work-mate. Giving them a non-generic stat block is a recognition of that even without a custom companion feat.
