Masters of the Wild: First Impressions

[Klaus]

I do have the 2nd printing PHB, so I guess that was a clarification upon the 1st printing.

There are some terrible contradictions aound this, so IMC I'm simplifying it to: Caster can befriend a total HD of animals equal to twice his caster level. If he tends to adventure a lot, he can maintain half of that ammount (or 1HD per caster level).

Clerics and Druids have a caster level=class level.

Rangers have a caster level = 1/2 class level.

So 4th level ranger gets 2HD wolf.

And a Toad is a not a 1HD creature.

 

[Plane Sailing]

No ranger in his right mind would rely upon the feeble animal friendship spell anyway.

I pointed out in an old thread on the original ENboards that a high level ranger who has maxed out his animal handling skill and who has 9+ in animal empathy and a good charisma has an excellent chance of training beasts such as owl bears, dire animals or even tyrannosaurs to work for him. Far more powerful creatures than he could ever get through animal friendship magic, but perfectly possible by focussing on class skills which he has available. Might not be as sexy as hide and spot, but it could create a real killer set of pets quite easily.

Cheers

 

[rumanchu]

Re: Does your Single-classed Wizard attack Giants with his greatsword?

I'm sorry, but I really don't understand this statement, and simliar statements made by other people who share your opinion......What kind of game do you play where Sorcerors and Wizards are front-line fighters?

Single classed Wizards, Sorcerors, and to a lesser extent Rogues and Bards, are not designed to be up front fighting off hordes of enemies. That's what fighters et al are for.

The only classes that really need more hit points are the ones who throw them away in every major encounter--the melee fighters.

Again, what kind of campaign do you play in?

Probably one like the one that I play in. It's fairly standard practice for anyone with the means to attack my wizard (bows, spells, tumbling, etc) to whomp on me before they mess with the fighters and clerics. I suppose that it's only fair, seeing as my party does the same thing when we come up on a party with spellcasters.

Needless to say, I sure wish that I could tack on an additional 12HP to my meager 52.

 

[SpuneDagr]

No ranger in his right mind would rely upon the feeble animal friendship spell anyway.

I pointed out in an old thread on the original ENboards that a high level ranger who has maxed out his animal handling skill and who has 9+ in animal empathy and a good charisma has an excellent chance of training beasts such as owl bears, dire animals or even tyrannosaurs to work for him. Far more powerful creatures than he could ever get through animal friendship magic, but perfectly possible by focussing on class skills which he has available. Might not be as sexy as hide and spot, but it could create a real killer set of pets quite easily.

Cheers

I'm pretty sure Animal Friendship only works on 'animal' types. Technically speaking, owlbears and dinosaurs are 'beasts.'

 

[Rashak Mani]

Tecnically speaking humans are animals too...

 

[Chun-tzu]

I'm pretty sure Animal Friendship only works on 'animal' types. Technically speaking, owlbears and dinosaurs are 'beasts.'

Yes, they are. Read what PlaneSailing wrote again. He's sayig that Animal Friendship is insignificant at high levels, and that a ranger has Animal Handling and Animal Empathy at his disposal, which CAN be used on beasts.

 

[Orco42]

I finnally got it.

It is great but some of the PrC's are broken.

The animal lord and Shifter can heal as many hp's as they want by wild shaping back and forth.

The Verdant Lord gets +1 to spells per level (always trouble) and fighter BAB, good fort and will save, you can burn spells for regeneration spells (better than cure when not in combat), become a plant an get other nice abilities.

I thought the forsaker was broken at first, but now that I've thought it over it might even be a little weak.

I am sure that the unlimited shapeshifting will be errata'd but I am not sure how they will fix the Verdant Lord.

Again I still like it more than any of the other class books.

 

[The Cardinal]

I'm pretty sure Animal Friendship only works on 'animal' types. Technically speaking, owlbears and dinosaurs are 'beasts.'

sorry - but wasn't that, sort of, his point? That AE will get you far more powerful creature because it also works on (magical) beasts...

(from the SRD)

Animal Empathy (CHA; TRAINED ONLY; DRUID, RANGER ONLY)
Check: The character can improve the attitude of an animal with a successful check. To use the skill, the character and the animal must be able to study each other, noting each other's body language, vocalizations, and general demeanor. This means that the character must be within 30 feet under normal conditions.
Generally, influencing an animal in this way takes 1 minute, but, as with influencing people, it might take more or less time.
This skill works on animals. The character can use it with a –4 penalty on beasts and magical beasts.
Retry: As with attempts to influence people, retries on the same animal generally don't work (or don't work any better), whether the character has succeeded or not.

...and the Animal Friendship spell does not?

(from the SRD)

Animal Friendship

Enchantment (Charm) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Drd 1, Rgr 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One animal
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

The character wins the loyalty of an animal, provided that the character's heart is true. The spell functions only if the character actually wishes to be the animal's friend. If the character is not willing to treat the animal as a friend (for example, the character intends to eat it, or to use it to set off traps), the spell fails. An animal's loyalty, once gained, is natural (not magical) and lasting.

The character can teach the befriended animal three specific tricks or tasks for each point of Intelligence it possesses. Typical tasks are coming when called, rolling over on command, fetching, or shaking hands. They cannot be complex (complex tricks, such as accepting a rider, require the Handle Animal skill).

At any one time, the character can have only a certain number of animals befriended to the character. The character can have animal friends whose Hit Dice total no more than twice the character's caster level. The character may dismiss animal friends to enable the character to befriend new ones.

 

[Wolfspider]

I'm pretty sure Animal Friendship only works on 'animal' types. Technically speaking, owlbears and dinosaurs are 'beasts.'

Actually, guys, Spunedagr is right. The spell Animal Friendship DOES only work on animals. I know because on another thread I've been trying to figure out exactly why dinosaurs are considered animals.

The skills animal empathy and handle animal CAN be used on beasts, however.

Hmmmm...maybe that's what I should have my lizardfolk druid do--find a couple velociraptor eggs and bring them back to the swamp....

 

[Tsyr]

(I know that most DMs don't allow a character taking levels in two PrClasses, but this is an example).

They don't?

That's news to me.