Ring of Animal Friendship

[nharwell]

Actually, even the ring's description in the DMG states that it stacks with existing "animal friendship" abilities...

 

[kreynolds]

Respectfully, I disagree. A druid can only have so many hit dice of animal companions. Even though the friendship is instantaneous, real and pemanent, an animal will leave if the hit die cap is gone over. Similar for the ring. Remove it and its hit die cap goes from 12 to zero. Otherwise, everyone in the party will wind up with 12 hit die familiars by passing the ring around.

Respectfully, I disagree with your disagreement. The spell description specifically states that you cast it once and the friendship is established. Period. So removing the ring will have no effect. Why you would want this in the form of a ring, when you can get a wand cheaper, is easy. Anyone can use a wondrous item but not everyone can use a wand. Obviously, I'm talking about a ring that functions similar to a wand, not a continuously functioning ring.

And it's quite obvious that animal friends gained by a ring would count against a druid's limit, as the animal companion class ability and the animal friendship spell are identical. And yes, everyone in the part could end up with animal friends by passing the ring around. So there is nothing wrong with the rules or the ring itself, it's just a DM preference is all. You mean "animals" and not "familiars" right?

However, if you are using the ring detailed in Masters of the Wild, then your hit die totals do stack, and you must keep the ring on.

 

[Kai Lord]

And it's quite obvious that animal friends gained by a ring would count against a druid's limit,

Not according to Masters of the Wild.

 

[kreynolds]

Not according to Masters of the Wild.

In the case of the ring referenced in the Masters of the Wild, you are correct. But in the case of a ring that simply has charges of the Animal Friendship spell, I would think it would count against the druid and would not stack with anything else.

I just found that section in MotW about animal companions. I thought that the original question was about a plain magical ring with charges of the spell in it. Didn't realize until a little while ago. Doh!

 

[Kwalish Kid]

You must look at the rind of animal friendship as a ring that adds 12 caster levels to the wearer, for the purposes of determining animal friendship. (And, of course, it also casts this spell.)

Assuming that there is an actual relation between level and maintaining the friendship (hence the level limits), one needs to keep caster level up in order to maintain the friendship. Removing the ring removes the innate ability to relate to the animal companions that comes with the caster level.

 

[kreynolds]

You must look at the rind of animal friendship as a ring that adds 12 caster levels to the wearer, for the purposes of determining animal friendship. (And, of course, it also casts this spell.)

Assuming that there is an actual relation between level and maintaining the friendship (hence the level limits), one needs to keep caster level up in order to maintain the friendship. Removing the ring removes the innate ability to relate to the animal companions that comes with the caster level.

I hate to say it...but...duh.

 

[Kwalish Kid]

That means that you can't maintain the friendship, crappy WOTC impersonator!

I felt that adding the "duh" on would demean your intelligence.

 

[kreynolds]

That means that you can't maintain the friendship, crappy WOTC impersonator!

I felt that adding the "duh" on would demean your intelligence.

LOL I'm just pokin' at ya'. That's why I put the smiley in there. I know how the ring from Masters of the Wild works, but that's not how my ring works. It's just that this thread is a bit old.