Scarred Lands: Ask the Sage [This keeps up, I'm gonna need a bigger notebook!]

[Nightfall]

So far, the only certain product in Q4/Fall/Winter is Strange Lands: Lost Tribes of the Scarred Lands.

What is it? I have no clue. But if I hear or see any more Joe, you'll be the first to know.

 

[Gospog]

Hi Nightfall,

I'm hoping this is an easy one for you.

I am making a Druid character for an upcoming Scarred Lands game.

I'm going to have an animal companion. Is there a list somewhere of what animals/creatures introduced in Scarred Lands books would be appropriate for this companion? (2 hit dice or less, for now)

I'm looking for something similar to the adjusted summoning lists found in the back of Creature Collection II.

Barring that, do you have a list of favorites that you care to post?

Right now, I am leaning towards an Albadian battle dog (my character is from Albadia) but I'd hate to overlook a better (cooler) choice out of ignorance.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Nightfall]

I honestly don't believe there's much better than a Battle Dog, especially for a druid from Albadia. (though I do hope you're using CC Revised as the dog looks MUCH better in that book.) I honestly can't think of any other instance of a good cold weather 2 HD or less animal besides Albadian battle dog. So my advice, go with that.

(If I do run across something Gossy I'll let you know.)

 

[Trickstergod]

Keep in mind that whatever gets used for a non-standard animal companion should use the monsters CR, not its HD. The creatures CR should be roughly that of any other for the animal companions allowed at the druids level. At least, if you're using 3.5 - where HD isn't what's used for the animal companion so much anymore, as HD aren't necessarily indicative of how strong an animal companion may be.

 

[Nightfall]

Mm forgot about that. But even so, I don't see an Albadian Battle Dog not being useable by a Druid in a mid low level, mid level game. (So that begs the question, what level are you?)

 

[Gospog]

Thanks, guys!

We'll be starting the game at 2nd level. I am a Barbarian Druid 1/1.

The game will be 3.0 (we didn't upgrade) but I'm not real worried about the technicalities. My DM is even looser with the rules than I am (that is saying a lot).
When I mentioned my animal companion to her, her guidelines were "Make it something cool, possibly with two heads."

Is she the best or what?
Don't worry, I married her.

Anyway, I am well pleased with the illustration of the Albadian Battle Dog in the 3.0 CC. It is ugly as all hell, and I'll be sculpting my own. That means that as long as my finished sculpt is ugly, and a quadroped, I can squeek by.

Speaking of sculpting, I have to get back to my workbech and continue work on my character himself. At some point, I may even have pictures to post.

Thanks again for all of your help!

 

[Nightfall]

Yeah well I just think they did a really nice job fixing the CRs, the feats and skill points for the CC Monsters. (And really what's cooler than having Hags, Unhallowed and Fatlings templated? )

 

[Nightfall]

Two days and another bump goes by...

 

[eryndel]

Ah... the page six doldrums.

So Nightfall, to tide your day over... here's a question. Just about each of these "Ask the Sage" threads have asked what is the most useful book, most needed book, what have you. So, which SL book is your least favorite? Why? In order to not just flame a particular book, be constructive and tells us where it was disappointing and how you would have done it better.

Others can join in the fun too!

Werner

 

[Nightfall]

Oh that's easy. Penumbral Pentagon. The book didn't do the things I was hoping for: a Revised and better Penumbral Lord, better details about the structure and resources of the group, maps of the areas of influence, and any schisms within the group. The only saving grace was the fact they had very well done maps and an interesting way of traveling between each fortress. I also didn't like this "dark half" stuff and the stuff about the Penumbral's history was a little foggy and ill-thought out in my view. (Not to mention VERY controdictory, even for a SL book.)

I also didn't care that much of any of the adventure ideas. They seem...poorly executed. Also not enough of plots hooks I could sink my teeth into. That's my gripe with probably the ONLY book so far from SL that I felt was damn weak and useless.