Tiger companion - loads of clawy goodness?

[Pielorinho]

My druid PC picked up a tiger companion last session, to replace a fallen brown bear companion. Tactics went like this:

1) Sorcerer casts mage armor on the tiger, raising her AC to 18.
2) In preparation for battles, sorcerer hits the tiger with a shield spell, raising her forward-facing AC to 25.
3) In battle, I held her back until the enemy got into range of a single move.
4) As soon as they were in range (even if it was the third round of combat) she charged/pounced them. Full attack with +2 to hit and -2 to her AC. This gave her five attacks: 2 claws, 2 rakes, 1 bite.

This tactic managed to devastate our enemies. Did we play this correctly? Specifically, can a creature with pounce use this ability on the second or third round of combat, as long as she doesn't do anything in those first few rounds (i.e., she doesn't enter the combat)?

Daniel

 

[Caliban]

My druid PC picked up a tiger companion last session, to replace a fallen brown bear companion. Tactics went like this:

1) Sorcerer casts mage armor on the tiger, raising her AC to 18.

That's fine.

2) In preparation for battles, sorcerer hits the tiger with a shield spell, raising her forward-facing AC to 25.

You can't cast shield on other creatures (other than your familiar), it's personal only.

3) In battle, I held her back until the enemy got into range of a single move.
4) As soon as they were in range (even if it was the third round of combat) she charged/pounced them. Full attack with +2 to hit and -2 to her AC. This gave her five attacks: 2 claws, 2 rakes, 1 bite.

Pounce only functions on the first round of combat, as specified in the pounce ability. If the creature was involved in the combat (even if only by being buffed by other characters), it gave up the opportunity for the initial pounce.

 

[Shin Okada]

First, Sorcerer can't cast Shield on the tiger. Target of the Shield spell is "you".

Second, description of Pounce ability specifically says "during the first round of combat" so the tiger cannot use pounce on the second round or later.

 

[Mistwell]

Seems kinda a quick, very narrow interpretation of the rules. I would think this means the first round that the TIGER enters combat. It wouldn't care if other people in the world started fighting before it entered the fray. In fact, if you think about how pounce is used in real life, the tiger is aware of it's prey already, and waits hidden...and it's first ATTACK is the pounce. Just sitting around waiting for prey to come in range is exactly how pounce is used, I would think.

-Mistwell

 

[Pielorinho]

Shoulda specified -- shield was being cast from a wand. In this case, can it be cast on other folks?

And as for the "first round of combat", what defines that first round? WHen is someone technically entered into combat?

Daniel

 

[mzsylver]

Shoulda specified -- shield was being cast from a wand. In this case, can it be cast on other folks?

no, it is just as if you are casting the spell yourself.

hmm... trying to think of how to affect the tiger with shield... spell storing devices wouldnt work either unless the tiger can speak... got awaken?

 

[kreynolds]

And as for the "first round of combat", what defines that first round? WHen is someone technically entered into combat?

Daniel

The first round is defined by surprise or when initiative is rolled. If your cat rolls initiative, it needs to take the pounce or give it up.

 

[Pielorinho]

Hmm...it looks like y'all are right, although I thought that there was some rulea bout new combatants entering a combat that might apply. --Here it is: page 62 of the DMG.

If, in the course of a battle betweeen two sides, some third group enters the battle, they should come into the action in between rounds.

We were kinda thinking that when an ally deliberately holds back, they might be the equivalent of newcomers to the battle when they finally leap into the fray. The way I envision the pounce ability working, it seems like it'd apply here -- but maybe not.

How does one determine who counts as a newcomer?

As for the wand trick, sadly that looks like it won't work. I'll inform the sorcerer.

Daniel

 

[Wippit Guud]

A tiger sneaks through the grass, and comes upon two antelope locking horns in a mating combat. It tenses it's muscles, awaiting to see what the outcome of the combat will be. After 30 seconds, one of the antelope goes down, slightly wounded on the neck. Quick as a flash, the tiger charges, cover the 50 feet to the fallen antelope, and...

hits once, because pounce was only effective 30 seconds ago.

/me begins to cast 'mass common sense'.

 

[kreynolds]

How does one determine who counts as a newcomer?

If the other combatants are aware of your presence, you are in the fight, no matter what.