Training a wolf to wear barding?

[frankthedm]

To me it stands to reason the Combat Riding Purpose is what would encompass barding. DO note that purpose has an extra cost since it replaces all the tricks of the animal in question.

Combat Riding (DC 20): An animal trained to bear a rider into combat knows the tricks attack, come, defend, down, guard, and heel. Training an animal for combat riding takes six weeks. You may also “upgrade” an animal trained for riding to one trained for combat riding by spending three weeks and making a successful DC 20 Handle Animal check. The new general purpose and tricks completely replace the animal’s previous purpose and any tricks it once knew. Warhorses and riding dogs are already trained to bear riders into combat, and they don’t require any additional training for this purpose.

 

[Alzrius]

To me it stands to reason the Combat Riding Purpose is what would encompass barding. DO note that purpose has an extra cost since it replaces all the tricks of the animal in question.

Combat Riding (DC 20): An animal trained to bear a rider into combat knows the tricks attack, come, defend, down, guard, and heel. Training an animal for combat riding takes six weeks. You may also “upgrade” an animal trained for riding to one trained for combat riding by spending three weeks and making a successful DC 20 Handle Animal check. The new general purpose and tricks completely replace the animal’s previous purpose and any tricks it once knew. Warhorses and riding dogs are already trained to bear riders into combat, and they don’t require any additional training for this purpose.

Given that there's no other real description of what "trained for war" actually means in terms of game mechanics, I think this is the best interpretation.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Given that there's no other real description of what "trained for war" actually means in terms of game mechanics, I think this is the best interpretation.

I don't think it's that simple. I noticed this because I have a riding dog companion right now, and this issue came up. Note in frank's quote for combat riding, that a riding dog is supposed to not need the combat riding purpose. Yet, if you look at the Riding Dog... Dog, Riding :: d20srd.org

"Combat

If trained for war, these animals can make trip attacks just as wolves do (see the Wolf entry). A riding dog can fight while carrying a rider, but the rider cannot also attack unless he or she succeeds on a Ride check. "

So...clearly combat riding purpose =/= trained for war, otherwise riding dogs could just make the trip attempts.

For what it's worth, in the game I'm in, the DM and I came to an agreement on what "trained for war" would mean -- having all the tricks in the "Fighting" purpose. That would be attack (apparently only one trick, so can't attack all w/o a second), down, and stay. I gave my dog all those tricks starting out, and DM let him count as trained for war.

[sblock]The first few sessions we had no melee fighter, so the free tripping really helped[/sblock]

 

[Vegepygmy]

Note in frank's quote for combat riding, that a riding dog is supposed to not need the combat riding purpose. Yet, if you look at the Riding Dog...

So...clearly combat riding purpose =/= trained for war, otherwise riding dogs could just make the trip attempts.

I don't find this argument persuasive at all. It takes rules from two different sources, out of context, and uses them to arrive at an unreasonable conclusion.

I understand these rules to be saying: (1) riding dogs normally come pre-trained for war (i.e., combat riding); (2) most riding dogs can make trip attempts like wolves do (because they're trained for war), but it's possible to have a riding dog that can't do so (because they aren't just born trained for war).

I do, however, agree with you and your DM that any animal trained for Fighting (or Combat Riding) is "trained for war."

 

[Shin Okada]

Isn't that much simpler to just give your dog a masterwork or magical studded leather, or maybe mithral chain shirt barding?

When armor check penalty is 0, the creature doesn't need armor proficiency at all.

If the dog is happen to be an arcane caster, he must still care about arcane spell failure. But that is a totally different story.

Also, you can use Warbeast template in MM2 which gives Heavy Armor proficiency to an animal (and to a vermin).

 

[Sigurd]

I agree with Shin.

A wolf has natural combat abilities but they don't naturally wear armor. Really special armor might work with the wolf or the wolf could be trained to use new combat techniques. That seems like a fair statement of things.

Wolf attacks are as much about speed and quickness as tooth and claw. Normal armor would seem to demand a change in combat style. Horses seem a better choice for barding - they trample without as much twisting or agility. Horses don't have the agility to trip.

Wolf movement is the epitome of free and unfettered, armor would seem an unnatural burden. Does your Druid believe in armor and the fortification of things in general?