What to do with animal companions and familiars?

[Storyteller01]

Polymorph? So you have a dog in the shape of a bird flying around? You know he still got his own "mind". The poor beast will be so spooked at his sudden change (and probably totally unable to deal with the changed abilities) that this will be of even less use.

Wouldn't that be based on the animals intelligence? High level familiars and animal campanions may be able to handle it. Heck, maybe they have gotten used to it (those crazy transmuters!!)!

I mean, hey... if a wizard can handle a Polymorph Self...

 

[NewLifeForm]

Bags of Holding?

Over the years I've introduced into each of my campaigns at least one extrordinary Bag of Holding type item. These have included a backpack in which there is a sizable study (desk, bookcases, etc.), a large sack of holding with an interior the size of a large doghouse, and a Robe of Many Pockets (a small creature can run through the "Pocket Space" to emerge from another pocket).

While most of our familiars and animal companions have been of above average animal to human level smarts, finding a way to transport them can be quite difficult. The above mentioned items have been a fun and interesting way to solve that problem. In one instance, the creature in the sack set about organizing the items in it. When the PC reached their hand in to grab something, the familiar would whack their hand and yip. The PC would then tell the pet what they wanted and the animal would give it to them. This arrangement worked very well - just don't mess with the system. The familiar was very sensistive about the PC messing with it's stuff

Later Days,
NewLifeForm

"It's life Jim, but not as we know it..."

 

[Lord Pendragon]

While most of our familiars and animal companions have been of above average animal to human level smarts...

Wouldn't that be based on the animals intelligence? High level familiars and animal campanions may be able to handle it.

Just a reminder: Animal Companions never gain intelligence. Their intelligence remains 2, no matter how many HD they gain, or levels their master gains. At least, by the RAW.

 

[RithTheAwakener]

Just a reminder: Animal Companions never gain intelligence. Their intelligence remains 2, no matter how many HD they gain, or levels their master gains. At least, by the RAW.

till theyre Awakened.

 

[hero4hire]

For Familiars, the spell Familiar Pocket comes to mind...

As for Animal Companions, dismiss them and then recall them when you come back. Takes all of 24 hours to get it back...

 

[Sejs]

till theyre Awakened.

After which they're no longer Animal Companions.

 

[DragonLancer]

When it has (rarely) come up in my games, the players have usually just left the animals behind and came back for them later. Thougn on the occasions when they have a bag of holding they have been known to risk it and dump the animals in there till they find a suitable place to let them out.

 

[philreed]

I cast BBQ and move on.

I'm really not a fan of animal companions and familiars -- they feel cheesy to me. (And I bet they taste good smothered in cheese.)

 

[NewLifeForm]

Just a reminder: Animal Companions never gain intelligence. Their intelligence remains 2, no matter how many HD they gain, or levels their master gains. At least, by the RAW.

There are only two things I like RAW, sushi and...well...family show so I won't continue

I have personally lived and worked with numerous dogs, cats and birds - trust me when I say people are more likely to have an intelligence of 2.



NewLifeForm

"It's life Jim, but not as we know it..."

 

[Oryan77]

trust me when I say people are more likely to have an intelligence of 2.

You mean there's people that have an intelligence higher than 2? I don't believe that for a second!