Pets
Pets are just normal creatures who form a special bond with a character. These rules do not apply to familiars or any other creature where a magical bond gives the PC advantages. :)
In my internet games it is possible for a player to run a pet as minor character, and make in-game posts describing its behaviour. So long as those posts are appropriate to the creature, I will award experience according the pet experience rules.
What's the point? Pets and animals can't improve? Well experience awarded here represents the times the creature is active around its owner, or on its owner's business. It represents the bond between them and the way they learn to act together, the tricks they learn, the knowledge that when Fiery Fred draws his sword - it means get out of the way fast, or even that the party like you to bark at strange people, but not at people you know.
Even so, is it really worth it? To some people, no, and that's fine. They don't have to make posts for their pets - nor do they have to register any experience if they are awarded it. Simple. For some people, however, it can add an extra dimension to the game. they can enjoy the challenge of making posts for an unusual type of character, and can even develop that character as a reward for good role playing. So for them, having a pet might be worth it.
Can anyone have a pet? Well ... It doesn't work too well if all the characters want pets, so there has to be some in-game justification, but no one is excluded.
So what can I have as a pet? just about any creature without magical abilities. Dogs, cats, birds, horses - are probably going to be most common, though. Although read through the categories as there are restrictions, that stop people trying to take advantage of the rules. It should, after all, be a role playing thing - not a 'How much advantage can I get' - thing. :).
OK! So what are the categories? Well there are five categories, and creatures with different hit dice start in different categories, they start in the lowest category for which they are eligible. The categories are:
Hit dice | xp | |
Pet 1 | up to 3hd | 0-1,000 |
Pet 2 | up to 5hd | 1,001-3,000 |
Pet 3 | up to 7hd | 3,001-6,000 |
Pet 4 | up to 9hd | 6,001-10,000 |
Pet 5 | 9 or more ... | over 10,001 |
WOW! Those are interesting category names .... Get Lost!
Ok!Ok! So what happens when a pet goes up a category? Well that's the hard bit ... There are no hard and fast rules, it is going to depend on the creature, and come down to a discussion between the player and the DM. With dog, or similar creature, we might decide that all the special care it gets from its owner, makes the dog physically bigger and stronger. In which case a d4 extra HP and a +1 damage to its bite might be appropriate. Or we may decide that the closeness between the two, has taught the dog a basic trick or skill - such as following a trail. A bird might be trained to fly in a specific way, or even fly a little faster because of the quality of the diet supplied by the owner.
Hey! That sounds suspiciously like animal training skills from the Ranger's handbook ... Spot on! That's where I stole it from :) And what I will use to resolve any disputes ...
That's not fair on Rangers! Oh! They'll live. Anyway, Rangers still get those skills automatically - but this gives them the chance to role play their followers ...
Hmmph! OK then ...