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Murphy80
2010-04-14, 05:23 PM
What dog size do you use for the 25gp Guard Dog, Medium or small?
Riding Dogs, 150gp, are obviously medium, otherwise small characters couldn't ride them.
Should Wardogs be different from Guard dogs?

reptilecobra13
2010-04-14, 05:34 PM
Small. It gives them a nice AC boost against Medium sized party members, for one thing. For another, if you read the descriptions of the size categories, you'll find that "A character or monster is considered Small when he, she or it stands 2 to 4 feet tall while weighing 8 to 60 lb." On the other hand, a "character or monster is considered Medium when he, she or it stands 4 to 8 feet tall while weighing 60 to 500 lb." Depending on the breed you'd consider, small size makes more sense.

Knaight
2010-04-14, 06:41 PM
I don't know, 60-80 pound dogs are commonplace. Depends on the breed really, some of the dogs that might be used in guarding are actually pretty small. Pit Bulls and Rottweilers for instance, though bigger dogs show up too.

Harperfan7
2010-04-14, 07:04 PM
Take Riding Dogs or mastiffs (races of faerun) and apply the MM2 warbeast template.

Akal Saris
2010-04-14, 07:06 PM
Given that you can afford 6 guard dogs for the price of a single riding dog, I'd say small-sized.

awa
2010-04-14, 08:56 PM
Now my gut instinct is to say when you think of a guard dog you think of German shepherds, rottweilers, pit bulls and similar sized dogs all these dogs are going to be over 60 pounds. But then i thought if you allow pepole to buy medium sized dog for 25 gold the smart level 1 fighter is going to take a pack of dogs instead of a long sword and chain shirt and he will have made the right choice.

Instead i would make war dogs available and have them be size medium dogs.

Ravingdork
2010-04-14, 10:01 PM
There's no real official answer to your question, as the rules simply don't say what stats to use for a guard dog.

HunterOfJello
2010-04-14, 10:13 PM
small size gives +4 to hide. and small dogs are cheaper than big nasty ones.


buy 50 cheap guard dogs and your group should never get caught too surprised at night.

Coidzor
2010-04-14, 10:39 PM
Also, as long as the wizard isn't too snooty, you never nreed blankets because you're cleaning the dogs and yourselves...

Kosjsjach
2010-04-14, 11:22 PM
I was just looking for the answer to this today! Huh.

And yeah, it seems the (intended) answer is Small. Which still isn't so bad; for 25gp you still get Track and scent and an extra pair of ears.

Escheton
2010-04-14, 11:28 PM
yeah yeah yeah, thats great and all.
But if ya want a proper dog, take the climbdog from Arms and Equipment

Climbdog

small animal
Hit Dice: 2d8+4
Initiative: +2(dex)
Speed: 40ft, climb 40ft
AC: 17 (+1 size, +2 dex, +4 natural) touch 13, flatfooted 15
Attacks: Bite +4 melee
Damage: Bite 1d6+3
Face/Reach 5ft byft/5ft
Special Qualities low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +5, Red +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 15 Dex 15 Con 15 Int 2 Wis 12 Cha 6
Skills: Climb +18, Hide +5, Listen +6, Spot +6

light load <66, medium <133, heavy <200


give it the barding trick and you have one tough doggy

SilverStar
2010-04-15, 08:57 AM
Now my gut instinct is to say when you think of a guard dog you think of German shepherds, rottweilers, pit bulls and similar sized dogs all these dogs are going to be over 60 pounds. But then i thought if you allow pepole to buy medium sized dog for 25 gold the smart level 1 fighter is going to take a pack of dogs instead of a long sword and chain shirt and he will have made the right choice.

Instead i would make war dogs available and have them be size medium dogs.

I just had a mental image of a fighter surrounded by a mass of snarling Chihuahuas.

That'd be awesome.

awa
2010-04-15, 10:06 AM
Chihuahuas would be size tiny not small

Murphy80
2010-04-15, 01:39 PM
I just had a mental image of a fighter surrounded by a mass of snarling Chihuahuas.

That'd be awesome.
Must...scrub...image...away........

Ok, all better (though that would make a go villain). I always used to play the guard dogs are medium sized, but I think I will switch guard dogs to small and Riding or War dogs as medium. 25gp is just to cheap for what you get.

~LuckyBoneDice~
2010-04-15, 01:41 PM
don't forget Elven warhounds y'all.

Asbestos
2010-04-15, 01:44 PM
yeah yeah yeah, thats great and all.
But if ya want a proper dog, take the climbdog from Arms and Equipment

Climbdog

small animal
Hit Dice: 2d8+4
Initiative: +2(dex)
Speed: 40ft, climb 40ft
AC: 17 (+1 size, +2 dex, +4 natural) touch 13, flatfooted 15
Attacks: Bite +4 melee
Damage: Bite 1d6+3
Face/Reach 5ft byft/5ft
Special Qualities low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +5, Red +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 15 Dex 15 Con 15 Int 2 Wis 12 Cha 6
Skills: Climb +18, Hide +5, Listen +6, Spot +6

light load <66, medium <133, heavy <200


give it the barding trick and you have one tough doggy
A dog with a 40ft climb speed? Wtf?

sofawall
2010-04-15, 03:00 PM
Climbdog

That sounds like a motivational poster or something.

BEEP

arguskos
2010-04-15, 03:34 PM
A dog with a 40ft climb speed? Wtf?
Goats live in the mountains, and probably have IRL climbs speeds. Why not a canine? :smallwink:

awa
2010-04-15, 04:22 PM
i would argue that goats do not in fact have a climb speed just an excellent balance check. my logic they can easily ascend steep mountains but have you ever heard of one going straight up a tree.

The climb dog is just a weird vaguely dog like animal its not supposed to reflect any real world dog

Escheton
2010-04-16, 05:15 AM
yup, but you can still work rearing one in you backstory if you have handle animal (cross-class maybe?)
and they make perfect mules. They can actually move around a dungeon properly.
give them the double trick attack and that 1d6+3 is great at low lvls, the only period you have non magical animals around anyways.