Belkar Has a T-Rex Companion!

[Fosco the Swift]

I want to see what other people think about Belkar having an animal comapanion that is a T-Rex. Where do you think this will go? Is the T-Rex going to survive past this encounter or be killed dramatically thus adding a personal goal for Belkar: revenge. I think this has quite a bit to talk about.

[Mutant Sheep]

Senor Scruffy already took that spot. Our fine dinosaur friend will hold no more of Belkar's emotional ties than Awesome Cleric of Loki. If any at all.

[BaronOfHell]

I'm sure this will be awesome for the relative short period I'm expecting it to last.

Regarding T-rex, I looked Allosaurus up in what I think was the monster manual. It's apparently challenge rating 7, whereas a T-rex is challenge rating 8. I'm not sure, but I guess it means Roy should have been able to handle the Allosaurus solo?

What surprised me the most was that Triceratops was challenge rating 9.

[Fosco the Swift]

Do you think the T-Rex will survive past this encounter?

[BaronOfHell]

Do you think the T-Rex will survive past this encounter?

I think the T-rex is as likely to survive through this encounter as any non-existent character is.

[Sloanzilla]

I've always loved that the triceratops has a higher CR rating than T-Rex. Take that carnivores- T-Tops is tha original stalwart defender!

[Bulldog Psion]

Do you think the T-Rex will survive past this encounter?

I doubt it. Looks like a one-shot special to me.

[NerdyKris]

I think he'll survive. But I don't think they'll keep him on for their trip to the northern lands, especially if that includes a trip through elven territory.

Belkar will probably let him go after this.

[Scow2]

Allie isn't an Animal Companion any more than an NPC you meet in a dungeon and diplomance into helping you is a Cohort.

Mr. Scruffy is Belkar's animal companion (Giving him desperately-needed survivability a normal housecat lacks)

[allenw]

Do you think the T-Rex will survive past this encounter?

I think the T-Rex has a better survival chance than Belkar... :smalltongue:

[Forikroder]

I think the T-Rex has a better survival chance than Belkar... :smalltongue:
its gonna be pretty hard to kill Belkar whiles hes riding it though

unless one of the Ts caster friends has some close relationship to it (or its recently deceased rider) and goes for revenge

[yuffiek]

http://bighugelabs.com/output/motivator4250a8685ddab58154a7de6ca30ad848d8e6a0a3. jpg

[hamishspence]

I'm sure this will be awesome for the relative short period I'm expecting it to last.

Regarding T-rex, I looked Allosaurus up in what I think was the monster manual. It's apparently challenge rating 7, whereas a T-rex is challenge rating 8. I'm not sure, but I guess it means Roy should have been able to handle the Allosaurus solo?


The 3.5 MM (and 3.0 MM2) are the ones with the relevant statblocks- and I can confirm that those are the correct CRs.

However- the Allosaurus is very large. Possibly Gargantuan rather than huge- if so- it would have more HD and a higher CR.

[Fosco the Swift]

How about Roy's reaction, he said "Belkar is starting to act like a Ranger".
Do you guys think this will be a lasting change, a one time rampage, etc? If you think this will be lasting, how do you think it will effect the Order of the Stick?

[Anatares]

I think it'd be interesting if Belkar buffed his wisdom with a magic item or something and got access to spells. He's probably not the type to get any healing spells, but he'd probably jump at something that makes him more effective in combat. Heck, Bears Endurance might help him out a bit right now.

In posting this I found a PDF of 3.5 Ranger spells, but I'm not sure about it's accuracy. I'm also not up to speed on any rules regarding external links so I apoligize if this breaks them in any way. A Google search got me this:

ftp://libgen.org/comics1/_RPG%20books/D&D%20IV%20Edition/Character%20sheets/Spell%20Sheet%20Ranger%20v3.5.pdf

[Arrowstorm122]

I think he'll survive. But I don't think they'll keep him on for their trip to the northern lands, especially if that includes a trip through elven territory.

Belkar will probably let him go after this.

Woah woah woah, elven territory where?

[Ghost Nappa]

I think it'd be interesting if Belkar buffed his wisdom with a magic item or something and got access to spells. He's probably not the type to get any healing spells, but he'd probably jump at something that makes him more effective in combat. Heck, Bears Endurance might help him out a bit right now.

In posting this I found a PDF of 3.5 Ranger spells, but I'm not sure about it's accuracy. I'm also not up to speed on any rules regarding external links so I apoligize if this breaks them in any way. A Google search got me this:

ftp://libgen.org/comics1/_RPG%20books/D&D%20IV%20Edition/Character%20sheets/Spell%20Sheet%20Ranger%20v3.5.pdf

Ranger's first earn spells at Ranger 3. (http://dndtools.eu/classes/ranger/spells-level-1/)

[NerdyKris]

Woah woah woah, elven territory where?

Northeast of them on the Western Continent. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0698.html) Where Vaarsuvius hails from.


How about Roy's reaction, he said "Belkar is starting to act like a Ranger".
Do you guys think this will be a lasting change, a one time rampage, etc? If you think this will be lasting, how do you think it will effect the Order of the Stick?

He's been acting like a ranger. He has Mr. Scruffy. He's starting to feel empathy for animals. This has been an ongoing change ever since his epiphany. He might not realize it, but he's definitely doing it.

[Angel Bob]

BTW, it's not T-Rex, it's T. rex, an abbreviation for the genus+species name Tyrannosaurus rex. :smallwink:

But that's irrelevant, since the dinosaur Belkar is riding is actually an Allosaurus.

And I can't see it continuing to accompany the OotS after the desert arc, certainly not. One death-machine animal companion for Belkar is enough, wouldn't you say? :smalltongue:

[The Glyphstone]

And they already have a token dinosaur companion anyways, Blackwing.

[Roland Itiative]

T-Rex Companion? Mr. Scruffy won't like to hear that. I fully expect the cat to off the dinosaur within the next few pages, out of jealousy.

[Lino]

Once the battle is over, this T-Rex will become Scruffy's next litterbox.

[Gift Jeraff]

Belkar will feed Miron or Laurin to the allosaurus. Whichever isn't eaten retaliates and kills the allosaurus.

[Bulldog Psion]

I have an inordinate desire to see Tarquin pinned under the beast's foot, torn apart limb from limb, and devoured, but unfortunately the D&D rules don't allow that.

[hamishspence]

Allosaurus, unlike T. rex, specialises in rake attacks in D&D. Though I think they work slightly differently in 3.5. Still, I could see it grappling him in its jaws and raking him with its foreclaws.

[F.Harr]

I think Allie will be fine. But, becuase he doesn't really fit into the same frame as everyone else, he'll be let go at some near point. Possibly just when they reach a port. It's a LONG walk to the sea.

[martianmister]

Belkar should feed his kitty to the Allosaurus, as a ceremony that symbolising the circle of pet.

[Procyonpi]

Belkar might not survive past this encounter anyways...

[SiuiS]

I have an inordinate desire to see Tarquin pinned under the beast's foot, torn apart limb from limb, and devoured, but unfortunately the D&D rules don't allow that.

Sure they do. Pin, -20 to remain ungrappled yourself, bite attacks at leisure.


Belkar should feed his kitty to the Allosaurus, as a ceremony that symbolising the circle of pet.

Hahahaha!

[JSSheridan]

He'd be a good mount for the Order to ride out of the desert on.

[F.Harr]

He'd be a good mount for the Order to ride out of the desert on.

I agree. And I think Belkar will let him go at the next port. Allie's just too big to be in the same frame as everyone else.

[Math_Mage]

inb4 allosaurus eats belkar and renders this discussion highly ironic
:smalltongue:

[somethingrandom]

I could be wrong but Belkar seams to have more control over the Allosaurus than I would expect from wild empathy or the Handle Animal skill and I don't think he would have had time to train it with handle animal anyway.

So I think it is an animal companion.

But after starting to write this post reading the rules on ranger animal companions that looks unlikely as it would mean that Belkar would have to be at least a lvl 26 ranger and I have seen no signs that Belkar or any of the OOtS are epic level.

[Emanick]

I could be wrong but Belkar seams to have more control over the Allosaurus than I would expect from wild empathy or the Handle Animal skill and I don't think he would have had time to train it with handle animal anyway.

So I think it is an animal companion.

But after starting to write this post reading the rules on ranger animal companions that looks unlikely as it would mean that Belkar would have to be at least a lvl 26 ranger and I have seen no signs that Belkar or any of the OOtS are epic level.

Also, Belkar already has an animal companion, Mr. Scruffy. He can't have another one.

[zero]

I could be wrong but Belkar seams to have more control over the Allosaurus than I would expect from wild empathy or the Handle Animal skill and I don't think he would have had time to train it with handle animal anyway.

Well, the "push animal" task from Handle Animal Skill would allow Belkar to get this kind of control from any untrained animal. The issue is, of course, the many checks of DC 25 that are required. However...

... The Allosaurus is, most likely, already trained (probably for the "Combat Riding" purpose). Belkar is just performing the basic Handle Animal task at DC 10.

[AKA_Bait]

My first thought when I saw Belkar mount up was that this is Belkar's 430 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0430.html). That means his 443 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0443.html)is near. In other words, "Ally" will be free, and rampaging all alone, just as soon as Belkar takes an arrow. His con is still so low that he could drop from pretty minimal damage.

[Somniloquist]

(Reads thread title.)

Poor Allosaurus. Even its name just means "the other lizard".

[NZNinja]

Ye Gods... I just realized!

This is payback for Belkar getting stiffed on the "cool mount", back in 140! (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0140.html)

EDIT: This quote seems relevant...

:belkar: Imagine me riding on the back of such a powerful beast, its sharp teeth bared in a predatory snarl.
:belkar: The smell of blood will drive it into a frenzy as it attacks foes in a whirlwind of fangs and claws!

The Allosaurus... It's everything Belkar's ever wanted in a mount; even if it took him 782 strips to get it!

[Jay R]

I could be wrong but Belkar seams to have more control over the Allosaurus than I would expect from wild empathy or the Handle Animal skill and I don't think he would have had time to train it with handle animal anyway.

I'm not convinced that it's all that hard to convince an allosaurus to rampage and eat people. He's not controlling it as much as setting it free.

(I would feel exactly the same way if somebody claimed that Roy was controlling Belkar if he told Belkar to go kill lots of people and Belkar obeyed him.)