Wizard Animal Companion

[hymer]

A wizard can exchange his familiar for a half-strength animal companion. At low levels especially, how do you communicate with such an animal? You don't have Handle Animal, though this isn't a huge problem, but if you want to use your companion for scouting, is this possible before casting Tongues on the animal?
What if you have a cleric friend (with no useful domain spells), could s/he help? You could cast Comprehend Languages to get the animal to understand, I suppose, but it's hard to get it to make a report.

[(Un)Inspired]

I don't think comprehend languages lets you talk to animals.

[hymer]

No, but through the Link you have with your animal companion, you can cast Comprehend Languages on the animal companion, which will then understand what you're telling it.

[Chronos]

If you want to communicate with your animal or use it for scouting, then the simple solution is to keep a familiar and not trade it in for an animal companion to begin with. Animal companions are good at combat; familiars are good at everything else.

[(Un)Inspired]

If you want to communicate with your animal or use it for scouting, then the simple solution is to keep a familiar and not trade it in for an animal companion to begin with. Animal companions are good at combat; familiars are good at everything else.

They're also good at combat

[hymer]

@ Chronos & (Un)Inspired: No argument from me, but one of my players has done this for fluff reasons (which I consider perfectly respectable). If I can give him some ideas on ways to use his companion, I'd like to.

[(Un)Inspired]

Train the animal through Pavlovian conditioning with acid splash punishments.