Warded Against Nature drawback

[Xerlith]

So I stumbled upon it and am confused right now - how in the world has someone thought about that (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/drawbacks/warded-against-nature) as a drawback? I mean, this is basically a Protection From Evil effect but with all animals instead of summoned creatures.
I can see taking it in a wilderness-focused campaign and being a beacon that your team gathers around when you get surrounded by wildlife...
And it gives you an additional trait for no resources spent.

It invalidates a lot of low-level encounters and I can see it being taken on every wizard ever.
Even on melee combatants (who don't plan on using Handle Animal minionmancy) it's nice, because it puts the exp bundles that the animals now became in a charge distance.

Is there ANY reason not to take it?

[Felyndiira]

But if you see a kitten, you will be unable to pet it without it running away. Your character must live with the miserable knowledge that he/she is no longer able to peacefully pet a cute furry creature again! That's simply too horrible to comprehend!

I guess the intention of the drawback is that you need an AC class feature to get, say, a mount or train animals for something. Of course, like many things in PF, it's not very well thought out.

[CGNefarious]

You'll have to travel mostly by foot, which could be a pain or could be a non-issue depending on the campaign. A GM could also rule that actively hostile enemies are not affected, though that seems to do against the intent of the drawback. All in all, I'd say it's just poorly written.

In my personal experience people only take drawbacks for flavor reasons, so the fact that it's pretty good mechanically wouldn't really be an issue.

[BWR]

So I stumbled upon it and am confused right now - how in the world has someone thought about that (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/drawbacks/warded-against-nature) as a drawback? I mean, this is basically a Protection From Evil effect but with all animals instead of summoned creatures.
I can see taking it in a wilderness-focused campaign and being a beacon that your team gathers around when you get surrounded by wildlife...
And it gives you an additional trait for no resources spent.

It invalidates a lot of low-level encounters and I can see it being taken on every wizard ever.
Even on melee combatants (who don't plan on using Handle Animal minionmancy) it's nice, because it puts the exp bundles that the animals now became in a charge distance.

Is there ANY reason not to take it?

Because using any sort of mounts will be a pain?
Because the rest of the party hates having to continually make checks to control their mounts because you are in the way?
Because every village and town and city you come to will hate you for spooking their mounts/livestock/pets (because you will cause tons of disruption to everyday life)?

[Xerlith]

Because using any sort of mounts will be a pain?
Because the rest of the party hates having to continually make checks to control their mounts because you are in the way?
Because every village and town and city you come to will hate you for spooking their mounts/livestock/pets (because you will cause tons of disruption to everyday life)?

Eh, it's only about approaching - if I approach the animal, nothing happens RAW. As long as I close the riding order I can pretty much not care about the drawback at all, because the animals are not "approaching". Again, RAW I can even ride a horse without any problem. It's just that it'll be terrified of me when I ride it.

[Psyren]

"Hey guys, remember to let me always choose our riding order because of my bad smell trait."

Yeah I can see that going over great.

Isn't that book aimed at evil overlord types anyway?

[Yanisa]

"Hey guys, remember to let me always choose our riding order because of my bad smell trait."

Yeah I can see that going over great.

Isn't that book aimed at evil overlord types anyway?

More specifically, these drawbacks are made for evil overlords that want to hide their true agenda in a good society. Thats why all 3 drawbacks deal with ways for people to notice you are evil. Here are the other two: Foul Brand (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/drawbacks/foul-brand) and Umbral Unmasking (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/drawbacks/umbral-unmasking). Umbral Unmasking is also not a real drawback without context.

Although no RAW restriction to take these traits as a non evil character...



As for Warded against nature... it's easier to overcome then it's source material, Unnatural Aura (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/rules-for-monsters/universal-monster-rules#TOC-Unnatural-Aura-Su-). And Summoners can pay evolution points (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/summoner/eidolons#TOC-Unnatural-Aura-Su-) to get, but why bother when it's a drawback?

[BWR]

Eh, it's only about approaching - if I approach the animal, nothing happens RAW. As long as I close the riding order I can pretty much not care about the drawback at all, because the animals are not "approaching". Again, RAW I can even ride a horse without any problem. It's just that it'll be terrified of me when I ride it.

Stop trying to use RAW like that right now. You know that's not how it's intended and I know it and pretending otherwise is just dishonest.