Benejeseret
2007-08-18, 06:38 PM
Have you ever seen the commercial with the Trunk Monkey? Well, it has inspired me and I am wondering what others think regarding RAW usage and usefulness.
With animal companions for druids/ranger/cohorts/beastmasters the alternate list is pretty clear that a CR1 or less animal can be taken by a druid lvl 1
CR2= -3 druid level
CR3-4= -6 druid level
CR5-6= -9 druid level
CR7= -12 druid level
CR8-9= -15 druid level
(presumably) CR10-11= -18 druid level
(presumably) CR12-13 = -21 druid level
I know others use templates/other animals and use this rough breakdown to assign unique and new animals to the druids' companion repetoire.
So a Horrid Dire Bat (CR2+1=3) becomes a druid choice at druid level -6.
Adding a useful class to any monster adds +1CR for associated class and 1/2 CR nonassociated....sooooo, witness the Trunk Monkey
Ape with 1 to 2 rogue level = druid level -6
Ape with 3-4 rogue levels = druid level -9
Ape with 5 rogue levels = druid level -12
Ape with 6-7 rogue levels = druid level -15
Ape with 8-9 rogue levels = druid level -18
And if rogue is considered a non-associated class level (ape in not exactly sneaky) they it goes at 1/2 cr per level up to lvl4 (equal to HD) and then 1CR/level after that
Ape rogue 2-4 = druid level -6
Ape rogue 5-6 = druid level -9
etc
Obviously you cannot train a Ape to cast spells etc, but some classes I would argue would be trainable to an aninal (rogue, fighter, bard, barbarian, scout etc). And with low Int/Cha many of the rogue/bard abilities are limited as low skills, but it is not unreasonable to have one or two skills trained up somewhat.
Trap Monkey = Ape with rogue levels: skills in pickpocket OR search(trapfinding), disable traps OR Hide/MS ((beware the Ninja Monkey!))
Organ Grinder Monkey = Ape with bard levels able to bang a drum or perform mime/foolery to lighten the part mood (thus inspiring courage or fascinating.........who isn't fascinated by a monkey wearing cloths performing a scene?)
Nightengale (use stats as a hawk) or a Parrot with bard levels whose beutiful chirping inspires the party.
I would love to see such a trained creature in my games. Any ideas for smoothing out the levels (CR) offset in regards to Druid levels?
Option1: Have the Ape (-3 druid level) need to be trained via Handle Animal in the ways of the appropriate class DC=20+HD or in the apes case DC=24 and 2 months of training. The Ape then gains XP like a cohort (does not take from party) but its level cannot pass into the next 'grouping' until the druid also levels.
ie. Druid level 7 trains a Ape in 1 level of rogue. The Ape can then level up using Cohort XP rules until level 4 (within the -6 druid level CR range). Cannot surpass lvl4 until the Druid is level 10 (-9 as above).
Option2: Exactly as written when the druid levels to the next animal advanement the animal autoadvances to the appropriate CR range.
Thoughts??
Thanks in Advance
Bene
With animal companions for druids/ranger/cohorts/beastmasters the alternate list is pretty clear that a CR1 or less animal can be taken by a druid lvl 1
CR2= -3 druid level
CR3-4= -6 druid level
CR5-6= -9 druid level
CR7= -12 druid level
CR8-9= -15 druid level
(presumably) CR10-11= -18 druid level
(presumably) CR12-13 = -21 druid level
I know others use templates/other animals and use this rough breakdown to assign unique and new animals to the druids' companion repetoire.
So a Horrid Dire Bat (CR2+1=3) becomes a druid choice at druid level -6.
Adding a useful class to any monster adds +1CR for associated class and 1/2 CR nonassociated....sooooo, witness the Trunk Monkey
Ape with 1 to 2 rogue level = druid level -6
Ape with 3-4 rogue levels = druid level -9
Ape with 5 rogue levels = druid level -12
Ape with 6-7 rogue levels = druid level -15
Ape with 8-9 rogue levels = druid level -18
And if rogue is considered a non-associated class level (ape in not exactly sneaky) they it goes at 1/2 cr per level up to lvl4 (equal to HD) and then 1CR/level after that
Ape rogue 2-4 = druid level -6
Ape rogue 5-6 = druid level -9
etc
Obviously you cannot train a Ape to cast spells etc, but some classes I would argue would be trainable to an aninal (rogue, fighter, bard, barbarian, scout etc). And with low Int/Cha many of the rogue/bard abilities are limited as low skills, but it is not unreasonable to have one or two skills trained up somewhat.
Trap Monkey = Ape with rogue levels: skills in pickpocket OR search(trapfinding), disable traps OR Hide/MS ((beware the Ninja Monkey!))
Organ Grinder Monkey = Ape with bard levels able to bang a drum or perform mime/foolery to lighten the part mood (thus inspiring courage or fascinating.........who isn't fascinated by a monkey wearing cloths performing a scene?)
Nightengale (use stats as a hawk) or a Parrot with bard levels whose beutiful chirping inspires the party.
I would love to see such a trained creature in my games. Any ideas for smoothing out the levels (CR) offset in regards to Druid levels?
Option1: Have the Ape (-3 druid level) need to be trained via Handle Animal in the ways of the appropriate class DC=20+HD or in the apes case DC=24 and 2 months of training. The Ape then gains XP like a cohort (does not take from party) but its level cannot pass into the next 'grouping' until the druid also levels.
ie. Druid level 7 trains a Ape in 1 level of rogue. The Ape can then level up using Cohort XP rules until level 4 (within the -6 druid level CR range). Cannot surpass lvl4 until the Druid is level 10 (-9 as above).
Option2: Exactly as written when the druid levels to the next animal advanement the animal autoadvances to the appropriate CR range.
Thoughts??
Thanks in Advance
Bene