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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Jun 2007 : 22:46:43
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There is an article in Dragon 357 entitled "Feathers and Fur," which has a number of new tricks that animals can learn, as well as a few feats, and a few new magical beasts.
The tricks and the feats really go a long way toward making a ranger that wants to use his animal companion in meaningful way viable. Granted, you'll have to sink some feats into it, but you can have an animal that attacks wildly, thus giving you partial cover, or you can be so in synch with your animal that when it hits you gain an attack of oppourtunity.
I really liked these feats, and while the magical beasts included were interesting, I thought there were some strange choices for their origins. There is a dog creature that is immune to acid that is attributed to the experiments of a green dragon, and a shining hawk that can reflect rays that is attributed to beholders. I like both animals, but I can't picture green dragons experimenting on dogs any more than beholders on hawks.
My own take on these two would be to have the dogs originate as creatures bred by the green dragon blooded elves in the archwood, and eventually stolen or sold to other groups that might benefit from acid resistant watch dogs, like the Cult of the Dragon or the Cult of Tiamat.
The hawks I thought would make for a good familiar for a Zhentarim mage, which would explain why some might associate them with beholders, especially if such animals occaisionally do accompany beholders working with the Zhentarim.
At any rate, did anyone else see the article, or have any ideas about it?
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Feathers and Fur Article (Dragon 357)
