1. DOG HANDLING: dogs must be trained by a skilled trainer/handler to do some functions. Various level 0 guys are skilled in dog handling, but PC’s must spend a Weapon Proficiency slot in order to become a trained dog handler, in one specific dog type. A handler can only command 1 type of dog at a time. Any handler can control 2 war dogs plus 1 per point of Charisma Loyalty Bonus, or 4 guard dogs or blood hounds plus 1 per point of Charisma Loyalty Bonus, or 8 sled dogs or hunting dogs plus 1 per point of Charisma Loyalty Bonus.
It takes 1 month of familiarity training for a handler to acclimate a dog to its owner or new surroundings or a new owner. A owner is someone to whom the dog has been acclimated by a trainer or handler to obey his orders.
2. DOGS IN COMBAT: each type of dog reacts differently to combat:
WAR DOGS: size M, AC 6, HD 2+2, move 12”, morale 10, 1 attack, 2-8 damage.
Handler Present: War dogs will attack any target a handler commands when first entering combat. If the handler is not engaged in combat, he can shift the dogs from target to target as he pleases (1 in 6 chance of the dogs going to the wrong target).
No Handler Present: once fighting starts the war dogs will attack targets completely at random, friend or foe alike. War Dogs require a true Handler for best results, an owner is usually not the best idea.
GUARD DOGS: size M, AC 7, HD 1+1, move 15”, morale 8, 1 attack, 1d6 damage.
On Guard: if guard dogs have been acclimated to a particular place or person they will add 3 to the surprise roll if intruders attempt to sneak up. They will attack the intruders on a 3 or better on a d6, otherwise they will just make noise. A acclimated owner can call them off from an attack (they ignore the command on a 6 on a d6).
Handler Present: a handler can order guard dogs to attack at any time and they will (except if a 6 is rolled on a d6). However, there is also a 1 in 6 chance that the dogs will attack the wrong target.
No Handler Present: an acclimated owner can order dogs to attack, but they will fail to do so on a 5 or 6 on a d6, likewise they are very likely (4+ on d6) to get the target wrong if there are multiple people present beyond the owner.
HUNTING DOGS: size S, AC 7, HD 1+1, move 15”, morale 7, 1 attack, 1d4 damage.
Handler Present: a handler can order hunting dogs to attack, but unless it is their trained game animal, they will only do so on a 4+ on a d6. However, there is also a 2 in 6 chance that the dogs will attack the wrong target.
No Handler Present: an acclimated owner can order dogs to attack, but they will fail to do so on a 3 or better on a d6, likewise they are very likely (2+ on d6) to get the target wrong if there are multiple people present beyond the owner, unless it is their normal game animal.
BLOOD HOUNDS: size S, AC 7, HD 1+1, move 15”, morale 7, 1 attack, 1d4 damage.
Handler Present: a handler can order blood hounds to attack, but, they will only do so on a 4+ on a d6. However, there is also a 2 in 6 chance that the dogs will attack the wrong target.
No Handler Present: an acclimated owner can order dogs to attack, but they will fail to do so on a 3 or better on a d6, likewise they are very likely (2+ on d6) to get the target wrong if there are multiple people present beyond the owner.
SLED DOGS: size S, AC 7, HD 1+1, move 15”, morale 7, 1 attack, 1d4 damage.
Handler Present: a handler can order sled dogs to attack, but unless it is their trained game animal, they will only do so on a 4+ on a d6. However, there is also a 2 in 6 chance that the dogs will attack the wrong target.
No Handler Present: an acclimated owner can order dogs to attack, but they will fail to do so on a 3 or better on a d6, likewise they are very likely (2+ on d6) to get the target wrong if there are multiple people present beyond the owner.
I like the idea of dog handling as a weapon prociency. Never had anybody ever buy dogs in any other games, and the closest I've ever read about is the knights of the dinner table issue about them buying hundreds of pitbulls to mold into an army.
ReplyDeleteTraining other types of animals (or even certain monster breeds) might be possible (though I have to think they wouldn't be as easy as dogs to deal with, and the training might be painful). Beware a trained owlbear or rust monster!