{"id":65,"date":"2021-02-18T01:56:02","date_gmt":"2021-02-18T01:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/theforgesystem\/?page_id=65"},"modified":"2022-09-22T18:05:02","modified_gmt":"2022-09-22T18:05:02","slug":"animal-companions-familiars-and-mounts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/commons.mtholyoke.edu\/theforgesystem\/animal-companions-familiars-and-mounts\/","title":{"rendered":"Animal Companions, Familiars, and Mounts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The following section gives a list of animals that can be taken as animal companions, mounts, and familiars as per the Bond trait and the improvements that can be taken as your proficiency score increases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each of the following animals has base stats provided. As your Proficiency Score increases, your companion’s Proficiency Score also increases, which affects its abilities and stats. This increase starts at what your initial Proficiency Score is when you take one of the Bond Traits. For example, if your Proficiency Score is 4 when you take the Mount Trait, your mount will have a Proficiency Score of 1 when yours is 4; a score of 2 when yours is 5; a score of 3 when yours is 7; etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Distinction between the three types:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Animal Companions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Animal companions are the catch all for any animals that accompany your character. Any<\/em> of the listed animals can be animal companions. During Encounter mode a companion has 2 actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Familiars<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Familiars are used by spellcasters to support spellcasting. Only those with the Familiar tag from the list can be used as familiars. During Encounter mode a companion has 2 actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mounts<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Mounts are those animals used as transportation and during combat. Only those with the Mount tag from the list can be used as mounts. During Encounter mode a mount has 2 actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Animal Types<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The following is a list of base animals and their stats. If you are using a similar, but different creature that has been agreed to by your GM, select the closet base statistics to use and modify as needed. See below for reading each entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Name of Animal                                                   <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

type (animal companion, familiar, and\/or mount)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Size<\/strong><\/li>
  • Base Scores:<\/strong>\u00a0The ability scores, not including the modifiers which are calculated the same as a character.<\/li>
  • Armor Class:<\/strong>\u00a0Based off Dexterity Modifier + Natural Armor (+2) + Size modifier (+2 for Tiny, +1 for Small, +0 for Medium and -1 for Large) +10.<\/li>
  • Hit Dice:<\/strong>\u00a0The animal\u2019s hit points are calculated the same as a character\u2019s, see Chapter I, Character Statistics<\/strong> for more.<\/li>
  • Given Skills:<\/strong>\u00a0Skills that the animal can use and are treated as proficient with the use.<\/li>
  • Melee Attacks:<\/strong>\u00a0The name of the attack followed by the damage and type. Attack bonuses are Proficiency Score + Strength Modifier unless the attack has the finesse tag. The Ability Modifier the damage bonus comes from is noted last in parentheses.<\/li>
  • Ranged Attacks:<\/strong>\u00a0The name of the attack followed by the damage and type of damage dealt. Attack bonuses are Proficiency Score + Dexterity Modifier.<\/li>
  • Senses:<\/strong>\u00a0The methods through which the animal sees.<\/li>
  • Speed:<\/strong>\u00a0The animal\u2019s movement.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Following this is a brief description of the animal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/td>Animal Companion<\/strong><\/td>Familiar<\/strong><\/td>Mount<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Amphibian<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td><\/tr>
    Badger<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>No<\/td><\/tr>
    Bat<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td><\/tr>
    Bear<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>Yes<\/td><\/tr>
    Bird<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td><\/tr>
    Cat, Large<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>Yes<\/td><\/tr>
    Cat, Small<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td><\/tr>
    Hippopotamus<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>Yes<\/td><\/tr>
    Horse<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>Yes<\/td><\/tr>
    Lizard, Large<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>No<\/td><\/tr>
    Lizard, Small<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td><\/tr>
    Monkey<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td><\/tr>
    Pony<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>Yes<\/td><\/tr>
    Snake<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>No<\/td><\/tr>
    Wolf<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    Advancement Table<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    This table lists the benefits your animal gain at each of its Proficiency Scores. Remember that its Proficiency Score is calculated starting at 1 from when you first gain access to your animal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For each Proficiency Score increase, increase your AC by 1 and add another Hit Dice to influence Hit Points, as you would for a character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Proficiency Score<\/strong><\/td>Increases<\/strong><\/td>Animal Points Earned<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    0<\/strong><\/td>(-none-)<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
    1<\/strong><\/td>Increase all non-proficient saves by 1<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
    2<\/strong><\/td>Gain skill proficiency in a new skill<\/td>1<\/td><\/tr>
    3<\/strong><\/td>Increase all non-proficient saves by 1<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
    4<\/strong><\/td> <\/td>1<\/td><\/tr>
    5<\/strong><\/td>Gain skill proficiency in a new skill and increase all non-proficient saves by 1<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
    6<\/strong><\/td> <\/td>1<\/td><\/tr>
    7<\/strong><\/td>Gain saving proficiency in a save<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
    8<\/strong><\/td>Gain skill proficiency in a new skill<\/td>1<\/td><\/tr>
    9<\/strong><\/td>Increase all non-proficient saves by 1<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
    10<\/strong><\/td> <\/td>1<\/td><\/tr>
    11<\/strong><\/td>Gain skill proficiency in a new skill and increase all non-proficient saves by 1<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
    12<\/strong><\/td> <\/td>1<\/td><\/tr>
    13<\/strong><\/td>Gain saving proficiency in a save<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
    14<\/strong><\/td>Gain skill proficiency in a new skill<\/td>1<\/td><\/tr>
    15<\/strong><\/td>Increase all non-proficient saves by 1<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
    16<\/strong><\/td> <\/td>1<\/td><\/tr>
    17<\/strong><\/td>Gain skill proficiency in a new skill and increase all non-proficient saves by 1<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
    18<\/strong><\/td> <\/td>1<\/td><\/tr>
    19<\/strong><\/td>Increase all non-proficient saves by 1<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
    20<\/strong><\/td> <\/td>1<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Proficient Saves.<\/strong> A companion gains proficiency to saving throws at their Proficiency Score 7 and 13. When the assigned save is selected, the companion calculates their bonus as a character does. Saves without proficiency gain a +1 bonus over time but if a save becomes proficient, it loses those bonuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Proficient Skills.<\/strong> A companion begins with proficiency in some skills which is calculated the same as a character\u2019s proficient skills. When a companion gains skill proficiency in a new skill, they select a skill from the following list:<\/p>\n\n\n\n