tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170674472098446028.post8812998390503898650..comments2024-03-27T03:18:19.290-04:00Comments on Aeons & Augauries: Heartless Dungeoneers and Animals.JDJarvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691101939920824546noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170674472098446028.post-85814225436416769532011-08-04T10:47:27.657-04:002011-08-04T10:47:27.657-04:00Given that you would want to start with a breed of...Given that you would want to start with a breed of high intelligence and trainability, (like a GSD), it actually wouldn't be that hard to get a dog useful in a dungeon.<br /><br />At the core, you really only need five things:<br /><br />Can handle confined spaces, (but nowhere near as confined as dachshunds were bred for).<br />Audible reaction to sensing things.<br />A command to quiet the dog.<br />Attacking alongside master.<br />A command to not attack/break off.[1]<br /><br />Really, we're not talking about much beyond what some RL military dogs could do.<br /><br />Also, the references I made were not to cases where packs attacked a large predator. Bear baiting was generally one dog while Boer and Khoikhoi hunters only used a single dog. (Not that it should matter, given that we are talking about a dog with a pack[1]).<br /><br />As for the exact cost, it would really depend on the setting. If dungeon delving is a common activity, there are going to be well established breeds for whom walking into dark tunnels is as natural as herding things is to a border collie.<br /><br />(JSYK: The way to shorten my name is to Firepaw, Chakat is actually acting as an honourific.)<br /><br />[1] Both for ending a fight and not attacking something you don't want the dog tangling with.<br /><br />[2] It's just that the pack is mostly two-legged.Chakat Firepawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02002352879959672258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170674472098446028.post-82002530961535703972011-08-04T07:05:53.789-04:002011-08-04T07:05:53.789-04:00@Chakat, I have no idea how one would train a guar...@Chakat, I have no idea how one would train a guard dog to have a predictable reaction in a dungeon if you and the dog didn't dwell in the dungeon and do the training there. That should raise the cost into the hundreds of G.P. for a dungeon conditioned guard dog. <br /><br />Dogs will certainly tangle with big predators when they have numbers as that is in their nature but how does a dog combat a gelatinous cube, green-slime, ochre-jelly or black-pudding?JDJarvishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691101939920824546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170674472098446028.post-64651154802118103602011-08-04T01:25:23.436-04:002011-08-04T01:25:23.436-04:00A trained guard dog will likely have a predictable...A trained guard dog will likely have a predictable reaction to things encountered in dungeons rather than needing to make reaction rolls. It would not be that hard for the training to focus that to useful reactions for adventurers. (e.g. a low growl upon sensing something, joining master in fights.)<br /><br />However, as a consideration: For *mumble* more gold, than a regular guard dog, you can buy a dungeoneering dog which is bred and trained for use in such hostile environments and which require minimal handling.[1]<br /><br /><br />[1] Given that in RL we have dogs bred to take on lions and bears, and breeds that are quite capable of doing their jobs without human help[2] this would not be much of a stretch.<br /><br />[2] There are more than a few shepherds that bring in the sheep by telling their dogs to bring in the sheep with the human only needed to close and latch the gate. In some cases this extends to the dogs keeping count and knowing that they are short a couple.Chakat Firepawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02002352879959672258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170674472098446028.post-24873264468049946602011-08-03T20:57:05.167-04:002011-08-03T20:57:05.167-04:00Excellent rundown! Of course the sheep could also ...Excellent rundown! Of course the sheep could also be a werewolf. How many players would expect that twist?David The Archmagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11649391406526258069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8170674472098446028.post-33740333553778631932011-08-03T12:15:01.888-04:002011-08-03T12:15:01.888-04:00One additional problem with chickens: They reek. C...One additional problem with chickens: They reek. Creatures with even a human's sense of smell will be able to detect them from quite a distance if wind conditions are right.<br /> Also, in some cultures, cattle are regarded as a form of wealth. Look out for those cattle thieves!2eDMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09562222394843621495noreply@blogger.com