Author: Mark Engleson

I’m struggling a little with how much to give my druid(‘s player) with his shapechanging.  I saw a “list of moves” for animal forms.  Suppose the druid takes the form of animal with a strong sense of smell.  Should I let the druid use that to follow a trail?  I can see both sides of this question. One says yes, because he has all the inherent abilities of the form.  The other says no, because he doesn’t have a knowledge of tracking, so he wouldn’t understand how to follow a trail properly.

Please advise.

Question for people: Rangers have a selection of animal companions that is independent from the stats and trainings they can choose from their companions.  As GM, do I have any prerogative to put constraints on this?  I have a player who wants to have a rat that fights monsters.  In the druid shapeshifting rules, there is some discussion that certain forms have limitations, like a house cat can’t fight a big ole’ monster.  if my ranger takes a rat and the training to fight monsters, do I have to allow the ridiculous situation that a rat is helping him fight any monster?  Can I say with certain monsters it’s just not possible?  I’m thinking another way to go is that he has to give a narrative description of what his rat actually does to help him in the fight.  If he can’t plausibly describe how the rat helps fight the monster, then he doesn’t get the benefit.