My character is Hunter Conclave, but the Ranger in the game I DM has a Giant Venomous Snake named Aodhan as her companion. She uses his poison on her arrows.
I know a few DMs allow them to have death saves. I personally prefer it, at least when using the vanilla ranger - I think it's much more fun to have a beast potentially journey with you for longer yet still carry that risk of death.
It's mostly a non-issue either way with Revised Ranger due to the forgiving beast companion resurrection mechanic.
I play it as we're bonded, so I really don't want harm to come to him...so this is kind of a catalyst for that interaction. He has died once, killed in one hit (22 damage) by a frost giant. Since then I've used a combination of my companion using Dodge and getting right up on an enemy on his turn, then on my turn using the Coordinated Attack to strike on my turn...and he's not gone down since.
My character is Hunter Conclave, but the Ranger in the game I DM has a Giant Venomous Snake named Aodhan as her companion. She uses his poison on her arrows.
In real life I'm scared to death of snakes, but I have to admit...this is pretty bad ass! Do you just stick the arrowhead in the snake's mouth during combat, or just milk venom periodically into vials?
My character is Hunter Conclave, but the Ranger in the game I DM has a Giant Venomous Snake named Aodhan as her companion. She uses his poison on her arrows.
In real life I'm scared to death of snakes, but I have to admit...this is pretty bad ass! Do you just stick the arrowhead in the snake's mouth during combat, or just milk venom periodically into vials?
She's got to milk the venom beforehand, and she's got to prep the poison arrows before a combat. I have it so she can milk three arrows' (or one shortsword) worth of venom every long rest.
So far her having a snake has been very handy. Aside from the poisoning arrows, it's fairly decent in a battle (particularly when enemies fail their CON save), it can sneak and get into some places the PCs can't (although the Druid does this as well). Overall, a really solid choice I feel.
My character is Hunter Conclave, but the Ranger in the game I DM has a Giant Venomous Snake named Aodhan as her companion. She uses his poison on her arrows.
In real life I'm scared to death of snakes, but I have to admit...this is pretty bad ass! Do you just stick the arrowhead in the snake's mouth during combat, or just milk venom periodically into vials?
She's got to milk the venom beforehand, and she's got to prep the poison arrows before a combat. I have it so she can milk three arrows' (or one shortsword) worth of venom every long rest.
So far her having a snake has been very handy. Aside from the poisoning arrows, it's fairly decent in a battle (particularly when enemies fail their CON save), it can sneak and get into some places the PCs can't (although the Druid does this as well). Overall, a really solid choice I feel.
Bad ass! If I were DM'ing, I'd probably only let you do it once or twice a week, but that's cool. And you just use the same DC/damage from the snake's MM stat block?
Separate note: A good combo I use with my companion (cougar) is to have him Dodge next to an enemy, and then we use Coordinated Attack to let him strike on my turn. That way he's safer (due to attackers having disadvantage), but can still contribute. I think that'd work real well with your snake!
I would set a daily limitation though. Once or twice a day.
Crawford replied "That's up to your DM"...so not a "no", but also not a "yes", either. ThatoneguyD13's DM is limiting to 1/long rest, which seems reasonable unless you're abusing the long rest...synonymous with "1/day" in my mind. I definitely won't allow any more than that, if it were my game.
I've heard about Rogue doing the same by sneaking the spell 'Find Familiar' into their characters and having a snake. I read about a great limitation suggested there that, if you've milked all its venom, it can't use any of its poisonous effects until the end of a long rest. Since, you know, you've taken it. It seems like a particularly fair balancing mechanic here for our serpentine pals.
ThatoneguyD13's DM is limiting to 1/long rest, which seems reasonable unless you're abusing the long rest...synonymous with "1/day" in my mind. I definitely won't allow any more than that, if it were my game.
I feel I should mention that the books state 'A character can't benefit from more than one long rest in a 24-hour period,' - so I don't think rests can be abused for extra venom in this style. It' still going to be 1/day if it's 1/long rest.
My DM creates a prestige class inspired to "Animal Lord" in the 3.5 manual "Complete Adventurer" that permits me to take a small dragon like companion.
ThatoneguyD13's DM is limiting to 1/long rest, which seems reasonable unless you're abusing the long rest...synonymous with "1/day" in my mind. I definitely won't allow any more than that, if it were my game.
I feel I should mention that the books state 'A character can't benefit from more than one long rest in a 24-hour period,' - so I don't think rests can be abused for extra venom in this style. It' still going to be 1/day if it's 1/long rest.
Or am I missing something?
I agree totally, but some groups like to do the 15 minute adventuring day thing, where they fight one battle, and then wait a whole day, then go back and fight another battle, then go take a rest, etc. It kills the game IMO
ThatoneguyD13's DM is limiting to 1/long rest, which seems reasonable unless you're abusing the long rest...synonymous with "1/day" in my mind. I definitely won't allow any more than that, if it were my game.
I feel I should mention that the books state 'A character can't benefit from more than one long rest in a 24-hour period,' - so I don't think rests can be abused for extra venom in this style. It' still going to be 1/day if it's 1/long rest.
Or am I missing something?
I agree totally, but some groups like to do the 15 minute adventuring day thing, where they fight one battle, and then wait a whole day, then go back and fight another battle, then go take a rest, etc. It kills the game IMO
That's kinda what I meant, yeah. But that's a good point out to the long rest rule...I forgot about that.
ThatoneguyD13's DM is limiting to 1/long rest, which seems reasonable unless you're abusing the long rest...synonymous with "1/day" in my mind. I definitely won't allow any more than that, if it were my game.
I feel I should mention that the books state 'A character can't benefit from more than one long rest in a 24-hour period,' - so I don't think rests can be abused for extra venom in this style. It' still going to be 1/day if it's 1/long rest.
Or am I missing something?
I agree totally, but some groups like to do the 15 minute adventuring day thing, where they fight one battle, and then wait a whole day, then go back and fight another battle, then go take a rest, etc. It kills the game IMO
Those groups should use the DMG tole about rest, one day is short rest, one week is long.
The game isn't balanced for 1 encouter day, os balanced to 6-8 encounters with 2-3 short rests. If some table don't follow the recommendation, that table need to make balance changes, not the entire system be adapted to that.
Same thing with people saying that divine smite from paladin is OP. Ys, if you only do 1 encounter per long rest looks OP, but you're playing the game wrong, make your own changes istead of complain.
BTW, there is rules about havest poison in DMG. Obviously has a limitation.
ThatoneguyD13's DM is limiting to 1/long rest, which seems reasonable unless you're abusing the long rest...synonymous with "1/day" in my mind. I definitely won't allow any more than that, if it were my game.
I feel I should mention that the books state 'A character can't benefit from more than one long rest in a 24-hour period,' - so I don't think rests can be abused for extra venom in this style. It' still going to be 1/day if it's 1/long rest.
Or am I missing something?
I agree totally, but some groups like to do the 15 minute adventuring day thing, where they fight one battle, and then wait a whole day, then go back and fight another battle, then go take a rest, etc. It kills the game IMO
Those groups should use the DMG tole about rest, one day is short rest, one week is long.
The game isn't balanced for 1 encouter day, os balanced to 6-8 encounters with 2-3 short rests. If some table don't follow the recommendation, that table need to make balance changes, not the entire system be adapted to that.
Same thing with people saying that divine smite from paladin is OP. Ys, if you only do 1 encounter per long rest looks OP, but you're playing the game wrong, make your own changes istead of complain.
ThatoneguyD13's DM is limiting to 1/long rest, which seems reasonable unless you're abusing the long rest...synonymous with "1/day" in my mind. I definitely won't allow any more than that, if it were my game.
I feel I should mention that the books state 'A character can't benefit from more than one long rest in a 24-hour period,' - so I don't think rests can be abused for extra venom in this style. It' still going to be 1/day if it's 1/long rest.
Or am I missing something?
I agree totally, but some groups like to do the 15 minute adventuring day thing, where they fight one battle, and then wait a whole day, then go back and fight another battle, then go take a rest, etc. It kills the game IMO
Those groups should use the DMG tole about rest, one day is short rest, one week is long.
The game isn't balanced for 1 encouter day, os balanced to 6-8 encounters with 2-3 short rests. If some table don't follow the recommendation, that table need to make balance changes, not the entire system be adapted to that.
Same thing with people saying that divine smite from paladin is OP. Ys, if you only do 1 encounter per long rest looks OP, but you're playing the game wrong, make your own changes istead of complain.
All depends on the difficulty of the encounters.
yeah, all I said is average, they can have 1 encounter or 20 in a long rest. But the system wasn't balanced for 1 encounter day every day. Don't complain about balance if you do, change how short and long rest work.
about the topic than, if you milk the venom from your snake, she probably will not have the same venom damage when make an bite attack, right?
I did. I'm running this game for a bunch of newbies. They're not big power gamers and don't tend to optimize their builds. If anything giving the Serpent Venom the full damage helps her keep up with the Paladin and Rogue in the group as far as combat ability goes. It hasn't affected the game a whole lot so far.
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My character is Hunter Conclave, but the Ranger in the game I DM has a Giant Venomous Snake named Aodhan as her companion. She uses his poison on her arrows.
Even Jeremy Crawford doesn't exclude the possibility to take venom out of the animal companion:
http://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/01/05/can-a-beast-master-milks-his-giant-snakes-venom/
I would set a daily limitation though. Once or twice a day.
Yeah I don't let my players abuse rests.
I've heard about Rogue doing the same by sneaking the spell 'Find Familiar' into their characters and having a snake. I read about a great limitation suggested there that, if you've milked all its venom, it can't use any of its poisonous effects until the end of a long rest. Since, you know, you've taken it. It seems like a particularly fair balancing mechanic here for our serpentine pals.
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Or am I missing something?
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My DM creates a prestige class inspired to "Animal Lord" in the 3.5 manual "Complete Adventurer" that permits me to take a small dragon like companion.
PS: Sorry for bad english, i'm italian :)
Let's not go off topic. If you want to discuss encounter balance, make another thread.
I'm still waiting to see some love for the poor mule and weasel. I'll definitely be picking one of those up - if I ever end up making a new ranger.
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about the topic than, if you milk the venom from your snake, she probably will not have the same venom damage when make an bite attack, right?