My issues with the animal companion system, as it stands:

- There is a fixed list of animal companions, beyond acquiring them through applications. - Death of an animal companion has little consequence. After you lose the 200 XP, a druid or ranger has no trouble bringing the very same one back to life again after a brief period of rest. - All druids get animal companions for free at level one, chosen from a list of companions of greatly varying volatility and rarity. It doesn't matter if the druid's animal empathy is at -2. Should a druid get tired of his animal companion, he simply switches it next time he gains a level. No real effort is involved. - As a result of the last two points, druids and rangers of sufficient level don't have the need to respond with any great measure of remorse when an animal companion dies.

But what if druids and rangers had to go out into the wild and actually find animal companions? What if animal companion death was more permanent, and required the ranger or druid to seek out a new one? The spider caves, for instance, may have a slight chance of having a non-hostile giant spider in it. Approaching it without provoking an attack might require an animal empathy skill check. If the player is a druid or a ranger of sufficient level, she may be able to engage it in a "conversation":

The giant spider hisses at you, baring its fangs warningly as you approach. It is scared of you now, but if you aren't careful, it might get over its fear for long enough to decide to attack you.

--> [Animal Empathy] Attempt to soothe it ........(Success message) ................--> (Does the player have an animal companion already? If not:) Form a mental bond with the animal, taking it along with you as your animal companion. ................--> Leave it alone ........(Failure message - attacks) --> Attack it --> [Animal Empathy] Back off carefully

The player might then be able to use a voice command (e.g. /c name_companion ####) to give it a name, and she will be entitled to call it again at will through use of her summon animal companion feat.

The animal companion could then have an added conversation option:

--> Release this animal companion

Which would allow her to replace the spider (or whatever it happens to be) with something else.

It might also be worth making animal companions 'unsummonable' outside of wilderness areas, too. To get them into Sanctuary, you would need to sneak them past whatever gate guards and other Watchmen happen to be in the way.

Rare, dangerous and/or exotic animal companions would then be a reward for high animal empathy skill and risktaking. Rats may be within reach for almost all druids and high-level rangers, but getting a giant lizard as an animal companion would really be something to work hard for (and thus something which the druid or ranger would really hate to lose. Possibly to the extent of killing whoever/whatever killed their companion in the first instance). Starting animal companions could still be granted through application, and particularly unusual animal companions might appear during DM quests.

I'm not sure how much of this is possible/viable, or even whether anyone other than myself would want a system like this. What are the community's thoughts on the matter?

I think its better.. if its up to the player.

If your animal companion has a story, its kudos to you!

I agree with Mort. I personally have always tried to RP my companion as just that. A companion. But it really does depend on the type of druid/ranger you play. Believe it or not, not every druid or ranger cares enough about their animals to go through an elaborate process to gain them. It just comes with the territory. In EfU, a 200 xp penalty is enough to make people not treat their companions as summons or dominated animals, I think.

Interesting idea, though.

In regards to the 200 xp, I HATE having my animal companion die. And as a result, my characters always mourn the death of the animals as you get a hp loss as well signifying the tie broken. As I know it, animal companions can be obtained thru applications. You would need a good application and a real reason as wy to have one but I am sure the DMs would be more then willing if appropriate. That said, I would hate to see everyone that wants to make a druid/ranger go thru the process of apping for normal ones that are already given. If you want to have a backstory to how you came upon your companion, that is good and should be commended. But basically demanding it would make the classes less desirable to play I think. Scripting wise I think it would be a bit difficult to do the commands at will and then everyone will eventually be running around with Deep Lizard animal companions which would not be unique or anything. Also, I do not think it will solve the "unsummonable" areas since it would still use the same "Animal Companion" button that would work as it does now no matter how you get/find or just have your animal companion. Those are just my thoughts, feel free to comment.

I see two major flaws with this system:

• You need AE to get an animal companion in the first place. Consider the standard animal companions -- you could easily adopt and train a hawk without really needing a crap load of AE.
• The animal companions have been balanced to better fit the EfU setting. Deep lizard animal companions would invariably tip that balance! On a side note, I also sincerely doubt this system would change how a PC reacts to an animal companion dying. Afterall, you need only go out and search for a new deep lizard (and maybe even find a temporary substitute).

I always RP the death of my companion, and typically try to refrain from resummoning a fallen companion until the next level up when I have found a proper replacement. Compared to PnP, the animal companion (and wizard familiar) process has been simplified, but some of the mechanics in NWN make implementing a more "true" system difficult. Currently, all beetles and most spiders cannot be AEed, and as mentioned before, because of balance no druid is ever going to be able to march around with a greater deep lizard or malar beast. I think the idea is good, but much of it can be implemented just through strong RP with your companion. If you witness another druid lose his companion and seem to shrug it off, just remember to RP really well your friendship with your personal companion and watch it serve as a gentle reminder that these animals are supposed to be a druid's closest friend.

I like the idea of having to search and maybe train your animal companion. Gives you a real link with it. Differs from mages which actually summon their familiar (i think). :D

But if you want to be a purist, wait till lvl up to summon a new companion again or something, reflecting the work on a new creature. Might save scripting time! :wink:

Hummm... something like this?