I've been playing a Houndmaster and I've recently had... problems.

[Zerminar12]

Recently I've been itching to play a martial class. I'm a big fan of EFU and the illustrious way it beautifies sorcerers. The sorcerous perks are by far some of the most compelling and interesting non-application character concepts one could devise. Not to say that other classes don't have plenty of appeal, in fact this post is all about fighters, but a Bone Warden or Ooze Savant has a lot of thematic and mechanical potential for creating a great villain PC in my humble opinion. So recently I got a craving to play a big musclebound half-orc fighter. Something mechanically competent, simple, and all around the antithesis of the conjuror sorcerer that I usually play. So I scrolled through the fighter perks and came across houndmaster. The concept immediately seduced me, like a silk skinned elven maiden of immense grace and poetic beauty I found myself enchanted. Eloquent words aside I embarked on becoming the greatest dog trainer there ever was. I thought that I would be mighty warrior accompanied by a bestial yet loyal companion. Ultimately I settled on an incredibly intimidating and brutish character, a bit of a jerk but every story needs a good antagonist. So I get in game and summon my dog only to find myself confronted by the biggest soppiest lovable puppy you've ever seen. The poor thing wasn't even as tall as my kneecaps! I know that the Houndmaster's hound starts weak and small and gradually grows stronger and larger but I was confronted by the biggest RP confliction of my history playing EFU. On one hand I tried to be a threatening savage, on the other my right hand man was a big-eyed terrier. So here is my question to my fellow players and the benevolent gods (hopefully they don't die on us) that are the DMs. What is the mechanism by which my puppy can become a full grown howling, snarling, mutt. I know many of you will be driven to tears by my cruel desire to see my innocent child of a dog be turned into a mangy mongrel but it must be done for my half-orc to save face. I am not asking for specific mechanics or mathematical formula but a simple tip on how to level him would be eternally appreciated. For instance, does he level up when he kills monsters as in Nethack or simply with time? Does he get a share of my EXP secretly or does he grow stronger as I gain levels? Any advice on How to Train Your Puppy TM would be much appreciated.
​*I apologize for any overly cheesy jokes included in the above post, I swear I am not a memey player I simply wanted to inject some comedy in my post. Also sorry about the off-topic ramblings on sorcerers.
​-Many Thanks, Z12

[Zerminar12]

Also, while this is almost completely unrelated I feel that I must ask, are Houndmasters incredibly rare? Because I swear the moment me and my tiny dog entered the square nobody could resist touching it. I'm not annoyed (OOC, IC I was furious) but has nobody in EFU:R IC seen a dog before? Perhaps it could be that there are so few players on at a time that most backgrounds are only played once at a time or seemingly very rarely. Thus while relative to other fighter perks puppymaster is just as common it is still overall a rare sight to see a giant half-orc trailed by a tiny brown dog. To be fair he looks identical to Toto so I can't really blame the characters for going kind of insane over him.

[Random_White_Guy]

I can't say much on the other notions but houndmasters are rare and it has been circulated IG that things like dogs and other finer necessities of the surface are gone. It could be they just saw some RP'd comfort in it, which is certainly something you can play up!

[Talir]

The dogs advance with time spent watching your back. Don't remember if they also benefit from quest XP.

[Zerminar12]

Many thanks for the advice. I suppose it will be largely a waiting game. As for dogs being a finer thing, I was under the impression that they would be something used often in rural or nomadic societies but I suppose that would be a ranger wolf companion. In retrospect the character I wanted and the mechanics I chose really don't align well. Nevertheless the contrast is fun to play out and was comedic little surprise for me in addition to the insanely small size of the dog. I appreciate the advice and if anyone has information on whether the dog's EXP progress continues through rests, resets, and logins I'd be very grateful.

[Howlando]

I enjoyed this post.

[johanmaxon]

I can't quite recall as it was so long ago since I had with any of the doggos to do, but I think it is just with time. Or because I also quest quite frequently so it was that. But I think just time will do it. As I remember it didn't take very long either. Get out there and explore the world and your doggo will be big in no time!

[Howlando]

Someone link the journal of dead dogs.

[bloodborne]

Dead Dog Journal

[goate]

Dead Dog Journal

[Pup]

Dead Dog Journal

I was the first to fall...

[Pentaxius]

EFU's community is notably polarized between the cat-lovers and dog-lovers camp. If the latter has their own dedicated perk "hound master" - it would be only fair to give the former it's equivalent "cat mistress"

Cat Mistress
Where others focused solely on their own martial expertise, you broadened your training to include a particular breed of species. You've enthralled a human with your irresistible kitty stare to be your faithful protector.

Level 1: +2 intimidate, humans are less likely to attack you. Your racial group is now "animal" and you acquire the cat skin.
Level 5: Tracking, +2 spot, +2 listen, +2 search.
Level 8: 2/- DR piercing. Your human is trained more rapidly.

/c fighter_perk

Call human -- your faithful companion joins you. The human gains XP over time and will grow stronger while called. On its death you get a new human. Can name it with the /c name_companion X command.

 

[The Old Hack]

EFU's community is notably polarized between the cat-lovers and dog-lovers camp. If the latter has their own dedicated perk "hound master" - it would be only fair to give the former it's equivalent "cat mistress"

Cat Mistress
Where others focused solely on their own martial expertise, you broadened your training to include a particular breed of species. You've enthralled a human with your irresistible kitty stare to be your faithful protector.

Level 1: +2 intimidate, humans are less likely to attack you. Your racial group is now "animal" and you acquire the cat skin.
Level 5: Tracking, +2 spot, +2 listen, +2 search.
Level 8: 2/- DR piercing. Your human is trained more rapidly.

This brilliant new playable class should be implemented as soon as possible. I highly approve.

[Spiffy Has]

This is one of efu:r's finest threads.