Totem Warriors
This is something of a moot point since there are no totem warriors in the group, but here it is.
As with Druids and Rangers from D&D Totem Warriors get an animal companion as a class ability.
I am not a big fan of animal companions. It is difficult to figure out how they fit into the scheme of the game (are they NPCs, are they part of the character, who controls them, etc..) And I think they basically add all the time of another character to the game without adding the benefits of another mind at the table.
So I would like to come up with a solution. A simple one would be to remove the companion and give the totem warrior a bonus feat. But that doesn't really appeal to me. The companion gives the totem warrior a certain kind of style, where a bonus feat just makes them more useful.
What I would like would be a totem warrior specific ability that give style to the class.
Ideas:
1. Ability to speak with animals of the type, enhanced diplomacy with them (wild empathy) and some other sort of ability like that.
2. Have an actual totem (like a pole or something) that could give advice or other benefits (healing, etc..) depending on the type.
Anyway that is what I've got so far.
posted by Scholz at 9:24 AM
2 Comments:
What about adding it as a physical totem that can only sometimes become an actual animal, but have that animal be somehow more powerful (to compensate for not always being around)--that way, you get something of the style without always having another NPC-type thing. It could be as limited as seems reasonable, and it could then just be completely mind-controlled or whatever by the player character (as in a spell, or something), so it's not really as much trouble...
Sort of like a summon natures ally? Not a bad idea. I suppose it's 'death' in combat could be ruled as simply not functioning for some time (say until you gain a level). That is not a bad idea. It is funny. The general attitude on the gaming boards about a paladin's steed that does the same, was mostly negative. They called the steeds pokemounts. Of course a steed is something different.
I will think about it, and run it past my players.
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