Dogs in my Dungeon?

A War Dog Class

Hail, adventurers! Today we shall be discussing the proper use of Battle Bowsers, Fighting Fifis, Melee Mutts, and Rampaging Rovers otherwise known as the good old War Dog. Simply put, War Dogs are armored mastiffs trained to kill and disembowel for fun and profit. With the proper care and training, a War Dog may mean the difference between running screaming from the battle, or watching your enemy doing the same. First off, each War Dog must have a dedicated handler or master. A handler may only possess a single War Dog at a time, and a War Dog does not respond to the commands of anyone but his handler. Be warned if a handler should ever lose control of his War Dog during combat, the animal is in danger of running off or going berserk. War Dogs can be loyal retainers, but they are limited in their ability to perform complex tasks. All War Dogs may carry out the following commands: Sic em: Attack a target of handlers choosing Fetch: Retrieve common item Heel: Cease attacking, defend handler, or stay near handler Stay: Remain in a location until another command is issued

In some cases, a powerful stimulus (such as a Squirrel darting through the dungeon) may test the limits of a War Dogs training. In such a scenario, roll a Morale Check (2d6+CHA, verse target number 8*) to determine if you retain control of your War Dog. Control may be reestablished in the first round in which the Handler succeeds in a Morale Check. War Dogs are equipped with barding and saddlebags. Barding is free, and is considered to be the best available by level (though magical barding might exist). Saddlebags may hold the equivalent of 5 encumbering items. War Dogs receive 25% of their Handlers Combat Experience. If you choose to do so, you may pay gold in order to further train your War dog. War Dog (Small Canine) Hit Dice: 2d6+2 Movement: 180 (60) Armor Class: 12 (Leather Barding) Save: As Fighter 1 Attacks: 1 Bite (+1 to hit, 1d6) Morale: 8 Special Abilities: Handler: War Dogs without a handler (Owner/Master/etc.) become listless and dangerous. Morale becomes 6 and the War Dog acts as if under the effects of Confusion (Combat Only) Scary: War Dogs cause fear in Human, Demi-human and Humanoid opponents. Such opponents suffer a -1 penalty to Morale Checks Scent: War Dogs may detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell. As Hear Noise at equivalent Thief Level Small: Because they are size small, War Dogs receive a +2 bonus to Armor Class when attacked by creatures greater than man-sized

Experience 0 501 1,001 2,001 4,001 7,001 11,001 16,001 22,001

Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

War Dog Progression Hit Dice Attack Bonus Armor Class 2d6+2 +1 12 2d6+4 +1 12 2d6+6 +1 12 2d6+5 +2 13 2d6+10 +2 13 2d6+12 +3 13 2d6+14 +3 14 2d6+16 +3 14 2d6+18 +4 14

Saving Throw Fighter 1 Fighter 1 Fighter 2 Fighter 2 Fighter 2 Fighter 3 Fighter 3 Fighter 4 Fighter 4

Confusion (1d6) 1: Act normally 2 4: Do Nothing 5: Attack Friendly 6: Attack Nearest