Magic items and Animals?

[mgtremaine]

I was stating up an NPC who had a Worg companion and it got me thinking about magic items and animals. In the old days I [we] generally allowed items to be crafted specifically for animals, or for high level casters combos of shapechange or polymorph any object could be used to get items to fit correctly.

So here I am again decades later trying to decide if a Ring of Protection can be worn by an animal. Didn't see anything specific in the CKG so I thought I'd see what other people do before deciding.

-MIke

[Mark Hall]

A ring I would probably not allow to be worn by a dog-like creature without magical modification. Necklace? Sure. Even a cloak. But not a ring.

[Rigon]

I'd just make it something that a dog-like creature could wear, like a collar of protection.

R-

[Mark Hall]

The old FR Moonshaes supplement actually had one of those... a collar that not only granted protection, but let the wearer attack creatures only hurt by magical weapons.

[Omote]

I think there is something in the M&T that states this specifically. Or, I might be thinking about the SRD. Not sure where, but I have read this.

~O

[mgtremaine]

I probably made the question to specific, it should also ask can Monsters wear magic items as is. Can a Troll wear a Ring of Protection, how about a Giant? Rings are assumed to "auto-size" and so do other pieces of Magic.

-Mike

[Rigon]

I probably made the question to specific, it should also ask can Monsters wear magic items as is. Can a Troll wear a Ring of Protection, how about a Giant? Rings are assumed to "auto-size" and so do other pieces of Magic.

-Mike

I think the question then becomes, where/how would a dog-like creature "wear" a ring. You you could explain that to me convincingly, then I would allow it.

R-

[Treebore]

As for the ring question, I allow them to resize for any humanoid that is under 7 foot tall, down to little pixies, etc...

As for dogs, take a look at their paws. They have "toes", or "fingers", and if you allow a ring to magically resize, like I do, then a ring can fit. Just then it becomes called a "toe ring".

[Omote]

Hey dog. Yeah you dog. Wear this Hat Pin of Rabies Protection!

~O

[Go0gleplex]

If the dog has a tail, it could wear the ring there, a simple band of leather keeping it from flying off with wagging.

[serleran]

My first rule -- is it interesting? Then do it.

My second rule -- does it need explaining? No? Then do it. If yes, explain it. If it cannot be explained, change it and do it.

So... hell yeah I would let it happen. Might take a different form, but it could be done and is in my games. Dogs with muzzles of chomping and puppy shirts of doom....

[Peter]

You may be interested in a 3e book called The Noble Wild, by Skirmisher Publishing. It covers Magic Items, Spells, Classes, etc. for animals.

[Rikitiki]

RE: items for animals? -

In the last adventure my dwarf, Durin, was in he used his "dog" (onyx figurine that, when tossed to ground, becomes a living war-dog). Since the party had been shrunk by the pixie king to rescue his princess, "Bowser" was our steed. Unfortunately "Bowser" got attacked by the sewer rats and took some damage. So, after we'd succeeded, and all got a boon from the pixie king, Durin asked for a spiked collar for "Bowser" to protect his neck in future.
So, yeah, a magic item for an 'animal' which also had to work as part of a wondrous figurine.
Like Tree said, Hell Yeah - make it so (if at all possible).