Handle Animal (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

Additional Uses

This skill has a number of additional uses.

Domesticate Animals

It is always easiest to domesticate an animal while it is growing up, as covered in the "rear a wild animal" rule. But it is possible (if difficult) to domesticate a wild animal as an adult.

Domesticating an animal generally takes 3 months. The trainer must feed the animal must have some way to restrain and discipline the animal and defend himself from it's attacks. This can be done by physical means (cages, leashes, whips) or by magic such as charm spells.

The difficulty depends on the animal's hit dice, it's normal group behavior, and the ties your race has to animals.

Race	Animal affinities
Boggard	Frog
Cyclops	Cockatrice, pig, goat
Dark Creeper	Bat
Elves, Drow	Spider, monitor lizard
Dwarf	Ram, goat, raven, bear
Elf	Eagle, stag, horse
Giant, Cave	Lizard
Giant, Cloud	Griffon
Giant, Fire	Fire subtype
Giant, Frost	Winter wolf
Giant, Hill	Dire wolf
Giant, Stone	Cave bear
Gillmen	Squid
Gnoll	Hyena, hyaenodon
Gnome	Badger, weasel
Goblin	Goblin dog, wolf
Grippli	Frog
Halfling	Dog, squirrel, pony, pig
Hobgoblin	Leopard
Human	Hawk, horse, dog, house cat, cattle
Locatah	Fish
Merfolk	Aquatic mammals
Orc	Boar
Ratfolk	Rat
Sahaugin	Shark
Tengu	Flightless birds
Vishanka	Snake
Lizardfolk	Monitor lizard

Animal	DC
Animals living in small groups (wolves, eagles, lions)	20 + hit dice
Herd animals (antilope, zebra)	25 + hit dice
Solitary animals (most cats, bears)	30 + hit dice
You have a racial affinity for the animal	-10

Racial affinities are cultural and physiological traits that make certain animals easier to train. A matter of shared perceptions, modes of communication, social organization, and food, these traits create a strong affinity between certain humanoid races and animal species. Any animal listed under "organization" in a humanoid race's description is one that race has affinity for.