[SPELL] Calm Animal

[Nedylene]

Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Animal 1, Drd 1, Rgr 1
Components: V, S
Casting time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Targets: Animals within 30 ft. of each other
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw: Will negates; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes

This spell soothes and quiets animals, rendering them docile and harmless. Only ordinary animals (those with Intelligence scores of 1 or 2) can be affected by this spell. All the subjects must be of the same kind, and no two may be more than 30 feet apart. The maximum number of Hit Dice of animals you can affect is equal to 2d4 + caster level. A dire animal or an animal trained to attack or guard is allowed a saving throw; other animals are not.

The affected creatures remain where they are and do not attack or flee. They are not helpless and defend themselves normally if attacked. Any threat breaks the spell on the threatened creatures.

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This would be a VERY nice addition to rangers & druids and give them a way to calm things such as mounts which were aggrivated unnaturally or boars and other nature animals that a druid/ranger may not want to kill.

[Vibius]

I think that this spell has lot of flavour and it is useful at the same.

[Nedylene]

I am bumping this up as an rp today revealed that even with charm animal and charm monster there is no way to calm a "friendly" animal that certain characters may not want to kill.

[Melusine]

I second the bump... And definately agree, this would make a beautiful addition to the skills. Sometimes you just want to calm those critters down, and un-aggro them... Rather than killing them.

[Kregor]

May need to be a hard coded spell (result: cease fighting and remove aggro flag) but yes, I agree, MOREMOREMORE druid spells!

[Lathander]

Maybe have it as a ranger/druid skill instead of a spell? Possibly cap the skill's expertise level for rangers while allowing druids to have it to GM.

[Nedylene]

A skill would be just as good as a spell. Honestly, just a way for us nature folks to calm the animals is needed when they assist on stirge battles.

[Kregor]

Well, for that matter, the Animal Empathy skill could be amplified to do that. Add a "calm" command to try and calm the animal, "claim" continues to be the command used to tame and make it a companion, both commands basing on the skill level of Animal Empathy. Works for me, just long as we give it to Malarite druids too.

[Melusine]

Personally I think I like the idea of a skill better than a spell. A skill is something I can see lending itself to just having a way with animals. Knowing how to react, body language, and communicating with the animals that way. Just my opinion, though.

[Larethiel]

An enhancement to the already existing skill Animal empathy, perhaps?

[Lathander]

Should Malarite druids get a calm animal skill, or would it be better for them to have an enrage animal skill - one that would have the animal attack others besides themsleves of course.

[Glim]

Well, the rules lawyer in me says no, but the Malarite druid in me says yes.

But, I think that considering the Wild Empathy ability that druids and rangers get, it should be possible. Wild Empathy allows for a ranger or druid to improve the attitude of a creature. This usually goes from unfriendly, to indifferent, to friendly. So in a way, a druid (or ranger) of, say, Mielikkie could make an angry animal friendly against them so they do not have to harm them. A druid (or ranger) of Malar could also make animals friendly to them, but a druid of Malar would possibly use that friendship to have the animal attack someone.

The Mielikkan could use that friendship to cause the animal to defend him/her or to aid in the defense of the forest, of course.

So, honestly, I think it should be possible for both. For it shouldn't be seen so much as enrage, but to cause that animal to want to help your goals. Basically diplomacy but with animals.

[Raona]

I see the Malarite as more likely to snarl and gnash their teeth in just the right way to evoke the dark side of the animals that might be around - to get the wolves all thinking "heh, we can catch and eat this one" and the bears thinking "these intruders are after our cubs!" It even sets up the interesting scenario of the Malarite facing off against the Miellikian, or what have you, and their conflicting influences trading off against each other.

To put it concisely - yes, a skill, and moreover one that for both Malarites and Miellikians alike causes animals to reduce their hostility toward the one having the skill and increase their hostility toward anyone fighting the one having the skill, seems like a great idea to me, assuming it is codeable...and I don't have a horse in this race!