[DF] Fighting with a cat on your shoulders

[Anders]

This is the problem with the wizard taking a cat as familiar and training said cat to rest on her shoulders... when danger threatens, the cat seeks security, which means his human, which means... uh-oh.

So, the party is attacked by orcs and the cat decides to seek shelter on the wizard's shoulder. What penalties accrue? Apart from encumbrance.

[aesir23]

Depends on how willing the wizard is to harm or dislodge the cat. I don't think it would hamper movement at all if you were willing to accept the outcome that you knock the cat off with your first major movement.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Asta Kask

This is the problem with the wizard taking a cat as familiar and training said cat to rest on her shoulders... when danger threatens, the cat seeks security, which means his human, which means... uh-oh.

So, the party is attacked by orcs and the cat decides to seek shelter on the wizard's shoulder. What penalties accrue? Apart from encumbrance.

He's being grappled, so use those rules. Looks like encumbrance and a -4 to DX for anything involving the body part the cat is holding on to.

[vierasmarius]

Originally Posted by malloyd

He's being grappled, so use those rules. Looks like encumbrance and a -4 to DX for anything involving the body part the cat is holding on to.

That sounds a bit harsh. After all, the cat isn't trying to obstruct the wizards in the way a normal grappler would be. But that does set one end of the spectrum for us...

[Kromm]

I'd say that if the cat isn't taking any combat actions but "Hang on and stay out of the way!", there's no effect beyond encumbrance. I've walked, run, and even made dinner whilst hanging onto or supporting a cat. If my cat had IQ 10 or 12 or 14 instead of IQ 4, and could read my mind, I doubt that it would present any problems beyond its weight.

[roguebfl]

Originally Posted by Kromm

I'd say that if the cat isn't taking any combat actions but "Hang on and stay out of the way!", there's no effect beyond encumbrance. I've walked, run, and even made dinner whilst hanging onto or supporting a cat. If my cat had IQ 10 or 12 or 14 instead of IQ 4, and could read my mind, I doubt that it would present any problems beyond its weight.

And the answer also cover pirate's parrots, and the mini dragon on your shoulders... though the last one has been to know to throat throttle with it's tail while trying to maintain balance...

[SuedodeuS]

The cat functions as encumbrance equal to at least its weight - probably more, thanks to how it keeps shifting to stay on. Unless the mage has padded shoulders, she's also going to be suffering from a persistent shock penalty (-2 or so) and may suffer a penalty to HT for resisting certain blood agent-like effects (thanks to the open wounds). This is because the cat will be using its claws to stay on, and constantly digging claws in as you move around hurts. The mage could avoid this by moving such that she won't disturb the cat, but this would be difficult and take a good deal of practice - it may be appropriate to enforce a skill cap equal to the mage's Mount skill (alternatively, a -4 or so to skill, which can be bought off as a Hard Technique, might work).

On the cat's side, he'll be making constant Balance checks to not fall off as the mage moves around. If the cat is intelligent, he can opt not to use his claws to keep hold, although this will give a penalty to the Balance check. If the mage is using the Mount skill (or Cat Carrying Technique), the Balance check is waived.

[Knight_Marshal]

Maybe the cat has the Riding (Human) skill! :)

[Kromm]

Of course, most fantasy PCs – including mages – wear armor. A cat should be able to sink claws into any nonmetallic armor without much effect on the wizard . . . In my personal experience, even the thickest "DR 0" clothing will insulate you fully from cat's claws, so a DR 1 enchanted robe or cloth armor should be more than adequate.

[Kalzazz]

If the penalty is encumbrance I suggest a small cat

No 20lb Maine Coons as familiars