CTS Mechanics

| Animal Companion Training | Fauna Lore | Submit Research on a New Companion |

This page describes the OOC or non-FOIG related material for the Animal Companion Training System.

Introduction

CTS stands for Companion Training System. It is an alternative to the BioWare implementation of Animal Companions for Druids and Rangers in the confines of Neverwinter Nights. It significantly expands on the ability of rangers and druids to make allies of animals, beasts and magical beasts. The system goes beyond animal empathy, and spell domination.

CTS is a voluntary system. A PC with druid/ranger/shifter/avenger levels may opt in to take advantage of the system, or alternatively retain their standard NWN companion. As of version 1.2, the majority of CTS functionality is performed using the Avlis Command Prompt system and Player Tool #6 (note: the use of the old CTS items, the druid branch and the ranger pointer, is now deprecated). A list of the CTS commands are below.

Companions in the CTS can be considered a melding of Fylgia (animal "spirit" or "soul") and the animal that the druid or ranger has bonded. The concept of a Fylgia is used to explain the selection of a base animal type (e.g., the animals allowed under the NWN Animal Companion Feat) that a druid or ranger PC select upon leveling up. Note: the type of Fylgia and selection of animal companion can influence ability to train and command an animal companion.

Obtaining an Animal Companion using the CTS

Bonding with a companion is a combination of IC actions and OOC engine mechanics. The mechanics aspects are presented below; however players are encouraged to roleplay their PC as they bond with a companion.

1. Enable CTS. Type /cts enable in the chat window.
2. Search in-game for an animal that your PC wishes to befriend.
3. Locate the Player Tool #6 in the emote radial. (note: you may wish to quick slot this item)
4. Befriend the animal. Ensure your PC is reasonably close to the animal, and use Player Tool #6 to target the animal. Then, type /cts befriend in the chat window.
5. Once the animal has been befriended, use the built-in Animal Companion feat, as if you wished to summon your animal companion.
   • Note: If this step fails, refer to this section below.
6. Finally, your PC should give the new companion a name. Type, /cts name <companion_name>, where <companion_name> is the desired name of the companion. For example, /cts name Fido will rename the companion to Fido.
   • Note: Avlis "common sense" rules apply here. Please be considerate and do not abuse the naming function.

Non-bondable Animals and Animals with Unclear Fylgia

Many animals found in game may be immediately bonded to become a CTS companion; however, some animals have not yet been added to the CTS system. In addition, some animals may be bonded but lack a definitive fylgia, making them difficult to train. There is an in-game mechanism for PCs to perform research on animals that are incompatible with CTS or have an unclear fylgia. Research discovery by a PC usually leads to receiving in-game credit. To perform research, the PC may observe and collect information on a particular animal and submit it for review on the Avlis Wiki.

Additionally, if the animal companion has a graphical effect applied to them, bonding may fail. A message is usually sent to the chat window reading, "There is something strange about this creature". For example, a Kirre is able to cast Improved Invisibility, which applies the concealment graphic effect to them. If a PC attempts to bond while the Kirre is still under the concealment effect, it will not work. Instead, simply allow the Kirre to follow you until the spell wears off, then perform the steps outlined above.

Training

With the CTS, one may train their animal companion to learn tricks or follow commands. It takes practice on the part of the companion to master a particular command or trick. A PC must find out in game how to learn and master new tricks; however the mechanics of commanding an animal is performed by typing /cts <command> in the chat window, where <command> is the command/trick that your PC wishes the companion to perform. If the companion is properly trained it will perform the specified task.

• Note: some commands may require involve a location or object. Use Player Tool #6 to select the object or location.

Analogous to crafting experience points, a PC gains experience points (xp) in companion training for teaching new tricks/commands, and in other circumstances. The number of commands that a companion may learn increases with companion training xp, but is also a function of: druid/shifter's level, a ranger's level - 5, and half of an Avenger's levels (if has druid or the proper number of Ranger levels). One may monitor a companion's training progression by looking at the training report via the command /cts report in the chat window. There are four categories of commands: Basic, Stealth, Combat and Special.

Notes and Hints:

• A druid or ranger may find it beneficial to party up and train their companions with other druids/rangers who have opted into CTS.
• Be wary of training around NPCs in game due to faction issues and hostility bugs.
• Use of the ranger pointer and druid branch is now deprecated.

CTS Commands

• /cts befriend - attempt to befriend a new companion targeted by Player Tool #6 for training
• /cts disable - opt out of CTS and use standard NWN companion
• /cts enable - opt into using the CTS system
• /cts feed - legacy feed companion from dialog, with some limitation tweaks
• /cts help - lists CTS commands with a brief description
• /cts name <name> - name or rename a companion
• /cts raise - attempt to raise a dead companion
• /cts release - release current companion
• /cts report - view a CTS report
• /cts somatic - CTS commands are given by movement gestures
• /cts verbal - CTS commands are spoken verbally
• /cts <trick/task> - command given for companion to perform a particular trick or task

Companion Class Types and Feat Progression

CTS no longer uses the "hard-coded" feat progression of NWN companions. Instead, when a CTS companion is summoned, a first level animal of your PC's chosen fylgia type is created. Then the animal is automatically leveled up in a specialized class (with some limitations, see below) to the appropriate companion level using NWN's built-in functionality. During this process, feats appropriate to the specialized class are given. Finally, the companion is polymorphed into the animal that you bonded to.

The fylgia type determines what specialized class your companion will use

Fylgia	Specialized Class	Attribute	Feat List	Skill List
badger	barbarian (brute)	CON	PackFTBarb2	PackSKBarb2
boar	barbarian (savage)	STR	PackFTBarb4	PackSKBarb4
dire wolf	barbarian (slayer)	STR	PackFTBarb3	PackSKBarb3
hawk	monk (spirit)	WIS	PackFTMonk2	PackSKMonk1
giant spider	monk (assassin)	WIS	PackFTMonk6	PackSKMonk6
wolf	fighter (finesse)	DEX	PackFTFight2	PackSKFight2
bear	fighter (gladiator)	STR	PackFTFight4	PackSKFight1
panther	rogue (scout)	DEX	PackFTRog1	PackSKRog4
dire rat	rogue (shadowdancer -- no HIPS)	DEX	PackFTRog7	PackSKRog7

Note: The information in ( ) above represents a package that the NWN system uses to level up (this is where the classes come from: Packages). This package determines what feats are chosen as the animal levels up.

The number of specialized class levels may be limited, depending on the PC's number of CTS levels, number of Druid/Ranger/Shifter/Avenger levels and the fylgia's specialized class. Remaining levels once the specialized level limit is reached are given as animal levels.

• level-up formula for monk fylgia: 1 + (PC's CTS level + Companion's # tricks mastered)/2 + PC's effective druid level/3
• level-up fighter/barbarian/rogue fylgia: 3 + (PC's CTS level + Companion's # tricks mastered + PC's effective druid level)/2
• effective druid level = # class levels of Druid + Shifter + (Ranger - 5) + (Avenger / 2) + (Cleric / 2, if has Animal Domain)

The creature's maximum total levels is capped at the PC's effective druid level.

Animal Empathy Skill and CTS

The animal empathy skill influences several mechanics in the CTS (e.g., training progression, shared empathy duration).

For example, various fauna have DCs to befriend them and have them become your companion. This DC is set against the following criteria:

Animal Empathy + Trained CTS Levels + Druid and Shifter levels (i.e. effective Druid Level; 1/2 of Ranger levels) + Charisma Bonus + any item bonuses to boost Animal Empathy + a D20 roll.

Shared Empathy Ability

Extensive training leads to a strengthened bond between master and companion. A companion senses its master's emotional state more effectively and vice-versa. A master and companion begin to share senses and perspective between one another, enhancing both mental and physical characteristics. This ability can also be shared amongst other partied rangers/druids and their associated companions, provided they have opted into the CTS and their companions are with them.

This ability is automatically given, once the companion has mastered 3 tricks in a particular category of Basic, Stealth, or Combat. Once mastery is achieved in a particular category, the ability will be presented in the companion training report. It is invoked in a similar manner as giving regular companion commands. When used, the ability gives temporary stat and/or skill bonuses. Duration is dependent on both the training level and trainer's animal empathy skill. The bonuses are synergistic when partied with other druids/rangers who have companions. The bonuses are less at low training levels.

Affects:

• Unpartied: The trainer and the summoned companion
• Partied: The trainer and companion and any partied druid/ranger who has a summoned companion in the party, and the druid/ranger's summoned companion. Trainers must be in close proximity to one another. Will not affect non-druid and non-ranger PCs in party.

(note: ACTL = Animal Companion Training Levels)

Basic: “vigilant” (requires mastery of 3 Basic tricks)

• CTS command: /cts vigilant
• ACTL 1-3:
  • Unpartied: +1 AC, +d4+2 to discipline, spot, listen, search,
  • Partied: +2 AC, 2d4+2 to discipline, spot, listen, search
• ACTL ≥4:
  • Unpartied +2 AC, +2d4+2 discipline, spot, listen, search
  • Partied: +3 AC, +2d8+2 to discipline, spot, listen, search,

Combat: “bellicose” (requires mastery of 3 combat tricks)

• CTS command: /cts bellicose
• ACTL 1-3:
  • Unpartied: +1 STR, AB, damage
  • Partied: +2 to STR, AB, damage
• ACTL ≥4:
  • Unpartied +2 to STR, AB, damage
  • Partied: +3 to STR, +2d2+1 AB, damage

Stealth: “furtive” (requires mastery of 3 stealth tricks)

• CTS command: /cts furtive
• ACTL 1-3:
  • Unpartied: +1 DEX, +d4+2 to hide, move silently
  • Partied: +2 DEX, +2d4+2 to hide, move silently
• ACTL ≥4:
  • Unpartied +2 DEX, +2d4+2 to hide, move silently
  • Partied: +3 DEX, +2d8+2 to hide, move silently

Duration (temporary)

• ATCL 1-3:
  • Unpartied: animal empathy skill/5 + 1 rounds
  • Partied: animal empathy skill/15 + 1 turns
• ATCL ≥4:
  • Unpartied: animal empathy skill/15 + 1 turns
  • Partied: animal empathy skill/5 + 1 turns

Uses Per Day

• ACTL up to a maximum of 4

Latest Version

The latest release of CTS is version 1.2.0.7 (check the Emote menu "Display Information" function to view the live version on a particular server). This version included minor bug fixes.

Previous Versions

• version 1.2.0.6: This version made several major changes, including the use of the Avlis command prompt, the way companions are leveled, and addition of several animals to the CTS.
• version 1.1.0.1 through 1.1.0.3 This version includes additional animals and addresses minor bug fixes.
• version 1.1.0.0 This version adds the shared empathy ability, adds several new commands/tricks in 3 of the 4 categories, makes minor improvements to some of the existing commands, and provides other core changes to the CTS system.
• version 1.0.1.9: major update of tricks to the CTS