feat Animal Affinity

Animal Affinity (General)

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Sir Edwin Henry Landseer (1802-1873): Isaac van Amburgh with his Animals Date 1839, Animal Affinity — Sir Edwin Henry Landseer (1802-1873): Isaac van Amburgh with his Animals Date 1839

Benefit: You get a +2 bonus on all Handle Animal checks and Ride checks.

What Animal Affinity Improves

Animal Affinity strengthens two skills used when working with animals. Handle Animal covers training, directing and managing animals, while Ride covers controlling a mount in ordinary travel and dangerous situations. The feat adds +2 whenever either skill is checked.

When Animal Affinity Is Useful

Mounted characters: riders benefit repeatedly from the Ride bonus during travel and combat.
Animal trainers: characters who teach tricks or direct trained animals gain the same bonus on Handle Animal checks.
Wilderness campaigns: horses, pack animals, hunting animals and other trained creatures appear often enough for both skills to matter.

Animal Affinity Example

A character might use Handle Animal to direct a trained dog and later make a Ride check to control a horse under pressure. Animal Affinity adds +2 to both checks. It does not remove the normal DCs or special requirements of either skill.

See the Feats index for other skill, mounted and wilderness options.