Attack Animal: Difference between revisions

* Not act (or at least it must not be ''supposed'' to act) without explicit instructions from its handler beyond a normal routine. This usually entails something with animal level intelligence which can be trained to obey. Sapient creatures can count if they still fit this criteria (that is they're ''forced'' to obey, choosing to because of [[Undying Loyalty]] or because they're being paid isn't an example).

* They must be acting at the command of their handler (it's not enough for someone to throw their victim into a cage full of lions, they have to be able to make the lions attack them).

* Not be sent out to act on their own (like when [[Summon Bigger Fish|summoning a bigger fish]]), since they're essentially a weapon, not a character (a good analogy would be that you send out soldiers armed with swords, not swords on their own).

 

 

The [[Weapon of Choice]] for [[The Beast Master]] and the [[Nature Hero]] (although they might as easily avert this trope by making them actual characters). When everyone uses these and only has them attack one another then you're almost certainly in a [[Mons]] series. Examples of this trope are often a [[Weaponized Animal]]. Contrast the [[Cool Pet]], [[Animal Companion]] and [[Robot Buddy]], who are usually characters in their own right rather than just weapons. If they're picked up and used as a weapon see [[Equippable Ally]]. [[Super-Trope]] to; [[War Elephants]], [[Angry Guard Dog]] and (if such a "weapon" serves as the villain's henchman) [[Right-Hand Attack Dog]]. A subtrope of [[Living Weapon]]. Sister trope to [[Animal Assassin]].

'''Examples;'''

 

* ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'' prehistory says wyverns were created as weapons by Aearee (ancient bird-like creatures). Local [[Precursors]] are called "Creator Races" for a reason.

** Wizards constantly try to customize some or other [[Hybrid Monster]] or [[The Undead]] for that purpose, though it rarely ends well. [[Counselors and Kings|Akhlaur]] has "cat-man warrior" project, for example.

* ''Stormbringer Companion'' supplement, "Sea Battle at Melnibone" solo adventure. One of the opponents Elric faces during the battle is a sea captain who has a war hound of Chalal fighting at his side.

* Mongoose Publishing's ''Starship Troopers - The Roleplaying Game''. Neodogs have cybernetically enhanced teeth and jaws, allowing them to enter combat alongside their handlers. In the original [[Robert Heinlein]] ''[[Starship Troopers (novel)|Starship Troopers]]'' novel, neodogs did not have such augmentations and were used for intelligence gathering, not fighting.