Companion Dogs

[jimmifett]

So, dogs.
cost an action to move them up to 3 zones, but they get to move with the owner for free if both are in the same zone when the owner uses a move action on themselves, correct?


so owner in zone A, dog in zone B. Owner moves to zone B. Owner and dog move together into Zone C as a single action?

-jim

 

[mabnkat]

Sounds right mate. Never used dogs yet but that's how I would do it

 

[vargz]

I too don't have my dogs yet. However, having read the rules posted for them online, I agree with your interpretation.

 

[jimmifett]

So both companions and zombie dogs worked out well. Just remember to not use the item/spawn cards nit in your language.

 

[Mobius187]

So, dogs.
cost an action to move them up to 3 zones, but they get to move with the owner for free if both are in the same zone when the owner uses a move action on themselves, correct?

That's correct (in case you haven't found confirmation elsewhere by now). The one question I have is this... companion dogs have Slippery and Low Profile, and while they don't have any Health listed I assume they must have 1 Health because why else would they need those two skills? However so far we've only read the rule that says a dog companion is lost when its handler takes a Wound. And yet since you can send dog companions running off and attacking on their own (as they have "combat/weapon" stats) wouldn't it make them too powerful to not let them be killable? Thoughts?

Also, in the rules it states that all survivors can start with a dog companion... that seems overpowered. While the another rule I read stated that dog companions are not included in the equipment deck unless specified by a mission... which seems strange since there are only the 6 cards (in one language). It almost seems like the rules should be reversed, and maybe have a survivor with a skill that allows them to start (Blue level) with a companion dog. Oh well.

 

[jimmifett]

I give them one HP myself. I prefer they be drawn during a search, but ill let someone with a pan swap out for a dog.

 

[Mobius187]

I give them one HP myself.

For me, so far (I've only had Season 2 for a few days now), that adds the appropriate amount of risk to using the dog companion. At the time we had considered sending it off to kill a zombie dog, but once we opted to have it run the risk of dying my friend (who was playing the dog handler survivor opted against it because he didn't want to potentially lose his +2 melee bonus to his Katana (he had the bull dog).

I prefer they be drawn during a search, but ill let someone with a pan swap out for a dog.

That makes sense, since normally we start with the Fire Axe, Pistol, Crowbar, and 3 Frying Pans. To be honest my group and I have been spoiled playing with Troy (Sawed-off Shotgun), El Cholo (2 Machetes), and Cardboard Tube Samurai (Katana). When we randomly selected survivors last game from a bag and had no one with a beginner weapon, having the dog companion was a great alternative. Frying pans suck SO MUCH...

 

[Imriel]

That's correct (in case you haven't found confirmation elsewhere by now). The one question I have is this... companion dogs have Slippery and Low Profile, and while they don't have any Health listed I assume they must have 1 Health because why else would they need those two skills? However so far we've only read the rule that says a dog companion is lost when its handler takes a Wound. And yet since you can send dog companions running off and attacking on their own (as they have "combat/weapon" stats) wouldn't it make them too powerful to not let them be killable? Thoughts?

Did the rules change from the preview? Under Dog Companion General Traits, 2- Is defeated and removed by the first Wound it takes.

 

[Mobius187]

Did the rules change from the preview? Under Dog Companion General Traits, 2- Is defeated and removed by the first Wound it takes.

Good question. I'm at work right now so I cannot check. Maybe I misread it, but I recall it saying something about when the dog handler takes a Wound they immediately lose the dog companion. However it was late, so maybe I misread it. If anyone has access to the rule sheet they should easily be able to verify that detail. I don't see why GG would have changed it... but still.