Falconry Question: How do the bird attacks work prior to taking the Tier powers?

[JohnnyArkham]

If I just spend a single AP on Summon Avian Companion, I get a bird that provides a +2 to Spot and Listen while it's nearby.
Cool.
I see that it also will attack my enemies.
Cool.
Are the stats for the bird visible somewhere?
Is it worthwhile as a summoned critter compared to, for example, Summon Nature's Ally I?

[Memnir]

The bird isn't really a summoned creature, other than another summons makes the bird go away for the duration. The bird os more of a weapon effect. It has no hitpoints, can't be killed, cannot pull levers, and does not attack independently. You push an ability on the hotbar, and it takes one specific action dictated by that ability. It's effectiveness is directly tied to your level, stats, and boosts.


Not sure if that answers your questions or not, but that's the best I can describe it.

[JohnnyArkham]

It's effectiveness is directly tied to your level, stats, and boosts.

It's that bit that I'm most curious about.
At it's most base level, w/out any of the Tier abilities, how is it tied to my level and stats and such?
Is it an extra melee attack sporadically happening (or even 1/round?) tied to my usual attack stats?

I'm just wondering if there's a breakdown of how this thing really works anywhere.

[Memnir]

It never sporadically happens. It's like Cleave or Stunning Blow. You never just do either of those things. You push a button, and the bird does the attack. You never hit the button, the bird never attacks. At it's core, the bird is a delivery-system for Blind and Trip, and it functions like I said above. Don't actively hit the attack - bird never attacks. It's not an independent pet or summons, really. It exists for that passive bonus and to deliver those attacks on your active command.

Without the tier abilities - the bird will ever only be a plus to Spot and Listen. Nothing more.



The effectiveness of the bird is broken down in the description of the attacks: DC for blind or trip DC 10 + Level, Wisdom Modifier, and Assassinate bonus (for me, that is usually from gear). Honestly, just like Stunning Blow or other combat feat that involved a DC for success.

[JohnnyArkham]

Aha, I've gotcha now.
No chosen bird attacks, the bird doesn't attack. Makes sense.
Interesting.
I had originally wanted to use the tree to get Wisdom bonuses, and thought of the bird as a bonus.
But it may well be worth deciding whether I want to actually USE the bird (get attack options) or just stick with the non-bird choices to buy my way to the WIS boosts.
Some of the options look worthwhile on their own....and I'm not sure there are any faster/cheaper ways to boost your WIS in another tree.

[FuzzyDuck81]

Interesting thing to note with the bird attacks is that the bird will attack whatever's hard targeted, which isn't necessarily what the linked physical attack will hit, assuming something is even in reach - so you can have the caster in the back selected for the bird to knock down or blind while hitting the enemy right in front of you with a +W attack.