Dire-wolves!

[blackninja9939]

We decided against having normal skinchanger companions as characters because unlike dragons they do not usually have multiple owners that they outlive instead they have one and will live for say 15 years, making them a character just adds that little bit more clutter that isn't needed.

 

[blackninja9939]

Actually, they do, Varamyr Sixskins stole most of his companions from other wargs. Like with dragons, being a warg would be being a "dragon rider", while having a pet, like Robb or Jeor Mormont would be having the animal as "friend". And about the clutter, that's why I only suggested Dire-wolves, not many of them around And yeah, they wouldn't live much, even though we do not know how long is a dire-wolf's life-span, that's why breeding them and actually instructing them would be important.


I meant tame as in the dragon taming mechanics, comparing it to the owner getting inside the animals body, not as in simply owning a pet.

Notice the bit where I said usually. Also the direwolves are never really said to be on the magic level or dragons. Just very large wolves who bond well with a person

 

[blackninja9939]

Hum, but currently almost no one seems to naturally get animal companions nor is the trait hereditary (as it should be to an extend).

The people who can get the traits are the old gods religions including beyond the wall with the addition of the farwynds and westfords.
Why would it be hereditary?

 

[blackninja9939]

Because what would the chances of all 5 of the children of a single family be wargs if it wasn't hereditary?

The chance is something known as they would be rather less interesting if they didn't, I 100% see that as GRRM needing a way to make them seem cooler so give them some semi magical-esque creatures like their sigil