1HD Brown Bear cub reasonable alternative animal companion for 4lvl Ranger? [Archive] - Wizards Community

1HD Brown Bear cub reasonable alternative animal companion for 4lvl Ranger? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
RecycledDM
06-26-06, 04:15 PM One of my players just became a 4th level ranger, and gained the animal companion ability. In-game, he has a potential opportunity to obtain a brown bear cub (not yet statted) for his animal companion...if I allow it.

This animal is not on the "approved RAW list" for a 4th level ranger (functionally equivalent to a 2nd level druid for animal companion selection); however, I see no problem with giving him this alternative animal, de-powered to say 1 HD. This would make the cub about equal to a badger, probably less powerful than a wolf (both of which ARE approved). Also, by the time the ranger gets to 8th level (like a 4th lvl druid for this ability), the animal could have grown to be about like a black bear (on the 4th lvl druid list)...at 14th level (like 7th lvl druid), we'll say the bear has grown to its own true full brown bear-ness (brown bear IS on the 7th level druid list).

Anyone see any problem with letting the ranger have the brown bear cub? Anything unbalancing that I'm overlooking?
moto
06-26-06, 05:19 PM nope, go a head. what are the stats going to be?
RecycledDM
06-27-06, 12:26 PM Said brown bear cub would be:

Size: Small
HD: 1d8
INIT: +1
Spd: 30'
AC:12 (+1 Size, +1 Dex); Touch: 12; FF: 11
BAB/Grap: +0/+0
ATKS: 2 Claws (+1, d4), 1 bite (-4, d3)
Sp/Rch: 5'/5'
SA: None
SQ: Low-light vision, scent
SV: Fort: +0, Ref: +2, Will: +1
Ab: Str 10, Dex 13, Con 11, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +4, Spot +4
Feats: Endurance, Run

For now, this animal would probably be more of a liability than an asset.

I could see it going up 1 HD for every 2 levels the ranger attains.

By the time the ranger got to 8th level, the bear would be statted very much like the Medium-sized, 3d8+6 HD, 19 Str / 15 Con Black Bear (and will get Track and +4 racial Swim bonus).

By 14th level, the bear would be a bona-fide, full-grown, Large-sized 6d8+24, 27 Str / 19 Con Brown Bear (and get Improved Grab).
Bladenite78
06-27-06, 02:14 PM I would say that's actually a little weak and definitely not imbalanced.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
RecycledDM 06-26-06, 04:15 PM	One of my players just became a 4th level ranger, and gained the animal companion ability. In-game, he has a potential opportunity to obtain a brown bear cub (not yet statted) for his animal companion...if I allow it. This animal is not on the "approved RAW list" for a 4th level ranger (functionally equivalent to a 2nd level druid for animal companion selection); however, I see no problem with giving him this alternative animal, de-powered to say 1 HD. This would make the cub about equal to a badger, probably less powerful than a wolf (both of which ARE approved). Also, by the time the ranger gets to 8th level (like a 4th lvl druid for this ability), the animal could have grown to be about like a black bear (on the 4th lvl druid list)...at 14th level (like 7th lvl druid), we'll say the bear has grown to its own true full brown bear-ness (brown bear IS on the 7th level druid list). Anyone see any problem with letting the ranger have the brown bear cub? Anything unbalancing that I'm overlooking?
moto 06-26-06, 05:19 PM	nope, go a head. what are the stats going to be?
RecycledDM 06-27-06, 12:26 PM	Said brown bear cub would be: Size: Small HD: 1d8 INIT: +1 Spd: 30' AC:12 (+1 Size, +1 Dex); Touch: 12; FF: 11 BAB/Grap: +0/+0 ATKS: 2 Claws (+1, d4), 1 bite (-4, d3) Sp/Rch: 5'/5' SA: None SQ: Low-light vision, scent SV: Fort: +0, Ref: +2, Will: +1 Ab: Str 10, Dex 13, Con 11, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6 Skills: Listen +4, Spot +4 Feats: Endurance, Run For now, this animal would probably be more of a liability than an asset. I could see it going up 1 HD for every 2 levels the ranger attains. By the time the ranger got to 8th level, the bear would be statted very much like the Medium-sized, 3d8+6 HD, 19 Str / 15 Con Black Bear (and will get Track and +4 racial Swim bonus). By 14th level, the bear would be a bona-fide, full-grown, Large-sized 6d8+24, 27 Str / 19 Con Brown Bear (and get Improved Grab).
Bladenite78 06-27-06, 02:14 PM	I would say that's actually a little weak and definitely not imbalanced.