Post/Author/DateTime	Post
malignor 11-02-05, 01:02 AM	Okay you look at the book rules under the Druid, and the Paladin and the Sorcerer/Wizard... you se the regular advancement of the critter in question... But here's a thought. They are considered to be Magical Beasts. They get more HD as you level up. So... do they get more feats as the "level up" with you, as per the Monster Manual under "Magical Beasts"? So... do they get a stat point every 4th HD? So... do they get skill points as set down in the Monster Manual under "Magical Beasts"? ... why or why not?
malignor 11-02-05, 10:34 AM	:confused: I put this question to you because I honestly wonder if a familiar, special mount or animal companion should get feats and skills as they gain HD (as per monster advancement by HD). If so, don't familiars become a little... powerful?
MisterH 11-02-05, 11:23 AM	Familiars: They do not receive bonus hit dice, so they do not advance in HD at all. Animal Companions: They get feats and all as per the last sentence. Bonus HD: Extra eight-sided (d8) Hit Dice, each of which gains a Constitution modifier, as normal. Remember that extra Hit Dice improve the animal companion’s base attack and base save bonuses. An animal companion’s base attack bonus is the same as that of a druid of a level equal to the animal’s HD. An animal companion has good Fortitude and Reflex saves (treat it as a character whose level equals the animal’s HD). An animal companion gains additional skill points and feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster’s Hit Dice. Paladin's Mount: Pretty much identical to the Animal Companion. Bonus HD: Extra eight-sided (d8) Hit Dice, each of which gains a Constitution modifier, as normal. Extra Hit Dice improve the mount’s base attack and base save bonuses. A special mount’s base attack bonus is equal to that of a cleric of a level equal to the mount’s HD. A mount has good Fortitude and Reflex saves (treat it as a character whose level equals the animal’s HD). The mount gains additional skill points or feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster’s Hit Dice. Looking at these things, the only question of yours that isn't directly answered is that of the +1 Attribute/4 HD question. For the answer to this, we look to the "Improving Monsters" Section. Ability Score Improvement: Treat monster Hit Dice the same as character level for determining ability score increases. This only applies to Hit Dice increases, monsters do not gain ability score increases for levels they “already reached” with their racial Hit Dice, since these adjustments are included in their basic ability scores So, if you have a 6 HD Animal Companion and you increase its HD by 2, it will gain a +1 to any one attribute. Does that help?
mushraeddur 11-02-05, 06:06 PM	because the familiar's hitpoints are based on your hitpoints (1/2 yours), they do not progress by HD. Therefore, no special abilities for more HD. i'm looking all over for feats i can take to make my familiar better/stronger. i've found a few helpful feats, but nothing has stuck out much. i'd like to find and/or create a PrC that is based on a more advanced familiar...but not much luck there.
Wookie1120 11-02-05, 06:14 PM	because the familiar's hitpoints are based on your hitpoints (1/2 yours), they do not progress by HD. Therefore, no special abilities for more HD. i'm looking all over for feats i can take to make my familiar better/stronger. i've found a few helpful feats, but nothing has stuck out much. i'd like to find and/or create a PrC that is based on a more advanced familiar...but not much luck there. check out "complete warrior" and it's guardian familiars.
mushraeddur 11-04-05, 11:59 PM	check out "complete warrior" and it's guardian familiars. Ok, ok, there are some exceptions. :P I forgot about the guardian familiars, as I was thinking of standard familiars. This is a good way to get familiars greatly improved...don't you have to have some levels in a "fighter" type class or something to get them? I didn't care much for the guardian familiars myself, but I could see where some would find them very useful.