Post/Author/DateTime	Post
malignor 01-27-06, 02:02 PM	I'm planning a build for a Wild Elf Ranger4/Sorcerer6/EldritchKnight10. Since I'm a 4th ranger, I get an animal companion (warhorse) and by virtue of my sorcerous power I also gain a familiar (raven or hawk). Now when I start levelling up as a non-sorcerer, my familiar no longer gets familiar powers, but it keeps inceasing HP, saves and skills along with me, so that's not a problem. The problem is my animal companion, which doesn't improve with me at all. It will sit there as a almost-normal horse (with share spells, empathic link and +1 trick) forever, and be horribly vulnerable. In fact, I see my guy going through horse-companions like socks unless I do something. I'm asking for some advice on what I can do to bolster an animal companion without changing my classes & level choices. What feats would help? Magic items? I need to boost the chances of my steed surviving more than 1 round in mid-to-high level combat.
Sly_Vans 01-27-06, 02:28 PM	One way to make your animal companion survive longer in battle is fx to buff it with spells like stoneskin. If u want to increase its lvl by taking a class i would look at the beast master PrC (CAdv) one lvl in this class improves your animal by 4 lvl´s.
¤†FlameKeeper†¤ 01-27-06, 03:03 PM	Maybe the Natural Bond feat on Complete Adventurer can help you...but not very much. It adds 3 to your druid level for anything regarding your animal companion, so you'll have the same horse of an 10° level ranger
ksbsnowowl 01-27-06, 03:24 PM	Do you really even want the animal companion? Or is this a matter of you not wanting to lose out and not use one of your class abilities? If it is that latter, think about taking a Ranger Substitution level. The 4th level Shooting Star Ranger sub level from Champions of Valor replaces your animal companion with a bonus ranger spell slot at each spell level (though you don't gain the later ones until 8th, etc, levels). But with your current build, thats still one extra spell slot.
Dracspero 01-27-06, 03:27 PM	Instead of a horse, get a dog to help with tracking and to be part of the night watch. As one of it's tricks, teach it to RUN AWAY :)
phelanarcetus 01-27-06, 04:22 PM	Here's an alternate concept. Make the animal companion just something of a scout. A bird of some sort. Take Improved Familiar, and use that as your mount. Instead of a raven (familiar) and a heavy warhorse (animal companion), have a raven (animal companion) and a worg (improved familiar). Or some other improved familiar. It will have better hp, pretty much the same AC (and just as easy to buff), shared saves, and so on. And while its attacks will be weak, it uses your attack bonus. In fact, cast a touch spell and designate the familiar to deliver it... then you charge with your spell-storing lance, that's a nice big hit, and the familiar attacks and releases that spell. The animal companion now keeps watch at night.
malignor 01-27-06, 04:24 PM	Actually, I'm going for the horse for mounted combat feats. Level 1 (Rgr1) = Power Attack, plus Track as Rgr Feat Level 3 (Rgr2/Src1) = Cleave, plus Two-Weapon-Fighting as Rgr Feat Level 6 (Rgr3/Src3) = Mounted Combat (I'll be using the "Mount" spell for now), plus Endurance as Rgr Feat Level 8 (Rgr4/Src4) = Animal Companion - Warhorse Level 9 (Rgr4/Src5) = Natural Bond (if complete adventurer is allowed by my DM) or Ride-by-attack (if not) Level 11 (Rgr4/Src6/EKt1) = Extended Spell (eldritch knight bonus feat) Level 12 (Rgr4/Src6/EKt2) = Ride-by-attack (if natural bond was selected) or Still Spell (if not) Level 15 (Rgr4/Src6/Ekt5) = Combat Reflexes Level 18 (Rgr4/Src6/Ekt8) = Spirited Charge With this list I figure I have 2 creatures I can share spells with like Mage Armor & False Life for 1 hr/level or until we part by more than 5'. Also great for spells like Polymorph, especially if mixed with Mirror Image (a virtual army of hydras or wyvern forms, 3 of which are real!) My general strategy is to use long-duration spells to empower myself and my familiar/animal companion, andconcentrate my magic on a mix of buffs, non-somatic combat spells (so I can wear armor w/ no worries of arcane failure) and basically make up for my lack of HP and slightly reduced BAB (3 less than a standard warrior class as of level 9) with magic. For example, I'll probably do alot of TrueStrike+fullpointPowerAttack tricks, especially if my animal companion (who, if I can advance his HD enough to take Power Attack) were polymorphed into, say, a Remorhaz. Then I can cast TrueStrike and my Remorhaz-shaped steed can do a full-power-attack for some nice damage, all in one round. Also, having spells like Chill Touch active while polymorphed into something like a Hydra can give me a nice edge. Even without all the polymorph-dependent strategies, Mixing buff spells and combat spells to add both flexibility and power to my fighting prowess can make a big difference. Even with just non-somatic spells like Blur, TrueStrike and Blind/Deaf, and my familiar & steed buffed with Mage Armor, False Life and Chill Touch doing the running around & fighting (while I concentrate of spells) will be, I find, a pretty nice character concept. Or I could engage in combat personally as cavalry and still do a fair bit of effect. ====== Final at level 20... BAB +17, Saves F13/R9/W9 extra feats (besides the 1/3HD), plus all martial WP and light AP special abilities (animal comp, familiar, wild empathy, favored enemy) Arcane Caster Level 15, Divine Caster Level 1 Base HP = 8+5d8+4d4+10d6+20(con) = average of 75.5+20(con) Skill = 54+4(int)Rgr+24+6(int)Scr+20+10(int)EKt = 98+23(int) skill points
Otto the Bugbear 01-27-06, 08:27 PM	With 4 ranger levels, you'll just end up having a better than average horse. One that you didn't pay for. One that you don't have to pay for again. And again. And again. One that only takes a day to replace, for free. Honestly, I really like phelanarcetus' idea. That'll keep your mount up in hit points, and still allow you're mounted feat set up to work. It will also protect your familiar a little bit by having a raven animal companion. Anyone with knowledge of wizards/sorcerers will be more likely to assume the raven is the familiar (read: target), and the horse is a horse. Very clever. Cheers Otto :)
Eital 01-27-06, 08:42 PM	Or, use a Wolf... if i'm not mistaken, wolfs, with the extra 2HD (no phb or mm at hand) will grow... that means large wolf, horse-sized wolf. Teach him "barding", and you've got yourself a pretty damn good "horse" for free, and it can trip :p Or, make yourself a halfling, that little eagle will grow to medium size... barding... mounted-flying halfling!!! :D
wizkid 01-27-06, 09:03 PM	You can also get some barding for it with a passive stone-skin or mage armor effect if your DM allows it. The stone-skin idea is pretty cool too, a horse that looks like it's made of stone. :cool: