"Petless" Druid? [Archive] - Wizards Community

"Petless" Druid? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
satanicway
03-22-07, 06:56 PM Im looking for a Official druid variation to play without animal companiom.
The cainpaing i play has no use to the companion, he will die often and be of little use.

I know about shapeshifter, but it didnt look that great.
Anyone knows any other? (book too plz)
Richmud
03-22-07, 07:22 PM Well from the SRD there is this: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#druidVariant DruidicAvenger

Which trades its companion and spontaneous summon spells for the ability to rage and +10 speed
*Slayer of Duelist*
03-22-07, 07:27 PM I know this suggestion isnt really petless but...

Complete mage does mention an elemental companion varient for the druid if I recall correctly...
satanicway
03-22-07, 07:30 PM That tradeoff is REALLY bad...

You cant cast spells wille in Rage, and you only get the basic rage with no improvement. The movement bonus is good, but dont justify the lost of spontanious summon plus companion.

Im looking for a fair trade =/ but i fear i will not be able to find one.
Richmud
03-22-07, 07:39 PM Im looking for a fair trade =/ but i fear i will not be able to find one.

I agree, the animal companion is usually a significant and powerful ability in what many consider an overpowered class, this means many of the exchanges will not be intended to be in your favor in terms of sheer power.
SilvercatMoonpaw
03-22-07, 08:19 PM "Distracting Attack" alternate class feature from the PHBII allows a ranger to attack a target with a ranged attack and then have them considered flanked by the ranger. They give up animal companion for this.

Another idea I have is a bit unsure:
One animal companion level seems to be equal to two familiar levels (Unearthed Arcana).
Familiars can be exchanged by specialist wizards for certain other scaling features: a shield resistant to energy damage, more rapid summoning, casting spells of a certain energy type as one level higher, better illusions, or the ability to add a + 2 enchancement bonus to an ability score for a few minutes. They can also grant a cohort or skeletal minion, but you sound as if you don't want to have to deal with any extra characters.
PHBII wizards and hexblades both also gain features for giving up a familiar: wizard gets a spell-like ability, hexblade gets a sort of mobile curse to use on enemies.
Nephlite
03-22-07, 08:21 PM Im looking for a Official druid variation to play without animal companiom.
The cainpaing i play has no use to the companion, he will die often and be of little use.

I know about shapeshifter, but it didnt look that great.
Anyone knows any other? (book too plz)

Why not use the Animal companion let it die and get around the next day. They are free and at no cost/penalty.

I mean, you do'nt lose anything like Familiars when they die.
SilvercatMoonpaw
03-22-07, 08:34 PM Why not use the Animal companion let it die and get around the next day. They are free and at no cost/penalty.

I mean, you do'nt lose anything like Familiars when they die.
I think he's asking about replacement class features, not just forgetting about bothering with an animal companion.
angryman
03-22-07, 09:03 PM I am actually quite lazy and haven't bothered getting the stats for my animal companion, even though I've played 4 sessions. I was tempted to get the rage ability from UA. However, with rage, you can also a) do more melee damage, b) not have to micromanage so much and c) qualify for rage feats such as intimidating rage.
deadman1204
03-23-07, 01:11 PM go find some barbarian cultures and get a gnome for your companion, what could be better?
RobbyPants
03-23-07, 01:16 PM I thought UA had a varient that let the druid just simply get a familiar instead, but you probably don't want this option (unless the "spy" function of a familiar would be useful in that campaign).

Otherwise, see if the DM is willing to let you trade in an animal companion for the Augment Summoning feat. I don't know if it's a perfect balance, but at least your summons would be more powerful to compensate for the lack of an animal companion.
Richmud
03-23-07, 02:50 PM I thought UA had a varient that let the druid just simply get a familiar instead, but you probably don't want this option (unless the "spy" function of a familiar would be useful in that campaign).

Other way around lets a wiz/sorc trade the familiar for 1/2 animal companion progression

See here: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#sorcererWiza rd
crimsonwolf
03-23-07, 03:20 PM how much do you use wildshape? there is a varient that trades in both the wild shap and the animal to just let you go a base animal find it in the phb2
enygmatic_me
03-23-07, 03:59 PM Instead of getting rid of the animal companion why not embrace it? Go for the gusto with a Druid/Wizard/Arcane Heirophant build.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
satanicway 03-22-07, 06:56 PM	Im looking for a Official druid variation to play without animal companiom. The cainpaing i play has no use to the companion, he will die often and be of little use. I know about shapeshifter, but it didnt look that great. Anyone knows any other? (book too plz)
Richmud 03-22-07, 07:22 PM	Well from the SRD there is this: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#druidVariant DruidicAvenger Which trades its companion and spontaneous summon spells for the ability to rage and +10 speed
Slayer of Duelist 03-22-07, 07:27 PM	I know this suggestion isnt really petless but... Complete mage does mention an elemental companion varient for the druid if I recall correctly...
satanicway 03-22-07, 07:30 PM	That tradeoff is REALLY bad... You cant cast spells wille in Rage, and you only get the basic rage with no improvement. The movement bonus is good, but dont justify the lost of spontanious summon plus companion. Im looking for a fair trade =/ but i fear i will not be able to find one.
Richmud 03-22-07, 07:39 PM	Im looking for a fair trade =/ but i fear i will not be able to find one. I agree, the animal companion is usually a significant and powerful ability in what many consider an overpowered class, this means many of the exchanges will not be intended to be in your favor in terms of sheer power.
SilvercatMoonpaw 03-22-07, 08:19 PM	"Distracting Attack" alternate class feature from the PHBII allows a ranger to attack a target with a ranged attack and then have them considered flanked by the ranger. They give up animal companion for this. Another idea I have is a bit unsure: One animal companion level seems to be equal to two familiar levels (Unearthed Arcana). Familiars can be exchanged by specialist wizards for certain other scaling features: a shield resistant to energy damage, more rapid summoning, casting spells of a certain energy type as one level higher, better illusions, or the ability to add a + 2 enchancement bonus to an ability score for a few minutes. They can also grant a cohort or skeletal minion, but you sound as if you don't want to have to deal with any extra characters. PHBII wizards and hexblades both also gain features for giving up a familiar: wizard gets a spell-like ability, hexblade gets a sort of mobile curse to use on enemies.
Nephlite 03-22-07, 08:21 PM	Im looking for a Official druid variation to play without animal companiom. The cainpaing i play has no use to the companion, he will die often and be of little use. I know about shapeshifter, but it didnt look that great. Anyone knows any other? (book too plz) Why not use the Animal companion let it die and get around the next day. They are free and at no cost/penalty. I mean, you do'nt lose anything like Familiars when they die.
SilvercatMoonpaw 03-22-07, 08:34 PM	Why not use the Animal companion let it die and get around the next day. They are free and at no cost/penalty. I mean, you do'nt lose anything like Familiars when they die. I think he's asking about replacement class features, not just forgetting about bothering with an animal companion.
angryman 03-22-07, 09:03 PM	I am actually quite lazy and haven't bothered getting the stats for my animal companion, even though I've played 4 sessions. I was tempted to get the rage ability from UA. However, with rage, you can also a) do more melee damage, b) not have to micromanage so much and c) qualify for rage feats such as intimidating rage.
deadman1204 03-23-07, 01:11 PM	go find some barbarian cultures and get a gnome for your companion, what could be better?
RobbyPants 03-23-07, 01:16 PM	I thought UA had a varient that let the druid just simply get a familiar instead, but you probably don't want this option (unless the "spy" function of a familiar would be useful in that campaign). Otherwise, see if the DM is willing to let you trade in an animal companion for the Augment Summoning feat. I don't know if it's a perfect balance, but at least your summons would be more powerful to compensate for the lack of an animal companion.
Richmud 03-23-07, 02:50 PM	I thought UA had a varient that let the druid just simply get a familiar instead, but you probably don't want this option (unless the "spy" function of a familiar would be useful in that campaign). Other way around lets a wiz/sorc trade the familiar for 1/2 animal companion progression See here: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#sorcererWiza rd
crimsonwolf 03-23-07, 03:20 PM	how much do you use wildshape? there is a varient that trades in both the wild shap and the animal to just let you go a base animal find it in the phb2
enygmatic_me 03-23-07, 03:59 PM	Instead of getting rid of the animal companion why not embrace it? Go for the gusto with a Druid/Wizard/Arcane Heirophant build.