Animal compainions not from the PHB [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animal compainions not from the PHB [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Thefurmonger
04-04-05, 12:33 AM Is there a list anywhere of at what LVL druids may take animals not in the PHB as companions? I'm mostly talking about the dire hawk from MMII but the question applies to all the other animals they have printed.

Thank you.
Perun
04-04-05, 02:23 AM Is there a list anywhere of at what LVL druids may take animals not in the PHB as companions? I'm mostly talking about the dire hawk from MMII but the question applies to all the other animals they have printed.

Thank you.

Dire hawk is covered in Races of the Wild. It can be taken at 4th druid level (effective druid level -3) if you're a raptoran (a new winged race presented in that book), or at 7th level (EDL-6) if you're of any other race.

Usually, it's relatively easy to determine at which druid level any given animal could be available as a companion. As animals don't have a great deal of special abilities, it's usually enough to compare the HD of the new animal to the HD of animal companions listed in the PH.

However, dire hawk has 5 HD, which puts it right in between the EDL-3 and EDL-6 groups. Dire bat is in the former (EDL-3) group. It has one less HD than the dire hawk, lower fly speed with better manoeuvreability, better land speed, higher Str and Con scores, and a better natural armour, plus blindsence special quality. it's also Large, and thus has a greater carrying capacity, and could be used as a mount by any core race.

I'd say the two are about the same, and a druid could take a dire hawk as his animal companion at 4th level (unless you use RotW in your game, in which you chould use the options presented in that book).
mermin_8403
04-04-05, 10:03 AM Is there a list anywhere of at what LVL druids may take animals not in the PHB as companions? I'm mostly talking about the dire hawk from MMII but the question applies to all the other animals they have printed.

IN most of the 3.5 books, if the animal is availiable, then there's a block at the end of the entry that says _____ as animal companions, and tells you what level they are availiable at. (See the dinosaurs in MMIII). MMII is 3.0, however so no dice there. But checking the 3.5 update might be worthwhile. (Of course, the fleshraker in MMIII just pounds all the other choices anyway).
Thefurmonger
04-04-05, 01:31 PM Thanks for the responceses guys ill take a look in races of the wild later today.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Thefurmonger 04-04-05, 12:33 AM	Is there a list anywhere of at what LVL druids may take animals not in the PHB as companions? I'm mostly talking about the dire hawk from MMII but the question applies to all the other animals they have printed. Thank you.
Perun 04-04-05, 02:23 AM	Is there a list anywhere of at what LVL druids may take animals not in the PHB as companions? I'm mostly talking about the dire hawk from MMII but the question applies to all the other animals they have printed. Thank you. Dire hawk is covered in Races of the Wild. It can be taken at 4th druid level (effective druid level -3) if you're a raptoran (a new winged race presented in that book), or at 7th level (EDL-6) if you're of any other race. Usually, it's relatively easy to determine at which druid level any given animal could be available as a companion. As animals don't have a great deal of special abilities, it's usually enough to compare the HD of the new animal to the HD of animal companions listed in the PH. However, dire hawk has 5 HD, which puts it right in between the EDL-3 and EDL-6 groups. Dire bat is in the former (EDL-3) group. It has one less HD than the dire hawk, lower fly speed with better manoeuvreability, better land speed, higher Str and Con scores, and a better natural armour, plus blindsence special quality. it's also Large, and thus has a greater carrying capacity, and could be used as a mount by any core race. I'd say the two are about the same, and a druid could take a dire hawk as his animal companion at 4th level (unless you use RotW in your game, in which you chould use the options presented in that book).
mermin_8403 04-04-05, 10:03 AM	Is there a list anywhere of at what LVL druids may take animals not in the PHB as companions? I'm mostly talking about the dire hawk from MMII but the question applies to all the other animals they have printed. IN most of the 3.5 books, if the animal is availiable, then there's a block at the end of the entry that says _____ as animal companions, and tells you what level they are availiable at. (See the dinosaurs in MMIII). MMII is 3.0, however so no dice there. But checking the 3.5 update might be worthwhile. (Of course, the fleshraker in MMIII just pounds all the other choices anyway).
Thefurmonger 04-04-05, 01:31 PM	Thanks for the responceses guys ill take a look in races of the wild later today.