Animal companion progression questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animal companion progression questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rheitheillaethor
12-15-05, 04:03 AM I'd like some help on druidic animal companion abilities progression.
When a druid animal companion gains bonus HD based on its master's level, does it also gain ability score improvement as a monster (as explained in MM page 290) in addition to the Str/Dex adjustment that it may gain?
For example:
We have a 4 level druid with a wolf animal companion. Are all of the following facts true?
1) The wolf gains a +2 HD, and becomes a 4HD animal.
2) The wolf gains 1 feat (because of going from 2 to 3 HD).
3) The wolf gains 2 skill points (2+Int minimum 1 for each additional HD)
4) The wolf gains +2 natural AC, +1 dex/str, 1 bonus trick and evasion (as the standard druid progression).
5) The wolf gains 1 ability score improvement in any ability score for reaching 4HD.

Thanks
Pliskit
12-15-05, 05:08 AM Wars have been started on this subject...

The most used argument against it, if I remember correctly, was that the statbonuses are only temporary empowerments as long as the animal stays in the druids service and thus are no REAL improvements.

The most used argument in defense was that this is not literarily stated anywhere so the animal companion bonuses ARE permanent and WILL cause natural statimprovements as well per the raise in HD.
Thorak
12-15-05, 07:45 AM Wars have been started on this subject...

The most used argument against it, if I remember correctly, was that the statbonuses are only temporary empowerments as long as the animal stays in the druids service and thus are no REAL improvements.
Which is correct. The animal companion class ability of the Druid grants the animal bonus HD. Bonus, as in, not actual.

Without the Druid's class ability, the animal is still the same creature it always was.
The most used argument in defense was that this is not literarily stated anywhere so the animal companion bonuses ARE permanent and WILL cause natural statimprovements as well per the raise in HD.
This is a silly argument, frankly, not that you're actually making it. It doesn't literally state anywhere that Humans can't fire laser beams from their eyes, but that doesn't mean they can. It calls them "bonus" HD, and that cinches it for me; they're no more permanent than any other bonus in D&D; they exist only so long as the triggering element, the Druid's Animal Companion class abilty, is affecting that target.

Otherwise, you'd get high level druids who'd spend several months taking as many animals into their service as possible, and then releasing them, and training them normally, so they could have hundreds of full-power animal companions. Which is ridiculous, and clearly contrary to how the animal companion feature is worded.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rheitheillaethor 12-15-05, 04:03 AM	I'd like some help on druidic animal companion abilities progression. When a druid animal companion gains bonus HD based on its master's level, does it also gain ability score improvement as a monster (as explained in MM page 290) in addition to the Str/Dex adjustment that it may gain? For example: We have a 4 level druid with a wolf animal companion. Are all of the following facts true? 1) The wolf gains a +2 HD, and becomes a 4HD animal. 2) The wolf gains 1 feat (because of going from 2 to 3 HD). 3) The wolf gains 2 skill points (2+Int minimum 1 for each additional HD) 4) The wolf gains +2 natural AC, +1 dex/str, 1 bonus trick and evasion (as the standard druid progression). 5) The wolf gains 1 ability score improvement in any ability score for reaching 4HD. Thanks
Pliskit 12-15-05, 05:08 AM	Wars have been started on this subject... The most used argument against it, if I remember correctly, was that the statbonuses are only temporary empowerments as long as the animal stays in the druids service and thus are no REAL improvements. The most used argument in defense was that this is not literarily stated anywhere so the animal companion bonuses ARE permanent and WILL cause natural statimprovements as well per the raise in HD.
Thorak 12-15-05, 07:45 AM	Wars have been started on this subject... The most used argument against it, if I remember correctly, was that the statbonuses are only temporary empowerments as long as the animal stays in the druids service and thus are no REAL improvements. Which is correct. The animal companion class ability of the Druid grants the animal bonus HD. Bonus, as in, not actual. Without the Druid's class ability, the animal is still the same creature it always was. The most used argument in defense was that this is not literarily stated anywhere so the animal companion bonuses ARE permanent and WILL cause natural statimprovements as well per the raise in HD. This is a silly argument, frankly, not that you're actually making it. It doesn't literally state anywhere that Humans can't fire laser beams from their eyes, but that doesn't mean they can. It calls them "bonus" HD, and that cinches it for me; they're no more permanent than any other bonus in D&D; they exist only so long as the triggering element, the Druid's Animal Companion class abilty, is affecting that target. Otherwise, you'd get high level druids who'd spend several months taking as many animals into their service as possible, and then releasing them, and training them normally, so they could have hundreds of full-power animal companions. Which is ridiculous, and clearly contrary to how the animal companion feature is worded.