Animal Companion [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animal Companion [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Earthcrosser599
02-17-08, 03:43 PM My Druid just hit level three and his companion has gained additional hit dice as per the PHB. Typically I don't use this class feature because I don't want to worry about an extra body, and I'm usually having more fun with the story than mechanics, so I have little experience with it. In this game, however, the other players are getting on my case about contributing to the party, so I'll try

I'm using a badger, but the Monster Manual says that the Badger only advances to 2 hit dice. Does this mean it only grows that big or does the Druid ability allow it to advance further? In the case that it does advance further, do I just advance it as an animal as per the Monster Manual?

Also, the DM says it always acts on my turn, but since it has its own initiative mod, should it be going on a turn of its own?

I also saw the Natural Bond feat from the Complete Adventurer, but someone told me that it has received some sort of errata. From what I read in the book, it would let me take one of the alternative animal companions in the PHB and effectively negate the -3 penalty for taking one of the ones from the 4th level or higher list, once I hit 4th level. Am I looking at that correctly?

In the event that we find excess magic items, or if I decide to use mine for the badger instead of me, can I equip it with things like Rings of Protection or Amulets of Natural Armor?
mathew99
02-17-08, 06:39 PM The natural bond feat only allows you to increase your lvl in druid or ranger or other class that gives an animal companion up to your maximum HD.
For example, a druid 5/MoMF 3 could take the natural bond feat to have his animal companion equal in power to that of a lvl 8 druid.
But, for a druid 5, the feat would have no effect at all because it cant increase your druid lvls beyond your character level.
the only exception to this rule is the ability from beastmaster.
dman11235
02-17-08, 06:50 PM Please check FAQ and such before posting. The first question has been answered there. Your AC does not gain size through the HD acquisition through the druid's AC. mathew99 answered the Natural bond question.

It is entirely up to you (or DM) when your AC acts. It can act either on your turn (to make combat run smoother) or on its own.
Earthcrosser599
02-17-08, 09:43 PM Thanks.

So pretty much the only way I'm going to make it more powerful is through buffing it because it's reached its max of 2 Hit Dice?
pigknight
02-17-08, 09:46 PM It gains extra hit dice, and you can give it items (picture a badger with bling and goggles).
dman11235
02-17-08, 10:00 PM It still gains HD, but those extra HD aren't going to increase its size. But buffing it is a really good way to get it realy powerful, and what you can't cover with buffs (some of which you can share with it, for when you are in wildshape) you can cover with items.
Earthcrosser599
02-18-08, 12:15 AM Oh, I see. When I said that was as big as it would get, I meant would it get any more powerful, not actually increasing its size category.

I had taken a level of Wizard and I was going to prestige into Arcane Hierophant and it looked like some of the Wizard buff spells worked well with it.
dman11235
02-18-08, 12:19 AM You have started in one of a powerful build. Make sure to take four mystic theurge levels to top off your spell casting. You should end up with wizard 3/druid 3/MT 4/Arcane Heirophant 10. 9th level spells in two classes.
Earthcrosser599
02-18-08, 12:46 AM I don't know if the game is going to last until 20th level but I'll write that down. Thanks for the help.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Earthcrosser599 02-17-08, 03:43 PM	My Druid just hit level three and his companion has gained additional hit dice as per the PHB. Typically I don't use this class feature because I don't want to worry about an extra body, and I'm usually having more fun with the story than mechanics, so I have little experience with it. In this game, however, the other players are getting on my case about contributing to the party, so I'll try I'm using a badger, but the Monster Manual says that the Badger only advances to 2 hit dice. Does this mean it only grows that big or does the Druid ability allow it to advance further? In the case that it does advance further, do I just advance it as an animal as per the Monster Manual? Also, the DM says it always acts on my turn, but since it has its own initiative mod, should it be going on a turn of its own? I also saw the Natural Bond feat from the Complete Adventurer, but someone told me that it has received some sort of errata. From what I read in the book, it would let me take one of the alternative animal companions in the PHB and effectively negate the -3 penalty for taking one of the ones from the 4th level or higher list, once I hit 4th level. Am I looking at that correctly? In the event that we find excess magic items, or if I decide to use mine for the badger instead of me, can I equip it with things like Rings of Protection or Amulets of Natural Armor?
mathew99 02-17-08, 06:39 PM	The natural bond feat only allows you to increase your lvl in druid or ranger or other class that gives an animal companion up to your maximum HD. For example, a druid 5/MoMF 3 could take the natural bond feat to have his animal companion equal in power to that of a lvl 8 druid. But, for a druid 5, the feat would have no effect at all because it cant increase your druid lvls beyond your character level. the only exception to this rule is the ability from beastmaster.
dman11235 02-17-08, 06:50 PM	Please check FAQ and such before posting. The first question has been answered there. Your AC does not gain size through the HD acquisition through the druid's AC. mathew99 answered the Natural bond question. It is entirely up to you (or DM) when your AC acts. It can act either on your turn (to make combat run smoother) or on its own.
Earthcrosser599 02-17-08, 09:43 PM	Thanks. So pretty much the only way I'm going to make it more powerful is through buffing it because it's reached its max of 2 Hit Dice?
pigknight 02-17-08, 09:46 PM	It gains extra hit dice, and you can give it items (picture a badger with bling and goggles).
dman11235 02-17-08, 10:00 PM	It still gains HD, but those extra HD aren't going to increase its size. But buffing it is a really good way to get it realy powerful, and what you can't cover with buffs (some of which you can share with it, for when you are in wildshape) you can cover with items.
Earthcrosser599 02-18-08, 12:15 AM	Oh, I see. When I said that was as big as it would get, I meant would it get any more powerful, not actually increasing its size category. I had taken a level of Wizard and I was going to prestige into Arcane Hierophant and it looked like some of the Wizard buff spells worked well with it.
dman11235 02-18-08, 12:19 AM	You have started in one of a powerful build. Make sure to take four mystic theurge levels to top off your spell casting. You should end up with wizard 3/druid 3/MT 4/Arcane Heirophant 10. 9th level spells in two classes.
Earthcrosser599 02-18-08, 12:46 AM	I don't know if the game is going to last until 20th level but I'll write that down. Thanks for the help.