Animal Companions for Rangers - Is this right? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animal Companions for Rangers - Is this right? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ChrisSuch
06-12-05, 12:37 AM Hiya,

I have been looking at rangers recently and their animal companions in particular and want to make sure I am doing something right.

The Ranger is 8th level giving an effective level for animal companions of 4.

I selected a Wolf which is a 2 HD creature. Because of the Rangers level the wolf also gets: +2 HD, +2 Natural Armour, +1 STR/DEX, 2 Extra tricks, Link, Share Spells & Evasion.

So far so good.

The thing is that when the wolf is improved to a total of 4HD then it goes from Medium to Large.

According to page 291 of the MM this gives +8 STR, -2 DEX, +4 CON, +2 Natural armour and -1 AC/Attack.

Doing this in e-tools also gives it a few extra skill points and an additional feat.

Now, I can't see anything that says I am wrong but I had throught I had better check I was doing the right thing.

Cheers, Chris.
Shadowfax7
06-12-05, 01:34 AM An advanced Wolf and an Animal Companion wolf given the advanced benefits of being an Animal Companion are not the same thing.

Animal Companions only get the benefits listed.
Lord Schpungus
06-12-05, 12:13 PM Go read yourself the FAQ. No, it specifically does not grow in size from bonus Hit Dice.
gibbie99
06-12-05, 12:59 PM I've read the FAQ, that seems right. What about feats and so forth? For example, one of my players is a 7th level druid, he picked a brown-bear animal companion. Then he choose 3 feats for it, since it has 6 hit dice. I don't interpret the rules that way, but if there was an official source it would be nice.

Further, advancing animal companions, when they get more hit dice, their BAB, feats and skills improve, right? So the same brown bear, when the druid is level 11 (+4 levels), would have 10 hit dice, so would get additional feats? I think that's fair and reasonable; if anyone has different opinion or official decree please let me know.

Rob
DwarvinJedi
06-12-05, 02:53 PM I've read the FAQ, that seems right. What about feats and so forth? For example, one of my players is a 7th level druid, he picked a brown-bear animal companion. Then he choose 3 feats for it, since it has 6 hit dice. I don't interpret the rules that way, but if there was an official source it would be nice.

Further, advancing animal companions, when they get more hit dice, their BAB, feats and skills improve, right? So the same brown bear, when the druid is level 11 (+4 levels), would have 10 hit dice, so would get additional feats? I think that's fair and reasonable; if anyone has different opinion or official decree please let me know.

Rob

Yes, they get Feats, Skills, BAB, everything except for the size increase(think of them increasing in level, not HD)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ChrisSuch 06-12-05, 12:37 AM	Hiya, I have been looking at rangers recently and their animal companions in particular and want to make sure I am doing something right. The Ranger is 8th level giving an effective level for animal companions of 4. I selected a Wolf which is a 2 HD creature. Because of the Rangers level the wolf also gets: +2 HD, +2 Natural Armour, +1 STR/DEX, 2 Extra tricks, Link, Share Spells & Evasion. So far so good. The thing is that when the wolf is improved to a total of 4HD then it goes from Medium to Large. According to page 291 of the MM this gives +8 STR, -2 DEX, +4 CON, +2 Natural armour and -1 AC/Attack. Doing this in e-tools also gives it a few extra skill points and an additional feat. Now, I can't see anything that says I am wrong but I had throught I had better check I was doing the right thing. Cheers, Chris.
Shadowfax7 06-12-05, 01:34 AM	An advanced Wolf and an Animal Companion wolf given the advanced benefits of being an Animal Companion are not the same thing. Animal Companions only get the benefits listed.
Lord Schpungus 06-12-05, 12:13 PM	Go read yourself the FAQ. No, it specifically does not grow in size from bonus Hit Dice.
gibbie99 06-12-05, 12:59 PM	I've read the FAQ, that seems right. What about feats and so forth? For example, one of my players is a 7th level druid, he picked a brown-bear animal companion. Then he choose 3 feats for it, since it has 6 hit dice. I don't interpret the rules that way, but if there was an official source it would be nice. Further, advancing animal companions, when they get more hit dice, their BAB, feats and skills improve, right? So the same brown bear, when the druid is level 11 (+4 levels), would have 10 hit dice, so would get additional feats? I think that's fair and reasonable; if anyone has different opinion or official decree please let me know. Rob
DwarvinJedi 06-12-05, 02:53 PM	I've read the FAQ, that seems right. What about feats and so forth? For example, one of my players is a 7th level druid, he picked a brown-bear animal companion. Then he choose 3 feats for it, since it has 6 hit dice. I don't interpret the rules that way, but if there was an official source it would be nice. Further, advancing animal companions, when they get more hit dice, their BAB, feats and skills improve, right? So the same brown bear, when the druid is level 11 (+4 levels), would have 10 hit dice, so would get additional feats? I think that's fair and reasonable; if anyone has different opinion or official decree please let me know. Rob Yes, they get Feats, Skills, BAB, everything except for the size increase(think of them increasing in level, not HD)