Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ZenZ 12-11-04, 01:02 AM	So we have a Ranger Druid in our campaign and he has two animal companions. His first he achieved as a Ranger (a fiesty badger) and the second he picked up as a Druid (an owl). Now we did some adapting from 3.0 to 3.5 and I think something was missed. The player points out that it states that a Druid companion stacks with a Ranger companion and he belives that his two animal allies should be slightly tougher. Currently he is Ranger 7th and Druid 4th. Since I misread the rule I'm willing to make a change but his seems like double dipping to me. After reading the section over I believe that he should have just one companion that accounts for both classes (a single tougher creature). How do you understand this rule? Has this happend to any of you? If so how do you suggest we fix this event?
strenoth 12-11-04, 01:08 AM	actually, in 3.5, it's ONE ability that stacks. So he gets 1 animal companion. But then onto that one companion, you add the levels as stated in the book/SRD
Lawrence 12-11-04, 01:08 AM	you have ONE animal companion of which benefits from the stacked levels of your ranger and druid. Rangers have less effective 'druid' levels when it comes to enhancing their friend, so in essence, a ranger/druid companion is in between a ranger companion and druid companion. However, if the DM lets you, you can technically have more than one companion, but you split your bonuses between them (so one could get X many levels worth, and the other gets X many, etc). I would not recommend more than two companions, assuming they're compatible with the ranger/druid and campaign. otherwise, normal rulings say you have just one animal companion.
Shadowfax7 12-11-04, 01:15 AM	Which means that Animal Companion would be the equivalent of a 7th level Druid's companion (1/2 the Ranger's levels, rounded down, and the Druid's levels). However, If I was you I would allow the player to choose whether he kept the 2 companions he has (at their respective weaker levels) or go for the 1 stronger companion.
sulthon 12-30-04, 12:02 PM	i'm somewhat confused - in the SRD, it says "Animal Companion: The Druid’s animal companion continues to increase in power. Every three levels higher than 20th the animal companion gains 2 bonus hit dice, +1 strength and dexterity, and an additional trick. " however, for the Epic Druid, in the DMG 3.5, pg 208, it says, and i quote: "Animal Companion: The druid may have a maximum number of animal companions equal to twice her class level, as normal" is this errata in the DMG? I was under the impression that the druid/ranger could only have 1 companion - as was mentioned above. There is obviously a conflict between that and the DMG.
ZenZ 12-30-04, 09:19 PM	I have had the PC read these posts and I shall let him choose to either keep the 2 animal companions or set one free and have the other "beef up". so far the party is facing pretty tough creatures and so he uses his companions as camp guards and scouts rather than fellow combatants.