Post/Author/DateTime	Post
mystic1110 04-14-04, 03:53 PM	im just starting to play in a campaigne my friend is making and im going to be a halfling druid what animal conpainon should i get.
TerrickTerran 04-14-04, 04:20 PM	Wolves are good at first level.
Mirror, Mirror 04-14-04, 04:25 PM	Originally posted by TerrickTerran Wolves are good at first level. Especially since a Halfling can ride it as a mount!
MattMart 04-14-04, 04:33 PM	remember!!! having an animal companion does not allow it to do anything that it could not ordinarily do....like accept a rider...do anything on command (including attack and guard)...hunt for its master...fetch items....etc..... these are tricks that the druid needs to teach the animal....
Silviaj 04-14-04, 04:41 PM	Halfling? Level 1? 3.5 edition? I'd go with either a riding dog or a wolf. Being small and having a medium sized companion gives you the option of being mounted. I have a technical question for anyone out there: Companion advancement (3.5): As a druid (or ranger) gains in levels, his companion gains bonuses. My question is regarding the bonus Hit Dice. In the sidebar of pg. 36 of the PH: "Remember that extra Hit Dice improve the animal's base attack and save bonuses... An animal companion gains additional points and feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster's Hit Dice (see the Monster Manual )." Three issues: 1) The MM only seems to allow for a certain number of bonus HD. Take, for example, the eagle: "Advancement: 2-3 HD (Medium)" If the eagle can only advance to 3 HD, how does one figure in the massive bonuses such as +12 HD bonus at Druid Level 18? 2) The MM mentions in some cases a physical size change with the addition of HD. Refering to the above eagle example, does this mean a Level 3 Druid can have a Medium-sized eagle companion? If so, what happens after the third HD? 3) In the specific case of the aforementioned eagle, there happens to be a monster entry in the main section of the MM for a 4 HD Giant Eagle, a Large Magical Beast. Is it feasible that at 4 HD an eagle could become this? Advancement here allows for up to 12 HD. Would appreciate some answers, thanks.
Polaris 04-14-04, 04:54 PM	Guys, For an animal companion, wolves kick ass. They really do. I would start with Animal Handling so I could fill in all the tricks (6 for a wolf). I would also remind you that when you get to third level as a Druid, the wolf gains two hit-dice which counts as standard animal advancement. This not only gives him extra saves, bab, and hit points, but also gives him an extra attribute bonus and feat as well. It also transforms the wolf into a large creature. Thus at third level, the wolf gains a massive boost and actually becomes a better fighter than most actual fighters up until about 7th level (and you get this at third). -Polaris
tasslehoff220 04-14-04, 05:21 PM	Actually the hit-dice that the wolf gains by being an animal companion can not cause it to change size.
Polaris 04-14-04, 05:29 PM	tasselhof, I don't think you are right. In fact I am sure of it. The hit-dice section under Druid Animal Companion explicitly states that the animal uses this hit-dice to advance per the Monster Manual....and that means an increase in size. The old (3.0) Paladin Mount had that restriction explicitly written in, but it isn't true here. -Polaris
tasslehoff220 04-14-04, 05:46 PM	I understand why you would not want to accept the first part of this response but I shall explain it anyway. I had this argument with a friend of mine a while ago and eventually I found a faq about it which did state that the animal does not grow as it gains hit-dice from druid level. I don't want to search for the faq right now because as you probably realize this is a very large forum. I searched for it for 10 minutes before posting this but am not willing to spend any more time on it right now. The other thing you should take into account is the exact phrasing of aniimal companions. It says "Use the base statistics for a creature of the companion's kind, as given in the Monster Manual, but make the following changes." Under Bonus Hit dice it mentions saves skills and feats but not size. Size is one of the wolf's base statistics.
Bearhino 04-14-04, 05:48 PM	Polaris, I'm sorry to say you're wrong. At least in 3.5. This has come up multiple times before and the word is that they do not gain size. I think its in the Faq (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20030221a)
Krelios 04-14-04, 05:49 PM	Check the FAQ. Animal Companions advance normally except for size. They do NOT get larger.
Polaris 04-14-04, 07:14 PM	Guys, Sorry, but that's not what the rules say. The rules say (and they were quoted here) that the animal companion advances per the Monster Manual and that includes size because it was not explicitly excluded. What you are talking about is errata and thus citing the FAQ is irrelevant and unofficial. [WOTC should learn the difference between FAQ and Errata....pet peeve.] So in short, by the RAW I am right. -Polaris
tasslehoff220 04-14-04, 07:26 PM	Originally posted by Polaris Guys, Sorry, but that's not what the rules say. The rules say (and they were quoted here) that the animal companion advances per the Monster Manual and that includes size because it was not explicitly excluded. What you are talking about is errata and thus citing the FAQ is irrelevant and unofficial. [WOTC should learn the difference between FAQ and Errata....pet peeve.] So in short, by the RAW I am right. -Polaris No, you are wrong. First of all you are refusing to accept the OFFICIAL faq that gives the answer to the rule in question. That is the point of WOTC creating an official faq. To answer the frequently asked questions. This is NOT errata that we are talking about. Second of all I quoted the players handbook explicitly when I said: " The other thing you should take into account is the exact phrasing of aniimal companions. It says "Use the base statistics for a creature of the companion's kind, as given in the Monster Manual, but make the following changes." Under Bonus Hit dice it mentions saves skills and feats but not size. Size is one of the wolf's base statistics." It says that the extra hit dice grant skills feats BAB and saves. It does not say anything about size. In fact it says to use the base statistics for the wolf except where otherwise noted. Size is one of he base statistics. The noted abilities are skills, feats, saves and BAB. It explicitly says this in the players handbook under animal companions. Thus whether or not you want to accept the OFFICIAL FAQ, you are still wrong because thats what the rules say.
Polaris 04-14-04, 07:30 PM	Tasselhoff, I don't accept the FAQ because the writers of the FAQ exceeded their authority. Simple as that. The rule is quite clear. The bonus hit-dice advance the animal in the normal way per the Monster Manual. That includes bonus attribute points, feats, skills, bab, saves, and size increases as appropriate. Anything other than that is a change in the written rule and is thus errata and beyond the scope of the FAQ....making it unofficial by definition. Thus according to the RAW I am right. Now, I would use the restriction too if I DM, but that is a houserule. Simple as that. -Polaris
Bearhino 04-14-04, 07:31 PM	Crap Tassle beat me too it.
Bearhino 04-14-04, 07:39 PM	Thus according to the RAW I am right. Now, I would use the restriction too if I DM, but that is a houserule. Simple as that. Did you even read what Tass put? According to the RAW you are not right. Quoting the PHB, as Tass did, shows that you are making an assumption. Pg36: Use the base statistics for a creature of the companion's kind, as given in the Monster Manual, but make the following changes. So far so good, we get the size here when we get our base companion, now this is before any Bonus HD. Under "Bonus HD": An animal companion gains additional skill points and feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster's Hit Dice (see the Monster Manual) Notice it mentions only the skills and feats advancing as normal, not the size. In fact, size is not specifically mentioned under "Bonus HD." You were assuming they meant size too, but it is not said in the RAW rules as you put. If I am missing something, please quote it with page reference, so as I can be corrected.
Polaris 04-14-04, 07:44 PM	Bearhino, The rule gives a reference for how to use the extra hit-dice....the Monster Manual. It notes (which is not the same as saying this is exclusive) that this will include extra Bab and Hit-dice. When you advance an animal, you increase it's size as appropriate unless the written rule explicitly dictates differently. The RAW did this in 3.0 w/r/t Paladin mounts and does so w/r/t Familiars (which get a different type anyway). Furthermore in every other case where hit-dice is gained and size is not (such as Awaken) this is explicitly stated. Since it is not in this case, you have to include it by the RAW. That is what the reference to the Monster Manual means. Anything else is errata and has no place in the FAQ and I refuse to accept it on that basis (and I am correct in doing so). -Polaris
Bearhino 04-14-04, 07:50 PM	The rule gives reference to using the monster manual during HD advancement when concerning skills and feats. They did not say "Advance as in Monster Manual, especially skills and feats" they said "An animal companion gains additional skill points and feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster's Hit Dice (see the Monster Manual)." Those are two very different sentences, and they don't have the same meaning. If you wish, I can put the entire "Bonus HD" section, and you can show me where I'm wrong. The rule might not be crystal clear, but it is still an assumption to include size.
Polaris 04-14-04, 07:53 PM	Bearhino, Your own quote instructs the player to advance the animal per the Monster Manual. It is not an exclusive rule. Anything else is errata. -Polaris
Bearhino 04-14-04, 08:10 PM	I'm beginning to believe you only hear what you want to hear, and block out all else. I've already explained that the wording as-read does not mean what you are saying it does, but you either are not understanding or are opting to not respond. I'm not sure of a clearer way I can say it.
Wolfram_and_Hart 04-14-04, 08:11 PM	The only way a Druid can increase the size of his animal companion is with the spell Animal Growth. Animal companions do not increase in size because of level or hit dice. A Wolf can only be so big unless it is Dire, or Legendary.
tasslehoff220 04-14-04, 08:35 PM	Polaris: As bearhino said you are not reading the posts that we are responding to you with so I am going to be very short and concise to spell it out for you. First QUOTING HERE: "Use the base statistics for a creature of the companion's kind, as given in the Monster Manual, but make the following changes." Size is a base statistic. Under Bonus hit dice it specifically says raise saves, skills, BAB, and feats. It does NOT mention size. Therefore since size is not mentioned it is not one of the following changes and you must use the base statistics for size. Therefore Size does not change. (If it helps you can think of it like character levels, a wolf with extra character levels would have extra hitdice, Skills, feats, and BAB but would not grow in size.) Secondly, you don't seem to understand what the official FAQ is. It is an explaination of the rules as they are which is official and correct and is written in response to numerous people asking a question about said rules. We seem to have a disagreement about what is meant by the letter of the law in terms of the rules. Enough people ask the question so they give the answer. Not errata but what is meant by the rule as it is. Thus a FAQ tells you what the rules mean. It does not change them from how they are written. Errata is for that. Because of this the OFFICIAL FAQ that you don't seem to want to accept is actually what the rules mean whether or not you are willing to believe it.
MattMart 04-14-04, 08:36 PM	the wording in and of itself can obviously be taken in more than one way...i understand how polaris can see what he saw...but i can also understand the argument otherwise...because it specifically states "skill points and feats" it would seem like they are saying only skills and feats....however, on the other hand it does not say that size isnt increased....i agree that for clarity sake (not changing the rules sake because they obviously havnt changed the rule) they should have thrown in the word "only"...but that is what the FAQ is there for, to clarify lines which obviously can be taken more than one way... this line....as you can see...can be taken more than one way... the FAQ tells us which way is the right way... hence the rules arent changed....they are clarified... all hail the mighty FAQ...
tasslehoff220 04-14-04, 08:45 PM	Thank you, that was very well put.
Thorak 04-14-04, 10:16 PM	Just to throw my hat in the ring to support the fight; The line in question is; An animal companion gains additional skill points and feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster's Hit Dice. And, like everyone else, I'll break it down. "The animal companion . . ." So far so good. We know what we're talking about. ". . . gains additional skill points and feats . . ." This is specific. The AC gains skill points, and it gains feats. It gains nothing else in this way unless specified elsewhere. And size is not mentioned anywhere. " . . . for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster's Hit Dice." So, you adjust skills and feats, and skills and feats alone, as you would for a normal monster. Though it elsewhere, also specifically, states that you improve the BAB and saves as well. But there is absolutely no way to interpret that sentence to mean you advance everything as per the MM. At least, not according to the grammatical rules of American, Canadian, or British English. It's specific; it specifies two things that are affected by the final clause, that being to adjust the terms it refers to (skill points and feats) by the normal rules in the MM. There's no room to fit size in there.
Conaill 04-15-04, 01:05 AM	Hi all! Feel free to drop by the Awakened Animals thread (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=213092) to discuss this further. I've tried to formalize the Awaken rules by writing it out as a full-fledged template. Forces me to be very explicit about stuff like HD size (stays at d8, not d10) etc. For what it's worth, I'm in the no-size-increase camp. The rules as written are NOT clear on this point. In fact, there are a number of different places in the rules where creatures get extra HD and they're rarely consistent. I made the judgement call to follow the animal companion example and not grant a size increase. Just doesn't make sense to me that an awakened animal would suddenly look dramatically different. It also drastically simplifies CR and LA calculation.
Polaris 04-15-04, 01:08 AM	Thorak, Here is the entry in toto: Bonus HD: Extra eight-sided (d8) Hit Dice, each of which gains a constitution modifier, as normal. Remember that extra Hit Dice improve the animal companion's base attack and base save bonuses. An animal companion's base attack bonus is the same as that of a druid of a level equal to the animal HD. An animal companion has good Fortitude and Reflex saves (treat as a character whose level equals the animal's HD). An animal companion gains additional skill points and feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster's Hit Dice (see the Monster Manual). The rules don't exclude a size increase and otherwise instruct you to use the exact same advancement scheme found in the Monster Manual. Ergo the animal companion gets a size increse by the RAW. Admittedly that is an implication, but it is a straight line one based on the rules of standard english. The FAQ had no authority to change that because such a change is errata (because it changes the above quoted rule). -Polaris
TaisharMalkier 04-15-04, 01:19 AM	Zug Zug. "The rules don't exclude a size increase and otherwise instruct you to use the exact same advancement scheme found in the Monster Manual. Ergo the animal companion gets a size increse by the RAW. Admittedly that is an implication, but it is a straight line one based on the rules of standard english. The FAQ had no authority to change that because such a change is errata (because it changes the above quoted rule)." Firstly, the change is a FAQ, because it does not change current rules. That is the definition of a FAQ - a rule that wasn't clearly defined, but remains unchanged. Erratta is something that was defined, but changed for balance or other reasons (AKA Shapechange). It specifically notes what changes for your animal companion. Anything else you do is a house rule. You only do what the PHB says - it dosen't say anywhere that my Fighter dosen't get spells, so he must get them. If he continues to argue, I reccomend everyone not feed the trolls, and simply leave the thread alone, as logic can not prevail against a mind closed to all other opinions. Cheers
Polaris 04-15-04, 01:24 AM	Taishar, It is not "trollish" to insist that FAQ only clarify rules and not make new ones. We all know (or should know) that WOTC is very bad about that. I agree from a balance perspective that an animal companion shouldn't get a size increase, but that is not what the rules say. When you advance a creature and you are referred to the rules to do so, anything that is not explicitly excluded is by definition included. Thus by the RAW the animal gets a size increase. Anything else is errata and/or a house rule. -Polaris
Bearhino 04-15-04, 01:28 AM	I'm not sure I'll keep trying, but lets at least give it one more shot: Ergo the animal companion gets a size increse by the RAW. Admittedly that is an implication, but it is a straight line one based on the rules of standard english. First off, what you're saying is AGAINST the rules of standard english, but letting that slide: By your own words you just said that it is an assumption. Whether it is logical or not does not matter. By admitting that your way of thinking is not written, but implied, you give way that the rule COULD go either way, in which case a FAQ would be the name of the game. Not eratta.
Polaris 04-15-04, 01:37 AM	Bearhino, Not really. If I drop a hammer off the side of a cliff, I don't have to see it to know that it hit the ground. The same applies here. If you are refered to a rule set for advancing an animal (like some PRCs refer to sorcerer progressions for example when advancing spellcasting), then anything not explicitly excluded is included. That is implication. It is also using RAW. -Polaris
Bearhino 04-15-04, 01:53 AM	Well for one, you don't know it hit the ground. Its possible it hit something, or got caught on a ledge. Its your assumption that it hit the ground. This however is a moot point. The PHP clearly states that for certain aspects of bonus hd, you look at the monster manual. After that, it can not be determined with 100% knowledge what happens to other aspects. Thus a FAQ fills in the missing details. Maybe the problem of our discussion is we simply aren't being clear to each other. You used an example, I guess I'll give it a try. Consider two pool balls, the 8 and the 2. Now lets set some aspects of the pool balls to be: Shape, Size, and Color. Here comes the statement: When considering shape and size of the 8 ball, refer to the 2. From this statement, we know that both have the same shape and size, but it is not 100% certain if they are the same color. Obviously we know they are not the same color, but by going on the statements given, we can not logically deduce that. This situation, although silly, is akin the the one in the manual. You can assume that they are the same color, since the only statement says the balls are similiar, or you can say they are not the same color, since that is specifically not mentioned, but either way you are assuming. God I feel stupid having written that :looloo:
tasslehoff220 04-15-04, 02:55 AM	The FAQ only did clarify the rules. It made no changes as I will now show. The following is exactly what is written in the players handbook. Use the base statistics for a creature of the companion's kind, as given in the Monster Manual, but make the following changes. Bonus HD: Extra eight-sided (d8) Hit Dice, each of which gains a constitution modifier, as normal. Remember that extra Hit Dice improve the animal companion's base attack and base save bonuses. An animal companion's base attack bonus is the same as that of a druid of a level equal to the animal HD. An animal companion has good Fortitude and Reflex saves (treat as a character whose level equals the animal's HD). An animal companion gains additional skill points and feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster's Hit Dice (see the Monster Manual). It says use the animals base statistics except as follows not advanced statistics so we are going to start out with the base statistics including size. Now as stated we will make the following changes. Since it says the following changes those are the only changes we will make. We give it the extra hit-dice as stated and raise its BAB, saves, skill points, and feats as stated. Nowhere does it mention size so as stated we will leave size the same as in the base statistics AS STATED. Also it says nowhere to use the monster advancement from the monster manual. Since the rules are meant for players who are not meant to have a monster manual they should not know about the monster advancement rules in it and so there is even less reason to assume that a player should use monster manual advancement even as the player's handbook gives rules for advancing the companion. Now do you see why the FAQ was clarifying the rule not changing it for people such as yourself who misunderstood it?
Silviaj 04-15-04, 03:42 AM	My sincerest apologies for having brought up this question. Here are my two cents on the issue: I think that I would like to point out that if one were to literally advance a monster as per the MM, one would find themselves at a dead end. The MM only allows for a few extra hit dice in most cases (see above inquiry regarding an eagle). The advancement entry will read 2-3 (Medium), but there is no entry past 3 HD. What, therefore, should happen at 4 HD? If one were to assume the preestablished pattern would continue, 4-5 HD would be a Large eagle, 5-6 Huge, etc. In no time, a relatively low level druid would have a Colossal animal at his side. It doesn't make sense. Thus, a case can be made for the companion's advancement to be similar to the process noted in the MM, but somewhat different. Further evidence that this is not wholely a normal MM advancement can simply be seen in the chart on the sidebar. Through normal advancement, an animal doesn't naturally gain Improved Evasion, for example. So the reference to the MM in the PH does not necessarily mean that all stats must advance according to the MM, but it can strongly be said (and has been said) that those stats that do advance as per the MM are explicitly mentioned. In closing, I would like to mention that I care relatively little which version is the official rule, and squabbling over this leads no-where. Each is entitled to play in his own fashion, and each is entitled to interpret as he pleases. Let your DM decide, or, as a DM, make your own decision and it will be so. That said, however, if I were to call one reading of the rule official, I would go with the majority opinion in this case. They have made good arguments and have produced concrete and credible evidence. With only one who continues to object, can we return this post to its poor original owner, who asked for recommendations for a Halfling Druid companion? I stick by my riding dog. Maybe wolf, but, for a halfing, riding dog.
Silviaj 04-15-04, 03:48 AM	And, by the way, thanks for the link to the FAQ. I knew of the published errata section on the website, but not of this FAQ. I will direct all future technical questions there, first
MattMart 04-15-04, 09:59 AM	Originally posted by Polaris Taishar, I agree from a balance perspective that an animal companion shouldn't get a size increase... Then why on earth are you arguing about this except for the sake of arguing? *cough*troll*cough* ~Done~
Thorak 04-15-04, 10:49 AM	Originally posted by Polaris Thorak, The rules don't exclude a size increase and otherwise instruct you to use the exact same advancement scheme found in the Monster Manual. Ergo the animal companion gets a size increse by the RAW. Admittedly that is an implication, but it is a straight line one based on the rules of standard english. The FAQ had no authority to change that because such a change is errata (because it changes the above quoted rule). -Polaris The rules don't exclude the possibility that your animal companion turns bright pink and sprouts bananas from his ears, either. But it doesn't happen. This isn't a case where the rules say that you advance as per the MM. The rules state, very specifically, that skills, feats, BAB, and saves are increased due to HD. There are no general statements included in that paragraph at all. The only things it grammatically can refer to are the things explicitly mentioned, those 4 aspects I've already indicated. At least, according to the standardized rules of Canadian English, American English, and Standard Southern British English. Perhaps you're using some other non-standard form of English, but in that case I suggest you interpret the books with standard AE, since that's what they're written in. The sentence says you gain X and Y for A, as per the normal rules elsewhere. The normal rules might also contain ways you are supposed to gain Z, but the sentence doesn't at any point even suggest that you gain Z; it specifically refers to X and Y with no general qualifiers that could apply to unmentioned aspects. The only way to correctly read the sentence is that X and Y are changed, and only X and Y are changed, Other sentences can provide other clauses as well, but I don't see a single bit in that paragraph that remotely implies that size increases. And this sentence, specifically, does not do so in any way whatsoever. It doesn't say you advance the animal as per normal for the HD it gains. It says the animal gains skills and feats as per normal, which means only those two aspects. If anything is implied, it's that every other aspect is to be left unchanged.
tasslehoff220 04-15-04, 11:14 AM	Originally posted by Silviaj I stick by my riding dog. Maybe wolf, but, for a halfing, riding dog. [/B] I agree, go for a wolf or a riding dog. I think a wolf has slightly better combat statistics but a riding dog would probably be much more accepted in any civilized community. Your wolf might be banned from a civilized community. Personally I would also go for the riding dog.
Big Dawg 04-15-04, 11:16 AM	I don't think you are right. In fact I am sure of it. The hit-dice section under Druid Animal Companion explicitly states that the animal uses this hit-dice to advance per the Monster Manual....and that means an increase in size. Polaris: I have 2 questions here. 1. If you are correct (which your not) what happens if you should choose to dismiss them for a new one? Does the old one shrink back to normal size? :rolleyes: 2. What happens when a wolf reachs Max HD per the MM? Do you keep going even though the MM says you can't advance past a certain point? Does a Druid20 have a wolf with only 6HD?
tasslehoff220 04-15-04, 11:46 AM	I don't think you are right. In fact I am sure of it. The hit-dice section under Druid Animal Companion explicitly states that the animal uses this hit-dice to advance per the Monster Manual....and that means an increase in size. [/B] I forgot to quote you last time Polaris but Ive looked through my players handbook very carefully and I can find nowhere which it says to use hitdie advancement as per the monster manual. Perhaps you could enlighten all of us as to where it says this? It does say to advance their BAB, skills, feats, and saves as per the monster manual but it nowhere mentions hit-die advancement as per the monster manual. Not only does it not explicitly say this and you wrongly stated but it does not implicitly say this either.
mystic1110 04-15-04, 05:15 PM	what animals can i ride on
SlimeGuru 04-15-04, 06:09 PM	I currently have a halfling druid in an ongoing game, and I'd definetly go with riding dog! If you train it for war then it can make trip attempts exactly like the wolf. The only downside is the slightly decreased movement, however, it has a higher strength to make up for it. It only has a 40' move, but since you can cast personal spells on your mount you can longstrider it. Pick up extend spell asasp, it's got to be the most useful metamagic feat for a druid! Just play up the faithful hound angle and go wild. And tasselhoff is right, most communities will remark on what a fine stock your dog must come from, when they would be afraid of a wolf. One last thing, a halfling in hide armor moves 15'... All the more reason to ride your trusty riding dog around. It makes a great heartwarming buddy story, "A Halfling and his Dog," someone should market that! ~Derrick
Wolfram_and_Hart 04-15-04, 08:00 PM	In the rules it states what you can do and what you can't do. if a rule tells you what affects a certain situation, then thats what is affected. There is no well the rules didn't mention it so it's ok to use. If a rules tells you you can get this, that, those, and some of this then thats what you get. Actually the rule is perfectly clear. Lets take a Wolf for example, as it gains hit points it doesn't get any bigger regardless if it is an animal companion or not. It may have more hit points, but it doesn't get any bigger. It will stay the same size category unless the description of the animal says so. There really is no argument about it, it is written in clear black and white what the animal companion gains.
Thorak 04-15-04, 08:11 PM	Originally posted by tasslehoff220 I forgot to quote you last time Polaris but Ive looked through my players handbook very carefully and I can find nowhere which it says to use hitdie advancement as per the monster manual. Perhaps you could enlighten all of us as to where it says this? It does say to advance their BAB, skills, feats, and saves as per the monster manual but it nowhere mentions hit-die advancement as per the monster manual. Not only does it not explicitly say this and you wrongly stated but it does not implicitly say this either. Polaris is under the misguided impression that "the AC gains skills and feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster" means the same thing as "the AC is advanced just like any other monster, and gains all the characteristics as given by the MM for monster advancement". The PHB doesn't say the latter. It doesn't even imply it. It says two things are advanced by those rules; skill points and feats. The implication, if we read anything else into that line, is that the AC does not get anything else another monster gets for being advanced normally. Just the skill points and feats.
Silviaj 04-15-04, 08:40 PM	Hey guys, Polaris seems to have dropped the whole enlargement issue; we should take his lead. The options for a level 1 druid are: badger, camel, dire rat, dog, riding dog, eagle, hawk, horse (light or heavy), owl, pony, snake (Small of Medium viper), or wolf. A Halfling, being Small, can ride anything that is Medium-sized or larger, generally. There are "common sense" restrictions as well as technical restrictions. Anything that does not typically hold a rider (that is, anything but a pony, horse, or riding dog, maybe camel), in the very least has to be taught to bear a rider, there may be Ride check penalties to exotic mounts, and you have to buy the more expensive exotic saddles. Those animal companions that are Medium-sized (or larger) are: camel, riding dog, horse (light and heavy), pony, viper (medium), and wolf. So, beyond riding dog and wolf, you might also like to consider hawk, eagle, and owl. Aerial eyes and the trick "fetch" could be potetially useful. Between them, I'd say eagle is the strongest of the three, but if you choose one of these, pick the one that fits your character's personality best. Majestic, righteous, and NG? Go for eagle. Wild, neutral, predatory? Hawk. Nocturnal, wise, silent, deadly? Owl.