Best low level animal companion in Core [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best low level animal companion in Core [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
FrostHammer
02-08-07, 04:08 PM Ok, let's say I'm limited to Complete Divine, PHB, DMG, and probably Monster Manual I. What is the best animal companion for a level 2 human druid? I think I heard something about a riding dog with some sort of barding (armor)?
The_Shaman
02-08-07, 04:23 PM Well, if riding dog can wear barding, sure; training for war also makes them able to trip, which can be incredibly useful. They are a bit stronger than wolves, too, which makes them better in a straight fight imo. I'm partial to wolves, though and (at lower druid levels) horses can also be quite useful. Technically, if you can get a heavy warhorse (war- was treated as a template that decreased your effective druid level by 1 iirc), you can have a powerful mount and companion. However, horses don't want to go underground, and that may be a bit of a problem.
FrostHammer
02-08-07, 04:30 PM Training for War? Is that something special or just a group of tricks you teach to the riding dog?

Also, where can I get more information on barding? And where can I find the stats on a Riding dog? I assume the dog is too small for me to atually ride of course.
NineInchNall
02-08-07, 05:58 PM Riding dogs are in the animals section of the Monster Manual. Where all the animals are.

Training for war is, in the case of the riding dog, training the dog for Combat Riding or Fighting, which is in the description of Handle Animal. Remember that you can take 10 on checks to train an animal.

Barding is just armor made for nonhumanoid bodies. The rules for this are in the PHB, in the Equipment chapter, under Armor.

See a theme? :P
FrostHammer
02-08-07, 06:21 PM And when you say training for war, you mean the General Purpose "Fighting" correct? I see Fighting and Combat Riding, and my character won'tbe riding the dog. Also, it doesn't tell me how many "tricks" an animal can learn under Handle Animal. I know it is based off of the animal's intelligence, and that companions get bonus tricks. What page can I find the number of tricks info?
NineInchNall
02-08-07, 06:24 PM It's not clear in the rules. Either one could be seen as satisfying the purpose of "trained for war."
FreAkOuTRG
02-08-07, 06:28 PM I like the badger, myself.
NineInchNall
02-08-07, 06:36 PM You may like it, but it's strictly worse than the riding dog.

The riding dog has more HD, so even the raging badger doesn't have as many hp.

The riding dog is behind the badger in terms of attack bonus but ahead in terms of damage per hit (a raging badger deals 1d2+1 with its claws and 1d3+1 with its bite).

Having a naturally higher Strength, the riding dog can make good use of its Trip attack, negating the badger's edge in number of attacks.

The dog has higher AC.

The dog can serve as a mount for small Druids, such as halflings.

The dog is just better.
FrostHammer
02-08-07, 06:55 PM Do you know what page in the PHB where it sepcifies how many tricks an animal can learn based on its intelligence? I seem to remember 3 for 1 and 6 for 2 or something, but I can't quite remember where I saw that.
Light_Colonel
02-08-07, 07:24 PM Do you know what page in the PHB where it sepcifies how many tricks an animal can learn based on its intelligence? I seem to remember 3 for 1 and 6 for 2 or something, but I can't quite remember where I saw that.

You saw it under the skill description for Handle Animal I believe.

What is the best animal companion for a level 2 human druid?

It can be a subjective question. Personally I am partial to the Medium Viper; but then again I like poison damage.
Jell_Moo
02-08-07, 07:35 PM Depends on what you are looking for. For pure combat "oomph", it's really hard to beat a crocodile. On the flip side, having a free mount early in one's career is nothing to shrug off (a Halfling Druid ona Riding Dog mount can be quite fun at low levels).
FrostHammer
02-08-07, 08:26 PM Do you know if there's any particular limit on Wildshape ability if you start out Small? Like, do you have a limit on how big you can Wildshape into since you start smaller? I may just start using a Gnome Druid instead of going with a human one (no halfling allowed in the campaign I'm in)
Light_Colonel
02-08-07, 09:01 PM Do you know if there's any particular limit on Wildshape ability if you start out Small? Like, do you have a limit on how big you can Wildshape into since you start smaller? I may just start using a Gnome Druid instead of going with a human one (no halfling allowed in the campaign I'm in)

As far as I know, there is no change to wildshape based on size. I could easily be wrong though.
The_Shaman
02-08-07, 09:37 PM There was one in the halfling druid substitution levels in Races of the Wild, but technically you start with medium animals, like medium druids do. Your DM might not agree, however.
NineInchNall
02-09-07, 12:40 AM Depends on what you are looking for. For pure combat "oomph", it's really hard to beat a crocodile. On the flip side, having a free mount early in one's career is nothing to shrug off (a Halfling Druid ona Riding Dog mount can be quite fun at low levels).

Note that a crocodile is not available until levels later than two.
danielinthewolvesden
02-09-07, 02:07 AM Wolf. Wolf can wear barding too.
NineInchNall
02-09-07, 03:37 AM Lower stats (AC & damage) than the riding dog, though.
Jell_Moo
02-09-07, 10:53 PM Note that a crocodile is not available until levels later than two.

Um... sure it is. Check out this Ask Wizards question:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ask/20061202a
Nephlite
02-09-07, 11:21 PM I do wonder though why they listed the croc twice.
Jaxgaret
02-09-07, 11:23 PM I do wonder though why they listed the croc twice.

*cough* it's a Wizards product *cough*
NineInchNall
02-09-07, 11:26 PM Um... sure it is. Check out this Ask Wizards question:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ask/20061202a

Hmm. Bizarre. The croc isn't listed as a 1st level choice in the SRD.
Jell_Moo
02-09-07, 11:38 PM Hmm. Bizarre. The croc isn't listed as a 1st level choice in the SRD.

It's one of those bizarre little areas of D&D that never quite made sense.

The croc is listed as a suitable animal companion for a 1st level Druid in the actual text, but it is listed as a suitable animal companion for a 4th level druid in the table.

Now, I guess since, as a general rule, text trumps table, the Ask Wizards people simply followed that guideline.
NineInchNall
02-10-07, 12:41 AM Ja, but we all know how silly the PHB is in terms of error count.

Animal Companion (Ex)
A druid may begin play with an animal companion selected from the following list: badger, camel, dire rat, dog, riding dog, eagle, hawk, horse (light or heavy), owl, pony, snake (Small or Medium viper), or wolf. If the campaign takes place wholly or partly in an aquatic environment, the following creatures are also available: manta ray, porpoise, Medium shark, and squid. This animal is a loyal companion that accompanies the druid on her adventures as appropriate for its kind.

... the druid’s best choices for
1st level (such as the wolf), so let’s start by comparing it to 4thlevel
options. Its hit points and AC (15 and 26) are similar to
the ape (14 and 29), boar (16 and 25), and crocodile (15 and
22). Its attack bonus (+5) is also comparable to other creatures
in that category, although its damage (1d4) is pretty low in
comparison. However, its bite has a potent poison (1d6
Con/1d6 Con), which more than makes up for this low damage.
It also has improved grab, just like the crocodile. That suggests
that 4th level might be a good minimum level for a druid to
select a dire toad as an animal companion. It’s definitely too
weak to make a 7th-level option (compare its statistics to the
brown bear, dire ape, or tiger).

I dunno. I think I may start distrusting Ask Wizards now. :rolleyes:
FrostHammer
02-10-07, 04:15 AM Does the Riding Dog ever beome Dire?
crimsonwolf
02-10-07, 10:34 AM dire dog soundsl like a 50's super hero....:O gasp

Dire Cape -

Wearing this item around a animales neck creats a sudden whirling wind and a fanfar of music coming out of nowhere with a loud yelling of a deep voice saying "It's DIRE (insert animal name here) " in effect the animal gets polymorphed into a dire version of itself changing its stats to that... the item is a non-slotted and melds into the skin
Rez
02-10-07, 10:47 AM Well I'd say a wolf as a animal companion works. Or perhaps like a eagle or falcon. Eyes in the sky. Wolves are just cool. Good abilities. Scent. Good tracker.

I played a Halfling Druid once with a wolf animal companion. He rode on it (was going for halfling outride). That was cool.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
FrostHammer 02-08-07, 04:08 PM	Ok, let's say I'm limited to Complete Divine, PHB, DMG, and probably Monster Manual I. What is the best animal companion for a level 2 human druid? I think I heard something about a riding dog with some sort of barding (armor)?
The_Shaman 02-08-07, 04:23 PM	Well, if riding dog can wear barding, sure; training for war also makes them able to trip, which can be incredibly useful. They are a bit stronger than wolves, too, which makes them better in a straight fight imo. I'm partial to wolves, though and (at lower druid levels) horses can also be quite useful. Technically, if you can get a heavy warhorse (war- was treated as a template that decreased your effective druid level by 1 iirc), you can have a powerful mount and companion. However, horses don't want to go underground, and that may be a bit of a problem.
FrostHammer 02-08-07, 04:30 PM	Training for War? Is that something special or just a group of tricks you teach to the riding dog? Also, where can I get more information on barding? And where can I find the stats on a Riding dog? I assume the dog is too small for me to atually ride of course.
NineInchNall 02-08-07, 05:58 PM	Riding dogs are in the animals section of the Monster Manual. Where all the animals are. Training for war is, in the case of the riding dog, training the dog for Combat Riding or Fighting, which is in the description of Handle Animal. Remember that you can take 10 on checks to train an animal. Barding is just armor made for nonhumanoid bodies. The rules for this are in the PHB, in the Equipment chapter, under Armor. See a theme? :P
FrostHammer 02-08-07, 06:21 PM	And when you say training for war, you mean the General Purpose "Fighting" correct? I see Fighting and Combat Riding, and my character won'tbe riding the dog. Also, it doesn't tell me how many "tricks" an animal can learn under Handle Animal. I know it is based off of the animal's intelligence, and that companions get bonus tricks. What page can I find the number of tricks info?
NineInchNall 02-08-07, 06:24 PM	It's not clear in the rules. Either one could be seen as satisfying the purpose of "trained for war."
FreAkOuTRG 02-08-07, 06:28 PM	I like the badger, myself.
NineInchNall 02-08-07, 06:36 PM	You may like it, but it's strictly worse than the riding dog. The riding dog has more HD, so even the raging badger doesn't have as many hp. The riding dog is behind the badger in terms of attack bonus but ahead in terms of damage per hit (a raging badger deals 1d2+1 with its claws and 1d3+1 with its bite). Having a naturally higher Strength, the riding dog can make good use of its Trip attack, negating the badger's edge in number of attacks. The dog has higher AC. The dog can serve as a mount for small Druids, such as halflings. The dog is just better.
FrostHammer 02-08-07, 06:55 PM	Do you know what page in the PHB where it sepcifies how many tricks an animal can learn based on its intelligence? I seem to remember 3 for 1 and 6 for 2 or something, but I can't quite remember where I saw that.
Light_Colonel 02-08-07, 07:24 PM	Do you know what page in the PHB where it sepcifies how many tricks an animal can learn based on its intelligence? I seem to remember 3 for 1 and 6 for 2 or something, but I can't quite remember where I saw that. You saw it under the skill description for Handle Animal I believe. What is the best animal companion for a level 2 human druid? It can be a subjective question. Personally I am partial to the Medium Viper; but then again I like poison damage.
Jell_Moo 02-08-07, 07:35 PM	Depends on what you are looking for. For pure combat "oomph", it's really hard to beat a crocodile. On the flip side, having a free mount early in one's career is nothing to shrug off (a Halfling Druid ona Riding Dog mount can be quite fun at low levels).
FrostHammer 02-08-07, 08:26 PM	Do you know if there's any particular limit on Wildshape ability if you start out Small? Like, do you have a limit on how big you can Wildshape into since you start smaller? I may just start using a Gnome Druid instead of going with a human one (no halfling allowed in the campaign I'm in)
Light_Colonel 02-08-07, 09:01 PM	Do you know if there's any particular limit on Wildshape ability if you start out Small? Like, do you have a limit on how big you can Wildshape into since you start smaller? I may just start using a Gnome Druid instead of going with a human one (no halfling allowed in the campaign I'm in) As far as I know, there is no change to wildshape based on size. I could easily be wrong though.
The_Shaman 02-08-07, 09:37 PM	There was one in the halfling druid substitution levels in Races of the Wild, but technically you start with medium animals, like medium druids do. Your DM might not agree, however.
NineInchNall 02-09-07, 12:40 AM	Depends on what you are looking for. For pure combat "oomph", it's really hard to beat a crocodile. On the flip side, having a free mount early in one's career is nothing to shrug off (a Halfling Druid ona Riding Dog mount can be quite fun at low levels). Note that a crocodile is not available until levels later than two.
danielinthewolvesden 02-09-07, 02:07 AM	Wolf. Wolf can wear barding too.
NineInchNall 02-09-07, 03:37 AM	Lower stats (AC & damage) than the riding dog, though.
Jell_Moo 02-09-07, 10:53 PM	Note that a crocodile is not available until levels later than two. Um... sure it is. Check out this Ask Wizards question: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ask/20061202a
Nephlite 02-09-07, 11:21 PM	I do wonder though why they listed the croc twice.
Jaxgaret 02-09-07, 11:23 PM	I do wonder though why they listed the croc twice. cough it's a Wizards product cough
NineInchNall 02-09-07, 11:26 PM	Um... sure it is. Check out this Ask Wizards question: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ask/20061202a Hmm. Bizarre. The croc isn't listed as a 1st level choice in the SRD.
Jell_Moo 02-09-07, 11:38 PM	Hmm. Bizarre. The croc isn't listed as a 1st level choice in the SRD. It's one of those bizarre little areas of D&D that never quite made sense. The croc is listed as a suitable animal companion for a 1st level Druid in the actual text, but it is listed as a suitable animal companion for a 4th level druid in the table. Now, I guess since, as a general rule, text trumps table, the Ask Wizards people simply followed that guideline.
NineInchNall 02-10-07, 12:41 AM	Ja, but we all know how silly the PHB is in terms of error count. Animal Companion (Ex) A druid may begin play with an animal companion selected from the following list: badger, camel, dire rat, dog, riding dog, eagle, hawk, horse (light or heavy), owl, pony, snake (Small or Medium viper), or wolf. If the campaign takes place wholly or partly in an aquatic environment, the following creatures are also available: manta ray, porpoise, Medium shark, and squid. This animal is a loyal companion that accompanies the druid on her adventures as appropriate for its kind. ... the druid’s best choices for 1st level (such as the wolf), so let’s start by comparing it to 4thlevel options. Its hit points and AC (15 and 26) are similar to the ape (14 and 29), boar (16 and 25), and crocodile (15 and 22). Its attack bonus (+5) is also comparable to other creatures in that category, although its damage (1d4) is pretty low in comparison. However, its bite has a potent poison (1d6 Con/1d6 Con), which more than makes up for this low damage. It also has improved grab, just like the crocodile. That suggests that 4th level might be a good minimum level for a druid to select a dire toad as an animal companion. It’s definitely too weak to make a 7th-level option (compare its statistics to the brown bear, dire ape, or tiger). I dunno. I think I may start distrusting Ask Wizards now. :rolleyes:
FrostHammer 02-10-07, 04:15 AM	Does the Riding Dog ever beome Dire?
crimsonwolf 02-10-07, 10:34 AM	dire dog soundsl like a 50's super hero....:O gasp Dire Cape - Wearing this item around a animales neck creats a sudden whirling wind and a fanfar of music coming out of nowhere with a loud yelling of a deep voice saying "It's DIRE (insert animal name here) " in effect the animal gets polymorphed into a dire version of itself changing its stats to that... the item is a non-slotted and melds into the skin
Rez 02-10-07, 10:47 AM	Well I'd say a wolf as a animal companion works. Or perhaps like a eagle or falcon. Eyes in the sky. Wolves are just cool. Good abilities. Scent. Good tracker. I played a Halfling Druid once with a wolf animal companion. He rode on it (was going for halfling outride). That was cool.