Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Virall 12-23-05, 08:38 PM	Okay my character is a 4th level Ranger. My DM has allowed me to use a different list for my animal companion. Rather than have an actual animal as a companion I decided to see if i could use a vermin as a companion. I found the rules for it in the Random Encounters section of the retired articles on the DnD site. In the "Whats bugging you?" articles it gives a list of alternate Vermin companion and the rules to use them. Okay now to the point. What i need help with is picking the most useful of the big bugs (arachnids or whatever). My choices are: Giant Ant (worker), Giant Bee, Giant fire beetle, Large monstrous Centipede, medium monstrous spider, medium monstrous scorpion Please help. i have an idea what i want to use but any help is welcome If you wnat to see the rules and what other vermin i can obtain here is a link to the page. http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20040705a
Vestigial_Thumb 12-23-05, 08:42 PM	The centipede, definitely the centipede.
Virall 12-23-05, 08:56 PM	I was thinking about going for one of the monstrous "trio". not just because they are cool, but the ant isnt that strong, the bee dies after it attacks and the Giant fire beetle isnt all that great either. Plus i like the idea of dealing stat damage with each of the vermins attacks. I think that the damage that the poison does goes like this: Centipede - strength, spider - dex, and Scorpion - Con. The con damage would be the most vicious at higher levels. the loss of 1 or 2 hit points per hit dice is great but i am still undecided as to which i will actually use. all of the potential companions have their own things that make them stand out (except for the giant fire beetle).
jack haas 12-23-05, 09:30 PM	check the dc's on those poisons. i could easily be wrong but i think they are around 11 or 12, hardly a stretch for many characters to save against with ease. what you need is mmII and mmIII. chelicera, knell beetle and leechwalker, oh my.
Virall 12-24-05, 09:26 PM	I have both of those books and i might try to convince my DM to allow one of them. but, I am currently only allowed to use those companions that are given in the list on the site. The link is http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20040705a. Since the effective druid level of my character is currently 2 because he is a level four ranger i am stuck with those companions i previously listed. However, when i reach level 6 i plan on taking the natural bond feat from Complete adventurer. Which will increase my effective druid level by three. At that point i will have two options... picking a new companion from: Giant Ant (Soldier), Giant Bombardier Beetle, a Huge monstrous Centipede, or a Large Monstrous spider. Or keeping a lesser companion but giving it more tricks, 1 skill point per hit die, and two feats. if i give the companion the Ability focus feat from MMI it will increase the DC of its poison my 3. But if i pick a new companion i will have to go with an unenhanced one. there is a trade off. Thanks for the input though i really do appreciate the opinions of the few people that do reply to what i post.(Oh, and your right about the DC's of the poisons. I looked at the stats a while ago and i think they are from 10 to a max of 14).