Animal Companion Feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animal Companion Feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
kouryuu_the_leviathan
02-06-05, 04:55 AM Well, another threadbeing the byproduct of the search being down.

Anyway, I'm going to be starting a druid soon who has a riding dog as his animal companion.

My question is what feats should I have the little guy take when he gets his bonus HD?

A couple I've considered are improved natural attack(no brainer), improved natural armor most likely, and possibly power attack and such, but I'm not so sure. That's why I'm wondering as to what feats might be good for him. Or, of anyone could just post a link to a website that already covers this.

One thing to take into consideration is that due to RP reasons, this druid would not "trade-up" this animal companion for the world, so please, do not come on and sy well you should switch to so-and-so animal because its bigger and better, because I don't plan on switching this animal for any reason short of irrevocable death on the animal's part.

Thanx in advance for any advice.
LucRivNor
02-06-05, 06:35 AM Improved toughness (CW) is a must for maxing hit points

Weapon focus (natural attack of the animal) is also great

a great book for lot of options is savage species

If you could tell us what animal youy will use, we'll help much.

secondary attack?
mostly use for transportation? spying?
good grappler?
have poison?
...
Fugazi
02-06-05, 09:21 AM Well im chiming in on this one as I'm also making a druid.

My idea was to take a horse (warhorse?) as my animal companion. I'm lvl10 myself so it has quite some bonus hd - 6. I'll be riding it while on the move and whenever an adventure allows me to take it with me, otherwise he can handle himself just fine while I'm inside a dungeon he can't go in with me.

Thing is - what feats to take, sprint? Improved natural attack?
kouryuu_the_leviathan
02-06-05, 02:15 PM I believe I mentioned it in the beginning of the post, but here's the animal again, I'll be using a riding dog

Thanx for reminding me about weapon focus, I can't believe I forgot about that, and improved toughness is a great idea.

I should probably mention to you all of you that the boks that I really only have access to are of core but also all of the complete series. and XPH, as I'm rather poor I won't be getting any new books any time soon, so that's all I got to work with.
Elgonn
02-06-05, 02:25 PM Will you be riding the riding dog? If it is a mount. Feats like Run, Fleet of Foot are quite handy.
kouryuu_the_leviathan
02-06-05, 03:48 PM I knew I forgot something, my character is a human druid. I picked the riding dog becuase it was one of the stronger animal companions for a 1st level druid, and again for RP purposes, so the most I'd be willing to change the AC to would be a wolf...maybe.
Ander Spectacular
02-06-05, 04:10 PM Well, a large animal companion can benefit from Improved Grapple. Even a riding dog with improved grapple would have a pretty good grapple check at 1st level. Weapon focus and INA aren't that great really, its not like your dog is going be dropping huge amounts of damage. You could always do the spring attack tree, that way it can move in, initiate a grapple, and if it fails take off. Also, anything that increases movement or allows an animal to change direction while charging. Combat reflexes is also a must(riding dogs can be trained to trip like wolves according to their SRD entry).
-AS-
xanadu
02-06-05, 05:21 PM Ability focus (trip) is good for dogs/wolves.
Tempest Stormwind
02-06-05, 05:34 PM I knew I forgot something, my character is a human druid. I picked the riding dog becuase it was one of the stronger animal companions for a 1st level druid, and again for RP purposes, so the most I'd be willing to change the AC to would be a wolf...maybe.

In my experience wolves will always outperform the riding dog unless you yourself plan on using the riding dog as a combat mount. As a human, you're too big to consider this. My gnome druid has a wolf companion, and I DID consider using him as a mount for a bit (and then I redid my ability scores. 6 strength, 9 dex = bad mounted fighter. The gnome still occasionally rides the wolf, but only because he's so feeble, and he gets off when battle starts).

I'd suggest Improved Toughess (CW) as well. Ability Focus (Trip) is a great one for wolves, as is Improved Trip (the first part, not so much. The extra attack, much better). I've also seen Swarmfighting (CW) used with good results in an animal companion (the druid had it as well; it would have been more impressive if some animals had it as a racial feat), although that does leave you open for many, many mage retributions. Depending on how well you yourself fight, Improved Grapple might be worth considering (get a trick for "restrain" or something, or maybe roll it into a Subdue trick).

Later on (post-Wild Shape), he should serve a support role. I could swear I saw a feat once that boosted the result from Aid Another actions... but I can't remember it at the moment. It might be worth looking into.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kouryuu_the_leviathan 02-06-05, 04:55 AM	Well, another threadbeing the byproduct of the search being down. Anyway, I'm going to be starting a druid soon who has a riding dog as his animal companion. My question is what feats should I have the little guy take when he gets his bonus HD? A couple I've considered are improved natural attack(no brainer), improved natural armor most likely, and possibly power attack and such, but I'm not so sure. That's why I'm wondering as to what feats might be good for him. Or, of anyone could just post a link to a website that already covers this. One thing to take into consideration is that due to RP reasons, this druid would not "trade-up" this animal companion for the world, so please, do not come on and sy well you should switch to so-and-so animal because its bigger and better, because I don't plan on switching this animal for any reason short of irrevocable death on the animal's part. Thanx in advance for any advice.
LucRivNor 02-06-05, 06:35 AM	Improved toughness (CW) is a must for maxing hit points Weapon focus (natural attack of the animal) is also great a great book for lot of options is savage species If you could tell us what animal youy will use, we'll help much. secondary attack? mostly use for transportation? spying? good grappler? have poison? ...
Fugazi 02-06-05, 09:21 AM	Well im chiming in on this one as I'm also making a druid. My idea was to take a horse (warhorse?) as my animal companion. I'm lvl10 myself so it has quite some bonus hd - 6. I'll be riding it while on the move and whenever an adventure allows me to take it with me, otherwise he can handle himself just fine while I'm inside a dungeon he can't go in with me. Thing is - what feats to take, sprint? Improved natural attack?
kouryuu_the_leviathan 02-06-05, 02:15 PM	I believe I mentioned it in the beginning of the post, but here's the animal again, I'll be using a riding dog Thanx for reminding me about weapon focus, I can't believe I forgot about that, and improved toughness is a great idea. I should probably mention to you all of you that the boks that I really only have access to are of core but also all of the complete series. and XPH, as I'm rather poor I won't be getting any new books any time soon, so that's all I got to work with.
Elgonn 02-06-05, 02:25 PM	Will you be riding the riding dog? If it is a mount. Feats like Run, Fleet of Foot are quite handy.
kouryuu_the_leviathan 02-06-05, 03:48 PM	I knew I forgot something, my character is a human druid. I picked the riding dog becuase it was one of the stronger animal companions for a 1st level druid, and again for RP purposes, so the most I'd be willing to change the AC to would be a wolf...maybe.
Ander Spectacular 02-06-05, 04:10 PM	Well, a large animal companion can benefit from Improved Grapple. Even a riding dog with improved grapple would have a pretty good grapple check at 1st level. Weapon focus and INA aren't that great really, its not like your dog is going be dropping huge amounts of damage. You could always do the spring attack tree, that way it can move in, initiate a grapple, and if it fails take off. Also, anything that increases movement or allows an animal to change direction while charging. Combat reflexes is also a must(riding dogs can be trained to trip like wolves according to their SRD entry). -AS-
xanadu 02-06-05, 05:21 PM	Ability focus (trip) is good for dogs/wolves.
Tempest Stormwind 02-06-05, 05:34 PM	I knew I forgot something, my character is a human druid. I picked the riding dog becuase it was one of the stronger animal companions for a 1st level druid, and again for RP purposes, so the most I'd be willing to change the AC to would be a wolf...maybe. In my experience wolves will always outperform the riding dog unless you yourself plan on using the riding dog as a combat mount. As a human, you're too big to consider this. My gnome druid has a wolf companion, and I DID consider using him as a mount for a bit (and then I redid my ability scores. 6 strength, 9 dex = bad mounted fighter. The gnome still occasionally rides the wolf, but only because he's so feeble, and he gets off when battle starts). I'd suggest Improved Toughess (CW) as well. Ability Focus (Trip) is a great one for wolves, as is Improved Trip (the first part, not so much. The extra attack, much better). I've also seen Swarmfighting (CW) used with good results in an animal companion (the druid had it as well; it would have been more impressive if some animals had it as a racial feat), although that does leave you open for many, many mage retributions. Depending on how well you yourself fight, Improved Grapple might be worth considering (get a trick for "restrain" or something, or maybe roll it into a Subdue trick). Later on (post-Wild Shape), he should serve a support role. I could swear I saw a feat once that boosted the result from Aid Another actions... but I can't remember it at the moment. It might be worth looking into.