Post/Author/DateTime	Post
zigz 01-19-06, 09:08 AM	I have 22-Druid / 2-Heirophant and am looking for some ideas on pets. Currently I have a Dire Rhino with Awesome Blow that is working ok. I thought the one big attack easier to deal with in combat and less spells. BTW, where does it say Druid companion Bonus HD does not increase the animals size?
Anor 01-19-06, 09:11 AM	I have 22-Druid / 2-Heirophant and am looking for some ideas on pets. Currently I have a Dire Rhino with Awesome Blow that is working ok. I thought the one big attack easier to deal with in combat and less spells. BTW, where does it say Druid companion Bonus HD does not increase the animals size? I looked for that too before, or rather, where it says that it does increase size. I havent found it so far, so please let me know if you find it.
Eneier 01-19-06, 09:55 AM	When you add Hit Dice to a druid’s (or ranger’s) animal companion as the master’s level goes up, does the animal get any bigger? For instance, when a druid has a wolf companion, the wolf starts out with the standard 2 Hit Dice and is size Medium. By the time the druid is 3rd level, the wolf has 2 bonus Hit Dice. According to the wolf entry in the Monster Manual, an “advanced” wolf with 4 Hit Dice would be Large. Is the example companion wolf also Large? An animal companion doesn’t get bigger when it adds extra Hit Dice for the master’s levels. The advancement entries for creatures, and the rules for advancing monsters, refer to unusually powerful specimens that are simply tougher (and perhaps bigger) than normal for their kinds. (c) Main DnD FAQ ;)
Anor 01-19-06, 10:08 AM	So dropping the old companion and getting a new of the bigger size is better to do then I guess. Ofcourse, you lose the extra skills and tricks it was taught but the increased size must overweight that in most cases.
zigz 01-19-06, 11:43 AM	I think in most cases that may be true but there are definate sweet spots on the chart. Mulltiattack and Imp Evasion should not be overlooked. I am not getting those with my Dire Rhino but he has the 17-20 (x3) Gore attack, greater strength, but has less AC and does not do double damage on a charge like a regular rhino.
Khazra Reborn 01-19-06, 11:50 AM	Dire tiger is pretty sweet. Buy it an amulet of natural attacks (SS) with the valourus enhancement (UE) and it has a full attack charge doing double damage. Pounce is probaly one of the best abilities in a game. When you consider spells like natures favour and imparticular natures avatar, you really want a companion with as many attacks as possible to take advantage of the bonuses. Out of interest, do you use wildshape and ride your companion?
zigz 01-19-06, 01:17 PM	No, to be honest I am usally shapechanged into an Astral Deva (AC:55) throwing around empowered fireseeds and what not. I've been thinking about diving in with some Nature's avatar on myself as well. I had a regular Tiger for many games until a Wail of the Banshee killed us both and 25,000 to True Rez was too much. Figuring out all of his attacks with the different buffs changing all the time was giving me a headache and slowing the game too. I will probably go Tiger again someday, he was formidable and Dire prob even better but it is so close with the added bonuses that you have to really think if having a Huge Animal is worth it. Sometimes space is an issue. Fortunatley my beasts can Wild Shape into animals and elementals via my Heirophant Power to Imbue my wildshapes.