Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bounces 11-10-05, 06:48 PM	So with a very simple druid build I can miss out on 3 caster levels (I still reach 9th level spells...just not as many) and give my animal companion a Effective 6 level boost. It works using the Beast Master PrC and the Natural Bond Feat. I take 3 levels of the PrC and my effective Druid level for calculating my animal companion benefits ends up being Druid Level + Beast Master Level (3) + Beast Master Class Bonus (3) + Natural Bond Bonus (3) In the process I lose 3 castings perday of 9th level spells and the ability to turn into a Huge Elemental. Also I can only wildshape 5 times per day and only elemental 1 per day. So the question is is this worthwhile?
X-Codes 11-10-05, 07:01 PM	Sorta. By dropping those 3 caster levels you take a -2/-2 on your attack and damage bonus granted to your animal companion when you cast Nature's Favor. Other buffs also suffer slightly but thats the biggest one I can think of. The bonuses give a +4 to hit (+3 from HD, +1 from Strength) and +1 to damage. So, if you take Practiced Spellcaster, you should be about fine. Remember though that those fewer 9th level spells mean fewer Shapechanges for you, a spell SO much better than Wild Shape. The only reason Wild Shape is given more attention is because it's available so much sooner.
Bounces 11-11-05, 02:11 PM	So another question...are there any other druid PrC's that focus and specialize on the animal companion? I've seen Tamer of Beasts in Master's of the Wild but it hasn't been updated yet and it looks like it gets less than half spell progression so it's not worth it. Is there any other classes that anyone knows of?
ninjarabbit 11-11-05, 02:15 PM	Natural bond doesn't extend your animal companion level past your character level so it's a wasted feat here.
Bounces 11-11-05, 02:21 PM	Natural Bond Add three to your effective druid level for the purpose of determining the bonus Hit Dice, extra tricks...This bonus can never make your effective druid level exceed your character level. The reason it works is because it is bringing my effective druid level back to my character level...my druid level is only 5...natural bond brings it back to 8.
Namarus 11-11-05, 02:34 PM	Natural bond doesn't extend your animal companion level past your character level so it's a wasted feat here. I disagree with that. The wording of Natural implies that it is only used to calculate the effective level of your companion for the purpose of bonuses like HD etc... So if he takes a Pet from the (Druid Level - 6) list, he still gets the effects of natural bond. Also why would you take 3 levels of beastmaster? The first level gives you a +3 bonus to your companion level. Take only 1 level if your going down that route.
Bounces 11-11-05, 02:40 PM	The natural bond works because of the way Beastmaster is worded...if I only take one level of Beastmaster then my effective druid level is only 1 less than my character level and I only get one level of benefit from natural bond. If I take 3 levels of beast master then I get all three points from natural bond...ending up with a animal companion of a druid 6 levels higher than me. If I could find a PrC that was also focused on optimizing the animal companion I would only do a 1 level dip into beastmaster because you are right...levels 2 and 3 are fairly pointless (not entirely though...you do get 1 BaB and 1 fort and ref and 1/2 will on both of those levels...that's not bad...plus the hitdice are bigger than druid dice...which is nice)
Khazra Reborn 11-11-05, 02:53 PM	I'd say its worth it with druid19/beastmaster1 and natural bond. Take a dire tiger for your pet. That gives it 22HD,+12Na & 30str. Plus you can still cast the uber natures avatar, natures favour, animal growth, greater magic fang & a couple of stat buffs. Plus, all these spells affect you in your legendary ape form...nothing cooler then a large ape with a wooden lance riding a huge tiger.
Bounces 11-11-05, 07:11 PM	:bump: apparently my thread just does not attract the attention of possible cheese artists... Are there any PrCs besides BM that give bonuses to Druid Animal Companions?
Bounces 11-12-05, 08:49 AM	Going to push this up one last time to add another feat to the list of what I shall take. My class build will look something like this... DR1 Feat: Skill Focus (Handle Animal) If human Spell Focus(Conjuration) and Augment Summoning DR2 DR3 Feat: Exalted Companion If Human Skill Focus (Handle Animal) DR4 DR5 BM1 Feat: Natural Bond BM2 DR6 DR7 Feat: Spell Focus(Conjuration) If human Exalted Companion DR8 DR9 DR10 Feat: Augment Summoning If human I need something else here and I don't know what? DR11 DR12 DR13 Feat: Extend Spell DR14 DR15 DR16 Feat: Quicken Spell DR17 DR18 Granted...having a celestial animal on the battle field really doesn't do that much for you...but they do get spell resistance, damage reduction and some elemental immunities, and it makes the animal slightly more intelligent (go 3!)...and since my natural bond feat counteracts the -1 adjustment that EC gives for having a standard celestial animal I figure...why not? It may not be optimal but is as good as I can get...any suggestions on feats besides the ones I have...the idea is powerful companion and summoned creatures to do the dirty work for me...If you see something that might work better towards this idea than what I have please let me know. Also any suggestions on what race to be...preferably something that is LA 0 and something that gives bonuses to as many of the mental stats as possible since I can just spend all day in wild shape. Thoughts? Comments? Testimonials?
Bounces 11-12-05, 09:17 AM	After running through the choices that come immediately to mind I think perhaps kenku for the great ally ability...if I am going to have so many pets on stage that +4 flanking and +3 when recieving aid another will probably add up. Any other thoughts though?
Sang-Drax 11-12-05, 09:52 AM	nothing cooler then a large ape with a wooden lance riding a huge tiger. :uh-huh: Are you serious?
Inkubus 11-12-05, 11:47 AM	Are there any PrCs besides BM that give bonuses to Druid Animal Companions? Arcane Hierophant.