Companions: Animals or Magical Beasts? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Companions: Animals or Magical Beasts? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
greyhaze
06-18-06, 11:45 AM There are conflicting rulings in the source books on whether or not an "animal companion" becomes a magical beast or remains an animal. As the name might suggest maybe it is an animal, but the first line in the PHB says it's a magical beast.

PHB page 36 under the "Druid's Animal Companion" side bar.
DMG page 205 3rd paragraph line 2.

What's the official ruling?
Tevin Kevlak
06-18-06, 11:57 AM Well... if the first line says it's a magical beast then why did you even post this? Because it's not called the Magical Beast Companion? ... read the entry on the animal companion and you'll see things like "even though the companion is a magical beast spells and effects that effect animals still function on the companion" etc.
greyhaze
06-18-06, 12:02 PM That does not clarify the creature Type.

Is it an Animal or a Magical Beast? Specifically.

Please, read the question again, and those two lines in the entries.
Tevin Kevlak
06-18-06, 12:06 PM Yes it does. It says plain as day under the descritpion and rules of how the Druids Animal Companion functions that it is a magical beast with some exceptions... notably that spells and effects that affect only animals still affect the companion... just like I said.
greyhaze
06-18-06, 12:11 PM Ok, the creature Type is Magical Beast, but it is still affected by spells and affects that affect Animals.

Just out of curiousity, what is the entry in the DMG getting at by saying "The animal is still an animal. It's not a magical beast, as a familiar or paladin's mount is." - paragraph 3, pg205.
pres_man
06-18-06, 01:04 PM It was a mess up with switching it to more similiar to familiars.
Animal Companion
Player’s Handbook, page 36
Contrary to the text, a druid’s animal companion is not treated as a magical beast; it remains an animal. Trim the first paragraph of the sidebar so that it reads as
follows:
A druid’s animal companion is superior to a normal animal of its kind and has special powers, as described below.
greyhaze
06-18-06, 01:32 PM Sorry, I don't understand pres_man.

ah, scratch that, I understand now.

the Player's Handbook was errata'd.

Thanks guys. :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
greyhaze 06-18-06, 11:45 AM	There are conflicting rulings in the source books on whether or not an "animal companion" becomes a magical beast or remains an animal. As the name might suggest maybe it is an animal, but the first line in the PHB says it's a magical beast. PHB page 36 under the "Druid's Animal Companion" side bar. DMG page 205 3rd paragraph line 2. What's the official ruling?
Tevin Kevlak 06-18-06, 11:57 AM	Well... if the first line says it's a magical beast then why did you even post this? Because it's not called the Magical Beast Companion? ... read the entry on the animal companion and you'll see things like "even though the companion is a magical beast spells and effects that effect animals still function on the companion" etc.
greyhaze 06-18-06, 12:02 PM	That does not clarify the creature Type. Is it an Animal or a Magical Beast? Specifically. Please, read the question again, and those two lines in the entries.
Tevin Kevlak 06-18-06, 12:06 PM	Yes it does. It says plain as day under the descritpion and rules of how the Druids Animal Companion functions that it is a magical beast with some exceptions... notably that spells and effects that affect only animals still affect the companion... just like I said.
greyhaze 06-18-06, 12:11 PM	Ok, the creature Type is Magical Beast, but it is still affected by spells and affects that affect Animals. Just out of curiousity, what is the entry in the DMG getting at by saying "The animal is still an animal. It's not a magical beast, as a familiar or paladin's mount is." - paragraph 3, pg205.
pres_man 06-18-06, 01:04 PM	It was a mess up with switching it to more similiar to familiars. Animal Companion Player’s Handbook, page 36 Contrary to the text, a druid’s animal companion is not treated as a magical beast; it remains an animal. Trim the first paragraph of the sidebar so that it reads as follows: A druid’s animal companion is superior to a normal animal of its kind and has special powers, as described below.
greyhaze 06-18-06, 01:32 PM	Sorry, I don't understand pres_man. ah, scratch that, I understand now. the Player's Handbook was errata'd. Thanks guys. :)