Animal Companions and Dire Boars [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animal Companions and Dire Boars [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dargoth
10-22-03, 10:09 PM Well I just got a Dire Boar from the Harbringer minis, and my brother who plays a Dwarven Ranger took one look at and said he wants it as his Rangers animal companion.

Now reading the Rangers description in the PHB.

A ranger gets an Animal companion at 4th level, the Drie boar is however on the Druids tables which the Ranger can access at half his level.

The Dire boar is a 7th level creature, so this would mean that the Ranger would have to be 14th level before he could get one

However my brother just had another idea.

The druids class levels stack with levels of other classes that have animal companion in determining what animal companion you can have.

So would I be correct in saying that a 6th level Ranger. 1st level Druid could claim a Dire Boar (7 levels or higher) if he claims it as a Druid animal companion instead of a Rangers animal Companion?

Any help would be much appreciated
Dargoth
10-22-03, 10:43 PM Anyone?
loki87
10-22-03, 10:47 PM Hmmm, I'm looking at my PHB right now, and I believe your interpretation is correct. A Rgr6/Drd1 would be considered 7th level, and therefore able to select a Dire Boar as an animal companion. However, note that said Dire Boar would only get the powers of a 1st level animal companion because of the -6 level adjustment for selecting a alternative companion.
Purple Dragon Knight
10-23-03, 11:11 AM Originally posted by Dargoth
So would I be correct in saying that a 6th level Ranger. 1st level Druid could claim a Dire Boar (7 levels or higher) if he claims it as a Druid animal companion instead of a Rangers animal Companion? No. You need to be a 7th level druid, or a 14th level ranger, or a combination of the two.

For example,
a druid1/ranger12; or
a druid 2/ranger10; or
a druid 3/ranger8; or
a druid 4/ranger6; or
a druid 5/ranger4; or
a druid 6/ranger2.
loki87
10-23-03, 11:21 AM While I understand what you're saying, PDK, it is never stated outright in the druid's sidebar for animal companions. I don't have my PHB in front of me, but the sidebar reads something like, a druid may use the levels of any other class (including ranger) who has animal companions, towards his total level for obtaining alternative animal companions.

Unless I completely missed something, it never states that you must use half the ranger levels towards the druid's alt. animal companion. However, in the spirit of the game I think your interpretation is more fair.
Purple Dragon Knight
10-23-03, 04:41 PM The trick is to read the ranger entry with great attention: it specifically mentions that for the purposes of Animal Companion, "the ranger's effective druid level is equal to half the ranger's level". So you use half the ranger's class levels for the determination of the Animal Companion purposes, whether multiclassed or not.

Anything else would be trying too hard to exploit a loophole that I don't really see in the first place... :P
Purple Dragon Knight
10-23-03, 04:46 PM I have played a 3.5 rangers many occasions at this point, and I must say that my favorite Animal Companion option is the light horse. Give your ranger the Mounted Combat feat, and you end up with a mount with Improved Evasion (almost immune area spells) and with a very low chance to be hit (Mounted Combat).

If you use the Archery Combat Style, also take the Mounted Archery feat. This combo is pretty effective, and his IMO the best use of the Animal Companion class ability in regards to rangers (i.e. their Animal Companion progresses slowly, so Mounted Combat compensates)
Corthan
10-27-03, 01:15 PM Alright PDK, pop quiz. The Shadovar people of the city of Shade do not keep pets. My current main running character is a 9th level Shade Rngr. What type of Animal Comp would you suggest I take on.
Purple Dragon Knight
10-27-03, 01:45 PM Originally posted by Corthan
Alright PDK, pop quiz. The Shadovar people of the city of Shade do not keep pets. My current main running character is a 9th level Shade Rngr. What type of Animal Comp would you suggest I take on. Most suitable option in your case: camel.

Other fitting options for a desert setting: eagle, hawk, snake, cheetah, leopard.

Note: Shadovar don't allow pets?? that's the first time I hear of this. In this case you can leave them down below, under the flying city (I think the Shadovar have an outpost there, with tents and camels and stuff...)
ericlboyd
10-27-03, 02:01 PM My gaming group noticed another weird quirk in the druid/ranger animal companion rules this weekend:

A Drd2/Rng4 is treated as a 4th level druid for purposes of determining animal companions. However, a Drd2/Rng3 or Drd2/Rng2 is treated as a 2nd level druid for purposes of determining animal companions. This is because you only stack class levels that give an animal companion, and a Rgr3 or less does not yet have the animal companion ability.

We house-ruled this that you count the ranger levels, even if you're not a Rng4 yet, assuming you have some other class that provides the animal companion ability. This makes for a smoother transition as you add in ranger levels.

--Eric
Purple Dragon Knight
10-27-03, 08:52 PM Originally posted by ericlboyd
We house-ruled this that you count the ranger levels, even if you're not a Rng4 yet, assuming you have some other class that provides the animal companion ability. This makes for a smoother transition as you add in ranger levels.
Sounds like a good compromise, provided the PC ever plans to attain Rgr4. Otherwise I wouldn't allow it, but I've been told I was "aynal" before... :confused: really can't see why... :rolleyes:
Corthan
10-28-03, 10:13 AM Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
Sounds like a good compromise, provided the PC ever plans to attain Rgr4. Otherwise I wouldn't allow it, but I've been told I was "aynal" before... :confused: really can't see why... :rolleyes:

Me niether
Corthan
10-28-03, 10:17 AM Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
Most suitable option in your case: camel.

Other fitting options for a desert setting: eagle, hawk, snake, cheetah, leopard.

Note: Shadovar don't allow pets?? that's the first time I hear of this. In this case you can leave them down below, under the flying city (I think the Shadovar have an outpost there, with tents and camels and stuff...)

I think the DM for this campaign said something about it in our group forum. I believe the exact words were since the Shadovar lead such extravagent lives, they hardly feel the necessity to keep pets. Also they rarely leave the confines of their home city. This off course is for the average Shadovar.

Also another question about Shades if you don't mind. Do they need sleep once becoming a Shade.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dargoth 10-22-03, 10:09 PM	Well I just got a Dire Boar from the Harbringer minis, and my brother who plays a Dwarven Ranger took one look at and said he wants it as his Rangers animal companion. Now reading the Rangers description in the PHB. A ranger gets an Animal companion at 4th level, the Drie boar is however on the Druids tables which the Ranger can access at half his level. The Dire boar is a 7th level creature, so this would mean that the Ranger would have to be 14th level before he could get one However my brother just had another idea. The druids class levels stack with levels of other classes that have animal companion in determining what animal companion you can have. So would I be correct in saying that a 6th level Ranger. 1st level Druid could claim a Dire Boar (7 levels or higher) if he claims it as a Druid animal companion instead of a Rangers animal Companion? Any help would be much appreciated
Dargoth 10-22-03, 10:43 PM	Anyone?
loki87 10-22-03, 10:47 PM	Hmmm, I'm looking at my PHB right now, and I believe your interpretation is correct. A Rgr6/Drd1 would be considered 7th level, and therefore able to select a Dire Boar as an animal companion. However, note that said Dire Boar would only get the powers of a 1st level animal companion because of the -6 level adjustment for selecting a alternative companion.
Purple Dragon Knight 10-23-03, 11:11 AM	Originally posted by Dargoth So would I be correct in saying that a 6th level Ranger. 1st level Druid could claim a Dire Boar (7 levels or higher) if he claims it as a Druid animal companion instead of a Rangers animal Companion? No. You need to be a 7th level druid, or a 14th level ranger, or a combination of the two. For example, a druid1/ranger12; or a druid 2/ranger10; or a druid 3/ranger8; or a druid 4/ranger6; or a druid 5/ranger4; or a druid 6/ranger2.
loki87 10-23-03, 11:21 AM	While I understand what you're saying, PDK, it is never stated outright in the druid's sidebar for animal companions. I don't have my PHB in front of me, but the sidebar reads something like, a druid may use the levels of any other class (including ranger) who has animal companions, towards his total level for obtaining alternative animal companions. Unless I completely missed something, it never states that you must use half the ranger levels towards the druid's alt. animal companion. However, in the spirit of the game I think your interpretation is more fair.
Purple Dragon Knight 10-23-03, 04:41 PM	The trick is to read the ranger entry with great attention: it specifically mentions that for the purposes of Animal Companion, "the ranger's effective druid level is equal to half the ranger's level". So you use half the ranger's class levels for the determination of the Animal Companion purposes, whether multiclassed or not. Anything else would be trying too hard to exploit a loophole that I don't really see in the first place... :P
Purple Dragon Knight 10-23-03, 04:46 PM	I have played a 3.5 rangers many occasions at this point, and I must say that my favorite Animal Companion option is the light horse. Give your ranger the Mounted Combat feat, and you end up with a mount with Improved Evasion (almost immune area spells) and with a very low chance to be hit (Mounted Combat). If you use the Archery Combat Style, also take the Mounted Archery feat. This combo is pretty effective, and his IMO the best use of the Animal Companion class ability in regards to rangers (i.e. their Animal Companion progresses slowly, so Mounted Combat compensates)
Corthan 10-27-03, 01:15 PM	Alright PDK, pop quiz. The Shadovar people of the city of Shade do not keep pets. My current main running character is a 9th level Shade Rngr. What type of Animal Comp would you suggest I take on.
Purple Dragon Knight 10-27-03, 01:45 PM	Originally posted by Corthan Alright PDK, pop quiz. The Shadovar people of the city of Shade do not keep pets. My current main running character is a 9th level Shade Rngr. What type of Animal Comp would you suggest I take on. Most suitable option in your case: camel. Other fitting options for a desert setting: eagle, hawk, snake, cheetah, leopard. Note: Shadovar don't allow pets?? that's the first time I hear of this. In this case you can leave them down below, under the flying city (I think the Shadovar have an outpost there, with tents and camels and stuff...)
ericlboyd 10-27-03, 02:01 PM	My gaming group noticed another weird quirk in the druid/ranger animal companion rules this weekend: A Drd2/Rng4 is treated as a 4th level druid for purposes of determining animal companions. However, a Drd2/Rng3 or Drd2/Rng2 is treated as a 2nd level druid for purposes of determining animal companions. This is because you only stack class levels that give an animal companion, and a Rgr3 or less does not yet have the animal companion ability. We house-ruled this that you count the ranger levels, even if you're not a Rng4 yet, assuming you have some other class that provides the animal companion ability. This makes for a smoother transition as you add in ranger levels. --Eric
Purple Dragon Knight 10-27-03, 08:52 PM	Originally posted by ericlboyd We house-ruled this that you count the ranger levels, even if you're not a Rng4 yet, assuming you have some other class that provides the animal companion ability. This makes for a smoother transition as you add in ranger levels. Sounds like a good compromise, provided the PC ever plans to attain Rgr4. Otherwise I wouldn't allow it, but I've been told I was "aynal" before... :confused: really can't see why... :rolleyes:
Corthan 10-28-03, 10:13 AM	Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight Sounds like a good compromise, provided the PC ever plans to attain Rgr4. Otherwise I wouldn't allow it, but I've been told I was "aynal" before... :confused: really can't see why... :rolleyes: Me niether
Corthan 10-28-03, 10:17 AM	Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight Most suitable option in your case: camel. Other fitting options for a desert setting: eagle, hawk, snake, cheetah, leopard. Note: Shadovar don't allow pets?? that's the first time I hear of this. In this case you can leave them down below, under the flying city (I think the Shadovar have an outpost there, with tents and camels and stuff...) I think the DM for this campaign said something about it in our group forum. I believe the exact words were since the Shadovar lead such extravagent lives, they hardly feel the necessity to keep pets. Also they rarely leave the confines of their home city. This off course is for the average Shadovar. Also another question about Shades if you don't mind. Do they need sleep once becoming a Shade.