Animal Companion question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animal Companion question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DragonKnight82
11-01-06, 03:34 AM Hello all,

I've recently started to play LG on something other than a part time basis and had a question for those of you who have been playing for a while. First, some background: The character I'm playing is a Druid. This Druid is going to take a level of Beastmaster so that I can have a 16+ EDL campanion at 15th level. I had planned on taking either a T-Rex or a Triceratops because they have the best HPs of anything on the list, and since I plan to use it as a mount, that seemed like a good thing :).

Sadly, I just read the LGCS section on Animal companions, and it says that I may not take Dinosaur companions without Campaign or Regional Documentation.

So, the question I have is this: What are my chances of getting a Dinosaur as a companion? Or, more accurately, what are my chances of getting one of the two aforementioned Dinos as my companion. I don't expect it to be easy, especially since they are 16 EDL companions. My region is Yeomanry, if it helps.

Any help that you guys could give me on this would be great.

Thanks!
Cynric
11-01-06, 03:46 AM While I am not in the Yeomanry, I might be able to answer this question. I have a druid that sounds very similar and is at level 12.

You do not really need a dino as a lot of the time I have to reduce my large animal companion down to medium to take him into towns, dungeons etc. A levelled tiger is all you should need. Some local fighters complain that after 1 round they do not have to do anything because the tiger, with buffs outperforms them. Natures favour, GMF and animal growth (Bite of the werebear or tiger if you can get it) tends to make short work of any combats.

What race is your druid. I might be able to give some better pointers if I know stats, race feats etc.
DragonKnight82
11-01-06, 04:08 AM Well, I intend to use my companion as a mount. Normally a Tiger or other Large creature would do nicely, but I have other plans that require something a bit bigger. My plan is to take 2 levels of Master of Many Forms and turn into a Troll, and eventually a Frost Giant, which is why I need a Huge mount. An Elephant might do, but it doesn't have near as many HP. I suppose I could get by with Animal Growthed Dire Tiger, but that would hurt my ability to buff myself in the first round.
budleiser
11-01-06, 07:14 AM Well, I intend to use my companion as a mount. Normally a Tiger or other Large creature would do nicely, but I have other plans that require something a bit bigger. My plan is to take 2 levels of Master of Many Forms and turn into a Troll, and eventually a Frost Giant, which is why I need a Huge mount. An Elephant might do, but it doesn't have near as many HP. I suppose I could get by with Animal Growthed Dire Tiger, but that would hurt my ability to buff myself in the first round.

Thats cool! Cavalry rocks!
Reska
11-01-06, 10:28 AM Luckily for me, I get the 16 HD creature by 7th level. Dire Tortoise ftw! (Starts at Huge, Animal Growthed to gargantuan, always gets a surprise round action, trample...and I can teach it tricks like Roll Over!")
Sieylianna
11-01-06, 12:47 PM Luckily for me, I get the 16 HD creature by 7th level. Dire Tortoise ftw! (Starts at Huge, Animal Growthed to gargantuan, always gets a surprise round action, trample...and I can teach it tricks like Roll Over!")

Except you won't have animal growth until 11th level since you're losing two caster levels for MoMF.

Ed
MichaelTLH
11-01-06, 01:32 PM I have a 13 Druid / 1 Beastmaster with a Dire Snake animal companion (AR access) and it's a very nice combo when pre-buffed.
DragonKnight82
11-01-06, 02:50 PM Except you won't have animal growth until 11th level since you're losing two caster levels for MoMF.

Ed

Actually, I'm the one taking MoMF and losing the 2 caster levels. :)

Reska, yes you are getting a 16 HD creature at 7th level, but that creature, TMK, is only available to Druids who began their career in the Brightsands intro mod, or have AR access. If I'm wrong, please correct me. :)

Which brings me to another question: Can a Wasteland Druid use the creatures from the Wasteland companion table that are from MM2 and Fiend Folio? I would assume so, since the Brightsands sourcebook says that the classes mentioned may make use of the material, and to make use of the material I would have to use the 2 books mentioned previously.
Reska
11-01-06, 03:06 PM Actually, no MoMF for me. Arcane Heirophant (I still won't get animal growth till 11th, but it's going to be much much worse than having a gargantuan creature). And I was wrong, he's only 14 HD.

Yes, you can only get the tortoise if you're a Wasteland Druid (i.e. started in Bright Sands), though I don't know about AR access...havent' seen it yet.

My plans, in the long run, include: 6 levels of Druid, 1 level of Beastmaster (at 7th), 3 levels of Wizard, and the rest Arcane Heirophant.

Say hello to my litt...err, really big Animal Companion Familiar.

Sorry for hijacking...I love my turtle. My region is beginning to hate my turtle...and I haven't even made it to 7th level yet.
_m_
11-01-06, 05:36 PM Actually, no MoMF for me. Arcane Heirophant (I still won't get animal growth till 11th, but it's going to be much much worse than having a gargantuan creature). And I was wrong, he's only 14 HD.

Yes, you can only get the tortoise if you're a Wasteland Druid (i.e. started in Bright Sands), though I don't know about AR access...havent' seen it yet.

My plans, in the long run, include: 6 levels of Druid, 1 level of Beastmaster (at 7th), 3 levels of Wizard, and the rest Arcane Heirophant.

Say hello to my litt...err, really big Animal Companion Familiar.

Sorry for hijacking...I love my turtle. My region is beginning to hate my turtle...and I haven't even made it to 7th level yet.

if you want an animal companion familiar, get access to master of shadow PrC. I actually dont know if its ever come up outside the con, but if it has, id be interested to see if anyone else has taken it.

as for hijacking threads, i confess i do it all the time.
Reska
11-01-06, 08:04 PM if you want an animal companion familiar, get access to master of shadow PrC. I actually dont know if its ever come up outside the con, but if it has, id be interested to see if anyone else has taken it.

as for hijacking threads, i confess i do it all the time.

Master of Shadows is out of which book again?
_m_
11-01-06, 08:13 PM Master of Shadows is out of which book again?

Tome of Magic.

its a whole class centred around its companion familiar.
Reska
11-01-06, 08:52 PM Now, how to apply that to the Arcane Heirophant...but first...I have to find the book.
_m_
11-01-06, 09:03 PM it casts shadow magic... so arcane heirophant wont work.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DragonKnight82 11-01-06, 03:34 AM	Hello all, I've recently started to play LG on something other than a part time basis and had a question for those of you who have been playing for a while. First, some background: The character I'm playing is a Druid. This Druid is going to take a level of Beastmaster so that I can have a 16+ EDL campanion at 15th level. I had planned on taking either a T-Rex or a Triceratops because they have the best HPs of anything on the list, and since I plan to use it as a mount, that seemed like a good thing :). Sadly, I just read the LGCS section on Animal companions, and it says that I may not take Dinosaur companions without Campaign or Regional Documentation. So, the question I have is this: What are my chances of getting a Dinosaur as a companion? Or, more accurately, what are my chances of getting one of the two aforementioned Dinos as my companion. I don't expect it to be easy, especially since they are 16 EDL companions. My region is Yeomanry, if it helps. Any help that you guys could give me on this would be great. Thanks!
Cynric 11-01-06, 03:46 AM	While I am not in the Yeomanry, I might be able to answer this question. I have a druid that sounds very similar and is at level 12. You do not really need a dino as a lot of the time I have to reduce my large animal companion down to medium to take him into towns, dungeons etc. A levelled tiger is all you should need. Some local fighters complain that after 1 round they do not have to do anything because the tiger, with buffs outperforms them. Natures favour, GMF and animal growth (Bite of the werebear or tiger if you can get it) tends to make short work of any combats. What race is your druid. I might be able to give some better pointers if I know stats, race feats etc.
DragonKnight82 11-01-06, 04:08 AM	Well, I intend to use my companion as a mount. Normally a Tiger or other Large creature would do nicely, but I have other plans that require something a bit bigger. My plan is to take 2 levels of Master of Many Forms and turn into a Troll, and eventually a Frost Giant, which is why I need a Huge mount. An Elephant might do, but it doesn't have near as many HP. I suppose I could get by with Animal Growthed Dire Tiger, but that would hurt my ability to buff myself in the first round.
budleiser 11-01-06, 07:14 AM	Well, I intend to use my companion as a mount. Normally a Tiger or other Large creature would do nicely, but I have other plans that require something a bit bigger. My plan is to take 2 levels of Master of Many Forms and turn into a Troll, and eventually a Frost Giant, which is why I need a Huge mount. An Elephant might do, but it doesn't have near as many HP. I suppose I could get by with Animal Growthed Dire Tiger, but that would hurt my ability to buff myself in the first round. Thats cool! Cavalry rocks!
Reska 11-01-06, 10:28 AM	Luckily for me, I get the 16 HD creature by 7th level. Dire Tortoise ftw! (Starts at Huge, Animal Growthed to gargantuan, always gets a surprise round action, trample...and I can teach it tricks like Roll Over!")
Sieylianna 11-01-06, 12:47 PM	Luckily for me, I get the 16 HD creature by 7th level. Dire Tortoise ftw! (Starts at Huge, Animal Growthed to gargantuan, always gets a surprise round action, trample...and I can teach it tricks like Roll Over!") Except you won't have animal growth until 11th level since you're losing two caster levels for MoMF. Ed
MichaelTLH 11-01-06, 01:32 PM	I have a 13 Druid / 1 Beastmaster with a Dire Snake animal companion (AR access) and it's a very nice combo when pre-buffed.
DragonKnight82 11-01-06, 02:50 PM	Except you won't have animal growth until 11th level since you're losing two caster levels for MoMF. Ed Actually, I'm the one taking MoMF and losing the 2 caster levels. :) Reska, yes you are getting a 16 HD creature at 7th level, but that creature, TMK, is only available to Druids who began their career in the Brightsands intro mod, or have AR access. If I'm wrong, please correct me. :) Which brings me to another question: Can a Wasteland Druid use the creatures from the Wasteland companion table that are from MM2 and Fiend Folio? I would assume so, since the Brightsands sourcebook says that the classes mentioned may make use of the material, and to make use of the material I would have to use the 2 books mentioned previously.
Reska 11-01-06, 03:06 PM	Actually, no MoMF for me. Arcane Heirophant (I still won't get animal growth till 11th, but it's going to be much much worse than having a gargantuan creature). And I was wrong, he's only 14 HD. Yes, you can only get the tortoise if you're a Wasteland Druid (i.e. started in Bright Sands), though I don't know about AR access...havent' seen it yet. My plans, in the long run, include: 6 levels of Druid, 1 level of Beastmaster (at 7th), 3 levels of Wizard, and the rest Arcane Heirophant. Say hello to my litt...err, really big Animal Companion Familiar. Sorry for hijacking...I love my turtle. My region is beginning to hate my turtle...and I haven't even made it to 7th level yet.
_m_ 11-01-06, 05:36 PM	Actually, no MoMF for me. Arcane Heirophant (I still won't get animal growth till 11th, but it's going to be much much worse than having a gargantuan creature). And I was wrong, he's only 14 HD. Yes, you can only get the tortoise if you're a Wasteland Druid (i.e. started in Bright Sands), though I don't know about AR access...havent' seen it yet. My plans, in the long run, include: 6 levels of Druid, 1 level of Beastmaster (at 7th), 3 levels of Wizard, and the rest Arcane Heirophant. Say hello to my litt...err, really big Animal Companion Familiar. Sorry for hijacking...I love my turtle. My region is beginning to hate my turtle...and I haven't even made it to 7th level yet. if you want an animal companion familiar, get access to master of shadow PrC. I actually dont know if its ever come up outside the con, but if it has, id be interested to see if anyone else has taken it. as for hijacking threads, i confess i do it all the time.
Reska 11-01-06, 08:04 PM	if you want an animal companion familiar, get access to master of shadow PrC. I actually dont know if its ever come up outside the con, but if it has, id be interested to see if anyone else has taken it. as for hijacking threads, i confess i do it all the time. Master of Shadows is out of which book again?
_m_ 11-01-06, 08:13 PM	Master of Shadows is out of which book again? Tome of Magic. its a whole class centred around its companion familiar.
Reska 11-01-06, 08:52 PM	Now, how to apply that to the Arcane Heirophant...but first...I have to find the book.
_m_ 11-01-06, 09:03 PM	it casts shadow magic... so arcane heirophant wont work.