Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Eric Anondson 08-09-05, 08:18 PM	I have a character that just turned 12th level and I'm contemplating taken Leadership and getting a druid cohort or a cleric cohort. While this question isn't one upon which my decision hinges, I was curious what guidelines I would have for choosing the cohort's animal companion. Could this druid cohort choose polar bear for instance? I know that there are guidelines that say druids shouldn't be able to choose animal companions outside of areas they are familiar with. Of course, cohorts are allowed access to items on the character's ARs when creating the cohort. With that said, well, my character is in the Iuz metaregion (Sheld Lands native), and has frequently had excursions into the sub-arctic north of the metaregion, plus had adventured through "Amidst the Mists and Coldest Frosts". Burning Cliffs, Cold Marshes, Howling Hills, Burneal Forest, Blackmoor, camped at the edge of the Land of Black Ice... been there, done that... So my character has had frequent exposure to the subarctic and has encountered polar bears. All that said... Is it possible for my 12th character to take the Leadership feat (Leadership score 17) to gain a druid cohort with a polar bear? Regards, Eric Anondson
redgamer 08-12-05, 06:50 PM	If your cohort has enough levels of Druid he can take a polar bear as a companion.
Eric Anondson 08-13-05, 02:55 PM	Cool. But is that because my character has been through mods where polar bears have been encountered, or just because polar bears are actually available to anyone regardless of region?
redgamer 08-14-05, 11:14 AM	PC (cohort count as PCs for most things) can choose and animal compain you have seen. Most people take wolves and apes before they have seen them in mods because judges find it perfectly reasonable for a druid to have seen one in the wild. The way I read the rules is that except for dinosaurs a druid can find an animal companion off any type in the PHB. The rules are not explicate but a level one druid has an animal companion despite never meeting any animals in a mod. I judge could, if you live in a warm region, hassel you about polar bears but not many would have a problem and those that do should allow it once you tell them there is a polar bear in a mod you've played. You simple showed druid the polar bear when he became a cohort. Btw in recent (real world) news a polar bear was found in New England so while polar bears are uncomfortable in warm weather with the help of a friendly druid to trip its coat, cast spells, and keep it well hydrated a polar bear can survive in warm weather. To repeat I see know reason why having a Polar Bear would be a problem but it is possible given the lack of an explicate ruling.
hiddendragon 08-14-05, 07:16 PM	Yeah, I'm a druid and I have access to any animal according to hitdice related to my druid level. I can't get dinosaurs, plants, nor elementals as an animal companion. Well dinosaurs are limited, so I'll have access to them if I find documentation in AR. I can summon a polar bear at will, if I can make the weather in a desert a drenched rainstorm I can summon any animal I'm familiar with.