Advancing Animal Companion HD? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Advancing Animal Companion HD? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Fox Reeveheart
07-01-07, 12:22 AM Question, when you advance an animal companion's hit dice through either the table on the druid's/ranger animal companion or the wild cohort's feat represented here http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a... when they advance in hitdice will they grow in size to if it says they will? Like how a wolf can eventually become large size and whatnot? Or is it through some natural sort of leveling that has to happen?
runestar
07-01-07, 01:16 AM No.

When you add Hit Dice to a druid’s (or ranger’s) animal companion as the master’s level goes up, does the animal get any bigger? For instance, when a druid has a wolf companion, the wolf starts out with the standard 2 Hit Dice and is size Medium. By the time the druid is 3rd level, the wolf has 2 bonus Hit Dice. According to the wolf entry in the Monster Manual, an “advanced” wolf with 4 Hit Dice would be Large. Is the example companion wolf also Large?

An animal companion doesn’t get bigger when it adds extra Hit Dice for the master’s levels. The advancement entries for creatures, and the rules for advancing monsters, refer to unusually powerful specimens that are simply tougher (and perhaps bigger) than normal for their kinds.

Nor do they get the +1 stat boost for their 4th HD.:)
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht
07-01-07, 03:45 PM No.

Nor do they get the +1 stat boost for their 4th HD.:)

You sure they don't get the +1 stat boost?
Melayl
07-01-07, 03:57 PM I can't recall what RAW states, but I say that they do (in mygames). It just seems to make sense to me. After all, their HD increase, and according to the creature entries, higher HD = larger sizes (with most, anyway).

Go by whatever your DM says. If you're the DM, do whatever you want. :)
Captain_Kobold
07-01-07, 11:06 PM I think that the idea behind hit die (and thus possible size) increases for animals is to generate unusually large and powerful specimens, not so that animals will actually advance and grow to that extent during their lives.
runestar
07-01-07, 11:10 PM You sure they don't get the +1 stat boost?
I am quite sure, though I admit I am unable to substantiate it with proper evidence.

I noticed that in one of the online modules (the one with the warmage and gnoll army), the animal companions were not given their +1 stat increase. Monsters in the MM with their own alternate advancement rules (such as redcap, barghest, dragon) do not incorporate this +1 stat boost as well. I can only surmise that their alternate advancement rules supercede the typical advancement rules as outlined in the MM.:)

Though I see nothing wrong with allowing it.
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht
07-02-07, 11:36 AM I am quite sure, though I admit I am unable to substantiate it with proper evidence.

I noticed that in one of the online modules (the one with the warmage and gnoll army), the animal companions were not given their +1 stat increase. Monsters in the MM with their own alternate advancement rules (such as redcap, barghest, dragon) do not incorporate this +1 stat boost as well. I can only surmise that their alternate advancement rules supercede the typical advancement rules as outlined in the MM.:)

Though I see nothing wrong with allowing it.

On the redcap, it's actually stated in the text that it does get that stat boost. The stat block for the Elder Redcap is in error.
Wolf72
07-02-07, 05:02 PM the only limit I'd put on the +1 stat boost is not to int if it would raise to 3+ ... after that it becomes a magical beast and what not.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Fox Reeveheart 07-01-07, 12:22 AM	Question, when you advance an animal companion's hit dice through either the table on the druid's/ranger animal companion or the wild cohort's feat represented here http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a... when they advance in hitdice will they grow in size to if it says they will? Like how a wolf can eventually become large size and whatnot? Or is it through some natural sort of leveling that has to happen?
runestar 07-01-07, 01:16 AM	No. When you add Hit Dice to a druid’s (or ranger’s) animal companion as the master’s level goes up, does the animal get any bigger? For instance, when a druid has a wolf companion, the wolf starts out with the standard 2 Hit Dice and is size Medium. By the time the druid is 3rd level, the wolf has 2 bonus Hit Dice. According to the wolf entry in the Monster Manual, an “advanced” wolf with 4 Hit Dice would be Large. Is the example companion wolf also Large? An animal companion doesn’t get bigger when it adds extra Hit Dice for the master’s levels. The advancement entries for creatures, and the rules for advancing monsters, refer to unusually powerful specimens that are simply tougher (and perhaps bigger) than normal for their kinds. Nor do they get the +1 stat boost for their 4th HD.:)
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht 07-01-07, 03:45 PM	No. Nor do they get the +1 stat boost for their 4th HD.:) You sure they don't get the +1 stat boost?
Melayl 07-01-07, 03:57 PM	I can't recall what RAW states, but I say that they do (in mygames). It just seems to make sense to me. After all, their HD increase, and according to the creature entries, higher HD = larger sizes (with most, anyway). Go by whatever your DM says. If you're the DM, do whatever you want. :)
Captain_Kobold 07-01-07, 11:06 PM	I think that the idea behind hit die (and thus possible size) increases for animals is to generate unusually large and powerful specimens, not so that animals will actually advance and grow to that extent during their lives.
runestar 07-01-07, 11:10 PM	You sure they don't get the +1 stat boost? I am quite sure, though I admit I am unable to substantiate it with proper evidence. I noticed that in one of the online modules (the one with the warmage and gnoll army), the animal companions were not given their +1 stat increase. Monsters in the MM with their own alternate advancement rules (such as redcap, barghest, dragon) do not incorporate this +1 stat boost as well. I can only surmise that their alternate advancement rules supercede the typical advancement rules as outlined in the MM.:) Though I see nothing wrong with allowing it.
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht 07-02-07, 11:36 AM	I am quite sure, though I admit I am unable to substantiate it with proper evidence. I noticed that in one of the online modules (the one with the warmage and gnoll army), the animal companions were not given their +1 stat increase. Monsters in the MM with their own alternate advancement rules (such as redcap, barghest, dragon) do not incorporate this +1 stat boost as well. I can only surmise that their alternate advancement rules supercede the typical advancement rules as outlined in the MM.:) Though I see nothing wrong with allowing it. On the redcap, it's actually stated in the text that it does get that stat boost. The stat block for the Elder Redcap is in error.
Wolf72 07-02-07, 05:02 PM	the only limit I'd put on the +1 stat boost is not to int if it would raise to 3+ ... after that it becomes a magical beast and what not.