Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jfh33 12-28-05, 04:52 PM	I am trying to advance my 7th lvl druid's riding dog. Does anybody know of some slick and easy way to advance these critters? Maybe some kind of HeroForge type thing? The directions for advancing them has always been a pain, in my opinion.
dok 12-28-05, 07:01 PM	Animal companions never advance the way other monsters do. They gain additional Hit Dice, abiltiy score increases, and natural armor increases based on the chart in the PHB. Those additional Hit Dice do not increase the creature's size, but they do provide additional skill points, feats, and ability score increases. A 7th level Druid's animal companion gains +4 Hit Dice. Creatures of the Animal Type (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#animalType) have Good BAB, so those hit dice add +3 to the creature's BAB, and thus to all attacks. Dogs have Good Reflex and Fortitude saving throws, so those +4 Hit Dice add +2 to the Reflex & Fortitude saves, and +1 to the Will save. It gains (2+int) skill points with each HD, minimum 1, so that's +4 skill points, best allocated among the listed (class) skills for the dog. Additionally, the animal gains +4 natural armor, +2 Strength & +2 Dexterity for being an animal companion to a 7th level druid. Let's summarize: add 4d8+8 hit dice and +26 hit points +1 to initiative +5 to AC, +4 to flat-footed AC, +1 to Touch AC. +3 BAB +4 Grapple +4 to all attacks. +1 to damage +2 Fortitude saves +3 Reflex saves +1 Will saves +4 skill points (allocate to Jump, Listen, Spot, Survival as you see fit) +1 feat +1 ability score increase The final product would look like this: 7th level Druid animal companion Small Animal Hit Dice: 5d8+10 (32 hit points) Initiative: +4 Speed: 40 ft. Armor Class: 20 (+1 size, +4 Dex, +5 natural) Touch: 15, Flat-footed 16 Base Attack/Grapple: +3 / +1 Attack: Bite +6 (1d4+3) Full Attack: Bite +6 (1d4+3) Space/Reach: 5 ft./ 5 ft. Special Attacks: - Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent, Evasion, Link, Share Spells, Devotion, Saves: Fortitude +6, Reflex +8, Will +2 Abilities: Str 15 Dex 19 Con 15 Int 2 Wis 12 Cha 6 Skills: Jump +9, Listen +6, Spot +6, Survival +2 Feats: Alertness, Track (B) +1
neilthrun 12-31-05, 01:41 AM	Huh, I was always under the impressions extra HD equals advancement. I guess you could read it either way.
shiruken_ravenheart 12-31-05, 08:51 AM	Do leveling up familiars work the same way? So if I had 5th lvl Wizard, and a small air elemental, does it increase? -Uken
taltamir 12-31-05, 11:01 AM	familiars also work according to a TABLE found in the wizard description. They don't have actual LEVELS of their own that increase. http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/sorcererWizard.htm#familiars Or read the entry in the PHB for a more detailed explanation. Also, you cannot use an awakened animal for an animal companion, or awaken your existing animal companion Same applies for a paladin's special mount... All things considered, familiars are not really worth having IMAO (in my awesome opinion).