Confused about animal companion advancement [Archive] - Wizards Community

Confused about animal companion advancement [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tenken
04-28-06, 10:22 AM If my character is a level 16 druid with a fleshraker dinosaur (MMIII) animal companion, how many feats can I give the animal companion? Also, are the feats that I can give him limited to a certain type? Any help would be appreciated, since I'm really confused about how this works.
Spike_Fightwicky
04-28-06, 11:20 AM What's the fleshraker's cohort/level adjustment if druids want them as companions? It'll give you a modifer (maybe something like druid level-3 or something). Once you have that value, you can find out how many hit dice he gains, and then how many feats he gains.

As for feat selection, as long as he meets the prerequisites for the feats, he can select them (for example, the fleshraker's Int. is likely too low for Improved Trip, so he can't pick that one).
Tenken
04-28-06, 12:30 PM Yeah, Fleshraker is actually druid -3. Also, advancement for the Fleshraker says that they become Large size at 9-12HD. Does this mean that since mine is at 14HD, he should be a Large size? Or does he stay a medium size?

Another thing, as the monster advances, does the Rake damage increase? The Fleshraker only gets a 1d6 +2 dmg, but since he's increasing his strength, among other things, I assume the rake damage would also increase, but I can't seem to figure out how they're calculating the rake damage.
Tenken
04-29-06, 03:22 PM bump

Anyone?
dok
04-29-06, 04:00 PM Yeah, Fleshraker is actually druid -3.

So that means that, as a 16th level Druid, your Fleshraker has +8 HD.

ow many feats can I give the animal companion? Also, are the feats that I can give him limited to a certain type?

All intelligent creatures have 1 feat per 3 HD, plus one feat for the 1st HD. The Fleshraker starts with 4 HD. It would gain additional feats when it's total HD equaled 6, 9, and 12. So your Fleshraker animal companion would have three additional feats.

Creatures have to follow the same rules for taking feats that PCs do. That means it must meet the prerequisites before it can take a feat. So the feat gained at 6 HD couldn' be used on Improved Critical, because at 6 HD, the Fleshraker doesn't meet the prerequisite of BAB +8. (It could take Improved Critical with the feat gained at 12th level, though) The creature couldn't take the Combat Expertise feat, since it doesn't meet the prerequisite of a 13+ intelligence.

Also, advancement for the Fleshraker says that they become Large size at 9-12HD. Does this mean that since mine is at 14HD, he should be a Large size? Or does he stay a medium size?

This has been covered in the FAQ and many other places: bonus HD gained from being an animal companion do not cause size increases. The "Advancement" line is for bigger, stronger breeds of a specific creature.

Another thing, as the monster advances, does the Rake damage increase? The Fleshraker only gets a 1d6 +2 dmg, but since he's increasing his strength, among other things, I assume the rake damage would also increase, but I can't seem to figure out how they're calculating the rake damage.

It looks like the bonus to damage for the Rake attack is in error; it should either be +3 (strength bonus) or +1 (one-half strength bonus). Since the Rake is a secondary attack, I'd say that the damage should be 1d6+1. Then if the creature's strength increases, the bonus to damage from the rake would increase appropriately. (1/2 strength bonus, rounded down)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tenken 04-28-06, 10:22 AM	If my character is a level 16 druid with a fleshraker dinosaur (MMIII) animal companion, how many feats can I give the animal companion? Also, are the feats that I can give him limited to a certain type? Any help would be appreciated, since I'm really confused about how this works.
Spike_Fightwicky 04-28-06, 11:20 AM	What's the fleshraker's cohort/level adjustment if druids want them as companions? It'll give you a modifer (maybe something like druid level-3 or something). Once you have that value, you can find out how many hit dice he gains, and then how many feats he gains. As for feat selection, as long as he meets the prerequisites for the feats, he can select them (for example, the fleshraker's Int. is likely too low for Improved Trip, so he can't pick that one).
Tenken 04-28-06, 12:30 PM	Yeah, Fleshraker is actually druid -3. Also, advancement for the Fleshraker says that they become Large size at 9-12HD. Does this mean that since mine is at 14HD, he should be a Large size? Or does he stay a medium size? Another thing, as the monster advances, does the Rake damage increase? The Fleshraker only gets a 1d6 +2 dmg, but since he's increasing his strength, among other things, I assume the rake damage would also increase, but I can't seem to figure out how they're calculating the rake damage.
Tenken 04-29-06, 03:22 PM	bump Anyone?
dok 04-29-06, 04:00 PM	Yeah, Fleshraker is actually druid -3. So that means that, as a 16th level Druid, your Fleshraker has +8 HD. ow many feats can I give the animal companion? Also, are the feats that I can give him limited to a certain type? All intelligent creatures have 1 feat per 3 HD, plus one feat for the 1st HD. The Fleshraker starts with 4 HD. It would gain additional feats when it's total HD equaled 6, 9, and 12. So your Fleshraker animal companion would have three additional feats. Creatures have to follow the same rules for taking feats that PCs do. That means it must meet the prerequisites before it can take a feat. So the feat gained at 6 HD couldn' be used on Improved Critical, because at 6 HD, the Fleshraker doesn't meet the prerequisite of BAB +8. (It could take Improved Critical with the feat gained at 12th level, though) The creature couldn't take the Combat Expertise feat, since it doesn't meet the prerequisite of a 13+ intelligence. Also, advancement for the Fleshraker says that they become Large size at 9-12HD. Does this mean that since mine is at 14HD, he should be a Large size? Or does he stay a medium size? This has been covered in the FAQ and many other places: bonus HD gained from being an animal companion do not cause size increases. The "Advancement" line is for bigger, stronger breeds of a specific creature. Another thing, as the monster advances, does the Rake damage increase? The Fleshraker only gets a 1d6 +2 dmg, but since he's increasing his strength, among other things, I assume the rake damage would also increase, but I can't seem to figure out how they're calculating the rake damage. It looks like the bonus to damage for the Rake attack is in error; it should either be +3 (strength bonus) or +1 (one-half strength bonus). Since the Rake is a secondary attack, I'd say that the damage should be 1d6+1. Then if the creature's strength increases, the bonus to damage from the rake would increase appropriately. (1/2 strength bonus, rounded down)