Animal Companions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animal Companions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
deadman1204
03-22-07, 03:47 PM I've looked and not had much luck. Are there any feats to improve an animal companion?
I'd like to play a druid who mainly fights with his companion and provides support for it. I'm honestly not looking at much in the way of wild shaping as I'd be more magically oriented, and not a front line fighter.
WuJen3
03-22-07, 04:25 PM The only feat that I have seen that will help is Natural Bond.

Compleete Adventurer page 111
Inigo Carmine
03-22-07, 07:34 PM Doesn't that feat not allow your effective druid level to exceed your hitdie?
Richmud
03-22-07, 07:43 PM Doesn't that feat not allow your effective druid level to exceed your hitdie?

Thats true.

What you need to look for are feats that indirectly help your and your companion. Feats that make you better at flanking would help you be a better fighter with companion. I believe the wolf pack tactical feat would also prove handy for similar reasons
celloshane
03-22-07, 10:36 PM Haflings have the best options to improve their companions, scattered throughout various books. Races of the Wild has a few options including the Wolf Pack tactical feat.
Really though, the best options for fighting with your animal companion is your spellcasting. Various buff spells and intelligent summons will keep your furry pal strong, and you have spells like Fireseeds and Entangle to provide battlefield control from the rear.
pres_man
03-22-07, 10:47 PM Check the MM there are feats in there for improving creatures that would be useful for your companion. Things like improved natural attack, improved natural armor, etc. Then of course any feat that would be applicatible from the PHB is also useful (or any other text being allowed). As long as the animal companion meets the prefequists you should be able to take the feat. Now to get the animal to do something unusual a DM might require a trick. Let's say the animal takes power attack, you might have to use a trick to get him to "bite" hard.
G_Mancer
03-22-07, 11:00 PM Doesn't that feat not allow your effective druid level to exceed your hitdie?

yes but, the cap for druid level is the last thing considered. basically-waht the feat was meant for was for you to be able to use a higher tier a. companion (dire wolf instead of regular wolf) and still grant them the same abilities. also, it's great for rangers 6th lvl and above.
runestar
03-23-07, 12:37 AM IIRC, champions of ruin has this feat which gives your animal companion +2str/con and a rabies bite, but you must be evil.:(
Lael
03-23-07, 01:06 AM Its called Feral Animal Companion and the druid handbook says to avoid. Same goes with the Exhalted Animal Companaion feat as (according to the handbook) the benifits don't outweight the cost of a feat.

The other thing is basically looking at any templates that you might be about to add onto your animal companion like the war-trained template.

But animal companions are still basically an animal, you might be better looking at using summons instead like I plan to with my druid char.
Inigo Carmine
03-23-07, 08:38 AM yes but, the cap for druid level is the last thing considered. basically-waht the feat was meant for was for you to be able to use a higher tier a. companion (dire wolf instead of regular wolf) and still grant them the same abilities. also, it's great for rangers 6th lvl and above.

The way I read it, it doesn't allow for that. It's useful for those who don't have all druid levels. Rangers, multiclassed druids, or those with some form of racial HD.
Nephlite
03-23-07, 12:47 PM The way I read it, it doesn't allow for that. It's useful for those who don't have all druid levels. Rangers, multiclassed druids, or those with some form of racial HD.

It does by RAW as yoiur effective Druid Level is reduced by taking the stronger selection and this raises itr back.
1-0-3 (dire wolf)+3 (ntural bond)=10 so you never exceeded HD.

If you can habdle a dip into BeastMaster it adds 4 (technically 3) to your Druid level for AC (well 4-1 because BM level). Really nice.
enygmatic_me
03-23-07, 07:30 PM I fee like I am suggesting this a lot lately, but have you considered an Arcane Heirophant build?
deadman1204
03-23-07, 07:46 PM do companions get feats every 3rd new HD like characters?
Richmud
03-23-07, 07:57 PM do companions get feats every 3rd new HD like characters?

They get a new feat every time they end up with a HD total divisible by 3 including there normal animal HD (the feats for their pre-companion existence are predetermined in their stat block)
pres_man
03-24-07, 12:36 AM do companions get feats every 3rd new HD like characters?
Yes.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
deadman1204 03-22-07, 03:47 PM	I've looked and not had much luck. Are there any feats to improve an animal companion? I'd like to play a druid who mainly fights with his companion and provides support for it. I'm honestly not looking at much in the way of wild shaping as I'd be more magically oriented, and not a front line fighter.
WuJen3 03-22-07, 04:25 PM	The only feat that I have seen that will help is Natural Bond. Compleete Adventurer page 111
Inigo Carmine 03-22-07, 07:34 PM	Doesn't that feat not allow your effective druid level to exceed your hitdie?
Richmud 03-22-07, 07:43 PM	Doesn't that feat not allow your effective druid level to exceed your hitdie? Thats true. What you need to look for are feats that indirectly help your and your companion. Feats that make you better at flanking would help you be a better fighter with companion. I believe the wolf pack tactical feat would also prove handy for similar reasons
celloshane 03-22-07, 10:36 PM	Haflings have the best options to improve their companions, scattered throughout various books. Races of the Wild has a few options including the Wolf Pack tactical feat. Really though, the best options for fighting with your animal companion is your spellcasting. Various buff spells and intelligent summons will keep your furry pal strong, and you have spells like Fireseeds and Entangle to provide battlefield control from the rear.
pres_man 03-22-07, 10:47 PM	Check the MM there are feats in there for improving creatures that would be useful for your companion. Things like improved natural attack, improved natural armor, etc. Then of course any feat that would be applicatible from the PHB is also useful (or any other text being allowed). As long as the animal companion meets the prefequists you should be able to take the feat. Now to get the animal to do something unusual a DM might require a trick. Let's say the animal takes power attack, you might have to use a trick to get him to "bite" hard.
G_Mancer 03-22-07, 11:00 PM	Doesn't that feat not allow your effective druid level to exceed your hitdie? yes but, the cap for druid level is the last thing considered. basically-waht the feat was meant for was for you to be able to use a higher tier a. companion (dire wolf instead of regular wolf) and still grant them the same abilities. also, it's great for rangers 6th lvl and above.
runestar 03-23-07, 12:37 AM	IIRC, champions of ruin has this feat which gives your animal companion +2str/con and a rabies bite, but you must be evil.:(
Lael 03-23-07, 01:06 AM	Its called Feral Animal Companion and the druid handbook says to avoid. Same goes with the Exhalted Animal Companaion feat as (according to the handbook) the benifits don't outweight the cost of a feat. The other thing is basically looking at any templates that you might be about to add onto your animal companion like the war-trained template. But animal companions are still basically an animal, you might be better looking at using summons instead like I plan to with my druid char.
Inigo Carmine 03-23-07, 08:38 AM	yes but, the cap for druid level is the last thing considered. basically-waht the feat was meant for was for you to be able to use a higher tier a. companion (dire wolf instead of regular wolf) and still grant them the same abilities. also, it's great for rangers 6th lvl and above. The way I read it, it doesn't allow for that. It's useful for those who don't have all druid levels. Rangers, multiclassed druids, or those with some form of racial HD.
Nephlite 03-23-07, 12:47 PM	The way I read it, it doesn't allow for that. It's useful for those who don't have all druid levels. Rangers, multiclassed druids, or those with some form of racial HD. It does by RAW as yoiur effective Druid Level is reduced by taking the stronger selection and this raises itr back. 1-0-3 (dire wolf)+3 (ntural bond)=10 so you never exceeded HD. If you can habdle a dip into BeastMaster it adds 4 (technically 3) to your Druid level for AC (well 4-1 because BM level). Really nice.
enygmatic_me 03-23-07, 07:30 PM	I fee like I am suggesting this a lot lately, but have you considered an Arcane Heirophant build?
deadman1204 03-23-07, 07:46 PM	do companions get feats every 3rd new HD like characters?
Richmud 03-23-07, 07:57 PM	do companions get feats every 3rd new HD like characters? They get a new feat every time they end up with a HD total divisible by 3 including there normal animal HD (the feats for their pre-companion existence are predetermined in their stat block)
pres_man 03-24-07, 12:36 AM	do companions get feats every 3rd new HD like characters? Yes.