Building an animal companion [Archive] - Wizards Community

Building an animal companion [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
fuzzypants
05-24-06, 02:44 PM No reading, my players!

I'm working on converting Sunless Citadel to 3.5 so that I may try my hand at DMing with the module. In an effort to assure that things are converted properly, I'm re-creating all the creatures with classes (a bit of a workload, I know, but I want the practice as well). That brings me to Belak the Druid and his animal companion.

In the module, his companion is a giant tree frog named Kulket, but that isn't an option for an animal companion in 3.5, so I decided a Medium viper would be appropriate. The problem I'm running into is the HD and the BAB and the Saves.

A normal Medium viper has 2d8 HD. As Belak is a level 4 Druid, that gives the snake two more HD. Does that bring it to 4d8 then? (Please no laughing -- the section about animal companions in the PHB and SRD confuses me) That would also boost the size of the snake to Large, right (which would change a lot of the stats anyway)?

From what I understand, the BAB of a 4d8 viper would match the BAB of a 4th level druid -- +3. Right?

As for the Saves, an animal companion has Good Fort and Ref saves, which would be +4 for both (plus ability modifiers). That would make the viper have Saves as: Fort +4 (+0 Con), Ref +7 (+3 Dex), and Will +1.

Am I on the right track here?

Thanks in advance for the help. :)
Tormsskull
05-24-06, 02:47 PM A normal Medium viper has 2d8 HD. As Belak is a level 4 Druid, that gives the snake two more HD. Does that bring it to 4d8 then? (Please no laughing -- the section about animal companions in the PHB and SRD confuses me) That would also boost the size of the snake to Large, right (which would change a lot of the stats anyway)?

Only thing I can tell you with out consulting my books (which aren't on me at the moment) is that IIRC Animal companions never increase in size due to those extra hitdice. They get tougher or more experienced, but never larger.
fuzzypants
05-24-06, 05:08 PM Only thing I can tell you with out consulting my books (which aren't on me at the moment) is that IIRC Animal companions never increase in size due to those extra hitdice. They get tougher or more experienced, but never larger.

I couldn't find anything that specifically stated that in the PHB or SRD, but I did only advance it as a Medium viper. Here's the stat block, using the SRD as a guide (don't have the MM handy):

CR 1
HD 4d8 (23 HP)
STR 8
DEX 18
CON 11
INT 1
WIS 12
CHA 2

Init: with Belak
Speed: 20 ft (climb and swim)
AC: 19 (+4 Dex, +5 nat)
Full Atk: +7 bite (1d4-1 plus poison [DC 11 primary and secondary 1d6 Con damage)
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +8, Will +1
Skills: Balance +11, Climb +11, Hide +12, Listen +5, Spot +5, Swim +7

I don't think this particular creature will make use of feats or skills much, so I didn't give them much thought. The SRD lists a Medium viper as having Improved Initiative and Weapon Finesse, but as it's an animal companion, the Improved Init is kind of negated.
Arganis
05-24-06, 05:17 PM I couldn't find anything that specifically stated that in the PHB or SRD, but I did only advance it as a Medium viper.

Don't recall where it's written... but it's somewhere.

And not that it makes much of a difference, but the poison DC should go up to 12. (10 + 1/2 HD + Con Modifier).
fuzzypants
05-24-06, 05:25 PM And not that it makes much of a difference, but the poison DC should go up to 12. (10 + 1/2 HD + Con Modifier).

SRD says the save is based on the viper's size, which for Medium is 11. I don't have a problem boosting it though. ;)
Arganis
05-24-06, 06:11 PM SRD says the save is based on the viper's size, which for Medium is 11. I don't have a problem boosting it though. ;)

Yeah, but since those numbers appear to use the formula in the front of the MM, I'm reasonably sure that you can up it based on HD increase.

When a special ability allows a saving throw, the kind of save and the save DC is noted in the descriptive text. Most saving throws against special abilities have DCs calculated as follows: 10 + 1/2 the attacker’s racial Hit Dice + the relevant ability modifier. The save DC is given in the creature’s description along with the ability on which the DC is based.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
fuzzypants 05-24-06, 02:44 PM	No reading, my players! I'm working on converting Sunless Citadel to 3.5 so that I may try my hand at DMing with the module. In an effort to assure that things are converted properly, I'm re-creating all the creatures with classes (a bit of a workload, I know, but I want the practice as well). That brings me to Belak the Druid and his animal companion. In the module, his companion is a giant tree frog named Kulket, but that isn't an option for an animal companion in 3.5, so I decided a Medium viper would be appropriate. The problem I'm running into is the HD and the BAB and the Saves. A normal Medium viper has 2d8 HD. As Belak is a level 4 Druid, that gives the snake two more HD. Does that bring it to 4d8 then? (Please no laughing -- the section about animal companions in the PHB and SRD confuses me) That would also boost the size of the snake to Large, right (which would change a lot of the stats anyway)? From what I understand, the BAB of a 4d8 viper would match the BAB of a 4th level druid -- +3. Right? As for the Saves, an animal companion has Good Fort and Ref saves, which would be +4 for both (plus ability modifiers). That would make the viper have Saves as: Fort +4 (+0 Con), Ref +7 (+3 Dex), and Will +1. Am I on the right track here? Thanks in advance for the help. :)
Tormsskull 05-24-06, 02:47 PM	A normal Medium viper has 2d8 HD. As Belak is a level 4 Druid, that gives the snake two more HD. Does that bring it to 4d8 then? (Please no laughing -- the section about animal companions in the PHB and SRD confuses me) That would also boost the size of the snake to Large, right (which would change a lot of the stats anyway)? Only thing I can tell you with out consulting my books (which aren't on me at the moment) is that IIRC Animal companions never increase in size due to those extra hitdice. They get tougher or more experienced, but never larger.
fuzzypants 05-24-06, 05:08 PM	Only thing I can tell you with out consulting my books (which aren't on me at the moment) is that IIRC Animal companions never increase in size due to those extra hitdice. They get tougher or more experienced, but never larger. I couldn't find anything that specifically stated that in the PHB or SRD, but I did only advance it as a Medium viper. Here's the stat block, using the SRD as a guide (don't have the MM handy): CR 1 HD 4d8 (23 HP) STR 8 DEX 18 CON 11 INT 1 WIS 12 CHA 2 Init: with Belak Speed: 20 ft (climb and swim) AC: 19 (+4 Dex, +5 nat) Full Atk: +7 bite (1d4-1 plus poison [DC 11 primary and secondary 1d6 Con damage) Saves: Fort +4, Ref +8, Will +1 Skills: Balance +11, Climb +11, Hide +12, Listen +5, Spot +5, Swim +7 I don't think this particular creature will make use of feats or skills much, so I didn't give them much thought. The SRD lists a Medium viper as having Improved Initiative and Weapon Finesse, but as it's an animal companion, the Improved Init is kind of negated.
Arganis 05-24-06, 05:17 PM	I couldn't find anything that specifically stated that in the PHB or SRD, but I did only advance it as a Medium viper. Don't recall where it's written... but it's somewhere. And not that it makes much of a difference, but the poison DC should go up to 12. (10 + 1/2 HD + Con Modifier).
fuzzypants 05-24-06, 05:25 PM	And not that it makes much of a difference, but the poison DC should go up to 12. (10 + 1/2 HD + Con Modifier). SRD says the save is based on the viper's size, which for Medium is 11. I don't have a problem boosting it though. ;)
Arganis 05-24-06, 06:11 PM	SRD says the save is based on the viper's size, which for Medium is 11. I don't have a problem boosting it though. ;) Yeah, but since those numbers appear to use the formula in the front of the MM, I'm reasonably sure that you can up it based on HD increase. When a special ability allows a saving throw, the kind of save and the save DC is noted in the descriptive text. Most saving throws against special abilities have DCs calculated as follows: 10 + 1/2 the attacker’s racial Hit Dice + the relevant ability modifier. The save DC is given in the creature’s description along with the ability on which the DC is based.