Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ForneyFreak3708 01-11-05, 08:16 AM	Is it possible for me to have a neutral evil, level 8, drow, ranger with a displacer beast as an animal companion. I know that it is kind of bending the rules and all. But I think it would be very unique. I wanted to know if that was just to "out there" to consider or if it would be up to my DM. If you were my DM would you let me play her or not? Here is the link for the two of them. Valanthia Silthorn http://www.3edb.com/viewCharacter.asp?cid=8948 Blink http://www.3edb.com/viewCharacter.asp?cid=8950
Crossover-Chronicler 01-11-05, 08:36 AM	Technically, no. A displacer beast is a Magical Beast, not an Animal. However, it's not entirely out of the question to get a nonstandard creature as an animal companion (Book of Exalted Deeds allows for "exalted companions," for example). As for power level, I'd say it's obviously more powerful than the normal animal companion options. The displacer beast has most of the benefits of a large cat, and then some. Sorcerers and Wizards have to pay out a feat (Improved Familiar) to get most nonstandard familiars, and BoED requires a feat to acquire any of the magical beast companins available to exalted Rangers. I'd say this is certainly up to your DM, but you should probably be willing to at least pay a feat for the privelige.
Kratch 01-11-05, 08:48 AM	You could use the leadership feat to get that displacer beast. It's a 10th level equivelent so you'd need to be at least 12 level and have a score high enough to get a tenth level cohort. Remember the penalty for haveing a step off alignment (they're LE) and the one for haveing an animal companion already.
ForneyFreak3708 01-11-05, 11:11 AM	Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.
Glenn4Moose 01-11-05, 11:34 AM	You can also modify it as a druid would for high level animal companions. Using the SRD and the MM you could compare the following copy and pasted list thats in the SRD to the displacer beast level and cr and try to find a way to work it. ALTERNATIVE ANIMAL COMPANIONS A druid of sufficiently high level can select her animal companion from one of the following lists, applying the indicated adjustment to the druid’s level (in parentheses) for purposes of determining the companion’s characteristics and special abilities. 4th Level or Higher (Level –3) * Ape (animal) * Bear, black (animal) * Bison (animal) * Boar (animal) * Cheetah (animal) * Crocodile (animal)1 * Dire badger * Dire bat * Dire weasel * Leopard (animal) * Lizard, monitor (animal) * Shark, Large1 (animal) * Snake, constrictor (animal) * Snake, Large viper (animal) * Wolverine (animal) 7th Level or Higher (Level –6) * Bear, brown (animal) * Dire wolverine * Crocodile, giant (animal) * Deinonychus (dinosaur) * Dire ape * Dire boar * Dire wolf * Elasmosaurus1 (dinosaur) * Lion (animal) * Rhinoceros (animal) * Snake, Huge viper (animal) * Tiger (animal) 10th Level or Higher (Level –9) * Bear, polar (animal) * Dire lion * Megaraptor (dinosaur) * Shark, Huge1 (animal) * Snake, giant constrictor (animal) * Whale, orca1 (animal) 13th Level or Higher (Level –12) * Dire bear * Elephant (animal) * Octopus, giant1 (animal) 16th Level or Higher (Level –15) * Dire shark1 * Dire tiger * Squid, giant1 (animal) * Triceratops (dinosaur) * Tyrannosaurus (dinosaur) 1 Available only in an aquatic environment. *from SRD*
Crossover-Chronicler 01-11-05, 11:37 AM	Aren't dinosaurs "animals" in 3.5, Glenn4Moose? It would seem that the Displacer Beast would fail the simple "high-level character" test because it is a magical beast, regardless of its relative power level.
Glenn4Moose 01-11-05, 01:26 PM	True, but the reason I placed the list was as an example for him on what to add/take away according to its relative strength compared to these animals only if the DM allowed it. More of a "If yes do this" then an actualy decision or a way to mod it according to the nonstandard exalted deeds book's feat.