Post/Author/DateTime	Post
heirodule 05-25-04, 02:27 PM	I have a halfling druid who rides her riding dog animal companion. I just hit 3rd level, so my companion improves to 4 hd. I understand that this gives me (i mean, my companion ) a feat (gained at 3hd), and does it give an additonal ability bump too? What would folks reccomend as a new feat for a riding dog?
DrMorganes 05-25-04, 02:31 PM	No. Ability boosts for player characters happen 4th level and every fourth level afterward. There is a chart near the front of the Player's Handbook which details the level progression shared by all classes.
Shadow Blade 05-25-04, 03:12 PM	From the SRD: Ability Score Improvement: Treat monster Hit Dice the same as character level for determining ability score increases. This only applies to Hit Dice increases, monsters do not gain ability score increases for levels they “already reached” with their racial Hit Dice, since these adjustments are included in their basic ability scores. As its Hit Dice increase, a creature’s attack bonuses and saving throw modifiers might improve. It gains more feats and skills, depending on its type. So your Riding Dog gains a Feat for having 3 HD and gains a Ability Increase for having 4 HD.
heirodule 05-25-04, 03:24 PM	Sorry for the ambiguity on who got the feat, me or the dog. I'm confused about one more thing: The riding dog has a STR of 15 a +2 modfier. The bite damage is 1d6+3 to start. Why?
ehrin 05-25-04, 03:34 PM	My guess: because wolves get a 1d6 +1 for their bite, and with the +2 strength that the riding dog has over the wolf, he gets +2 to his attack damage, thus 1d6+3. That's the difference between a 70 pound wolf and a 200 pound Mastiff.
heirodule 05-25-04, 03:51 PM	Nope. I found this out too. If a creature has only one natural attack, then they get STR + 1/2 for damage. Very nice. My riding dog companion gets +1 str for improving, +1 STR for an ability boost to 17 (+3 mod), so has 1d6 + 4 damage, and a +6 to hit. I'm picking combat reflexes for the free 3rd HD feat. Any other ideas?
Auldrek 05-25-04, 05:27 PM	I'm pretty sure a dog and a wolf use dex for the attack bonus. Look and see if it says the dog has weapon finese.
battle_van 06-26-04, 03:55 AM	No ability increase every 4 levels - the companion animal gets strength and dex bonuses as per the table in the PHB, not per the monster rules. Otherwise, the skills and feats (ie. feat every 3 levels, and 1 skill point per level) are the same as monster advancement.
Ruix 07-01-04, 05:39 PM	your animal companion gets all the bonuses on the table - that means it gets more strength, dex, and hit dice - as well as everything that goes with Hit Dice... Also - you know that there are monster feats as well? You really should just look in the monster's manual about advancing your animal - increasing hit dice does a lot of stuff - it gets pretty complex... What I want to know is why an animal with only one attack is limited to just that one attack in a full round. For instance, an advanced Dire wolf might have a base attack of +7/+2 - however, it's full attack is still only the one bite...it seems to me like you should get more attacks as well - but you don't have to worry about that for a while
Bjorn the Wanderer 07-01-04, 11:25 PM	I am actually making up a character for a new campaign starting in the fall using a halfling druid with a riding dog familiar as a mount (will be going into halfling outrider). For the stat boost at 4HD you might want to put the extra point into Con. This will Give is STR, DEX and CON 16. The extra hp's could come in very handy. Since I am using my animal companion as a mount mostly I'm considering taking the run feat. It will only have 1 attack until it gains the multiattack bonus from a higher druid level. When it gets this it will gain a second attack at a -5. Thats as many attacks as it will ever get. My main question about it all comes in about it having the abilty to trip if trained for war. However they have the same training as warhorses and it is not explained to any greater detail. I think you'll have to get a ruling from your DM on that one as when I asked for help on it no one replied to me. Also your going to want to make sure that you use one of your bonus feats to insure that it will attack anything not a very limited list as is mentioned under handle animal and the attack command. Later, Bjorn
battle_van 07-02-04, 12:47 AM	I really don't think you get the stat boost with the HD. Double check the write-up in the PHB. Skill and feat increases as per leveling monsters are mentioned, but not stat points. Seeing how there are stat points in the companion animal leveling table, I can't see how they would then give out more with HD. Of course, I could be way off here. Cheers
kjenks 07-02-04, 12:07 PM	Your pup only gets the stat boosts listed in the PH (+1 Str/Dex), not a stat bump every four levels on top of that. I'd suggest Weapon Focus (bite) for your dog. That way, it will get to use its Trip ability more often.
BW0222 07-02-04, 11:31 PM	heirodule, The companion only gains bonus hit dice. The PHB lists what these provide. It specifically lists skills, feats, BAB, and saves. However, it does not list ability score increases. As others have said, you do gain the str/dex adjustment. As for a riding dog... Alertness, blind-fight, combat reflexes, dodge, endurance, power attack, run, skill focus (survival), stealthy, touchness, and weapon focus (bite) are possibles. For combat, dodge, combat reflexes, or power attack are your best choices. Power attack by itself isn't that great due to his limited attack bonus, but is prerequesites for improved overrun, improved bull rush, and improved sunder. For non-combat, skill focus (survival) is great for tracking. Run is a great choice for movement. Running lets him keep his dex bonus during fast movement -- and the extra speed is helpful. Thanks, Brett
kjenks 07-03-04, 12:42 AM	If your DM lets you use Complete Warrior feats, check out Dash for extra movement.