Animal Companion [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animal Companion [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Friss_Kervrask
03-06-06, 05:30 PM Hello,

I want to know a thing. Did the druid's animal companion change it's size when earning HD like said in monster handbook?

Per exemple, it is said that a wolf upgraded to 5 or more HD is Large size. So the druid level up and the pet gain extra HD and have now 5 HD, did the wolf grow up to Large size?

Thanks for answering quickly...I need a reply today because I play this game tomorrow.

Thanks again
adimeadozen
03-06-06, 09:44 PM No, though it may gain other benefits of the extra hit dice, I caught this at the last second, so I'll leave that for someone else to say for sure, if I come back and the other half still isn't answered/something you'd like to know, I'll check it out.
adimeadozen
03-06-06, 09:50 PM Changed my mind, here:

Bonus HD

Extra eight-sided (d8) Hit Dice, each of which gains a Constitution modifier, as normal. Remember that extra Hit Dice improve the animal companion’s base attack and base save bonuses. An animal companion’s base attack bonus is the same as that of a druid of a level equal to the animal’s HD. An animal companion has good Fortitude and Reflex saves (treat it as a character whose level equals the animal’s HD). An animal companion gains additional skill points and feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster’s Hit Dice.

So, Base attack, saves, feats and skill points, but no size increase (iirc, its due to it being "bonus hd" instead of actually advancing it, which they... vaguely hint at there near the end).
Turel
03-08-06, 07:03 PM bollocks!
its a species thing, read under creature advancement. if its total HD put it in a different size catagory, then its literally "grown" that big. There are caps tho, not everything can get to collosal size, regardless of its HD.
BW0222
03-09-06, 01:36 AM Read the FAQ or any of the 500 other posts which asked the same question.

Animal companions do not advance in size. Bonus hit dice provide only the bonuses which the PHP provided. If you cast heroism on a wolf isn't doesn't grown in size. Familiars don't grow in size. etc., etc.
Turel
03-09-06, 06:04 PM where does it say that Animal companions don't grow in size? can you point to one of the 500 posts about this?
in my games it hasnt come across as broken, but id like to know the official ruling. :)

what if you came across a +size animal? could you then take it as a companion?
BW0222
03-09-06, 07:29 PM Turel,

>where does it say that Animal companions don't grow in size?

I already answered this question for you.

>>Read the FAQ ...

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20030221a

It's on page 7. I'm afraid I can't help you if you choose not to download it, read it, or if you want to disagree with it.

>where does it say that Animal companions don't grow in size?

That isn't how rules work. The rules tell you what is possible. It doesn't list out everything that is not possible. It doesn't say that they don't get death rays coming out of their eyes either. It doesn't have to. Rules in the MM are for advancement of animals. The PHP says nothing about advancing the animal X hit dice. It says they get bonus hit dice -- and then it defines what benefits those bonus hit dice give. It lists feats, skill points, saving throws, etc. It doesn't list out size increase or ability point increases.

>in my games it hasnt come across as broken,

Gaining +4 strength, +4 constitution, 700 lbs, etc. isn't broken? None of the 4th-level (level-3) creatures are large (except non-combat horses and sharks). There is a reason why a dire wolf is for 7th-level folks. At 4th-level, an 800 lbs (large) wolf could kick the snot out of any APL 4 enounter you are likely to come across.

It also makes no logical sense that an animal would gain 700lbs during a 24 hour non-magical ritual and suddenly shrink in size if the druid dies or dismisses the animal.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Friss_Kervrask 03-06-06, 05:30 PM	Hello, I want to know a thing. Did the druid's animal companion change it's size when earning HD like said in monster handbook? Per exemple, it is said that a wolf upgraded to 5 or more HD is Large size. So the druid level up and the pet gain extra HD and have now 5 HD, did the wolf grow up to Large size? Thanks for answering quickly...I need a reply today because I play this game tomorrow. Thanks again
adimeadozen 03-06-06, 09:44 PM	No, though it may gain other benefits of the extra hit dice, I caught this at the last second, so I'll leave that for someone else to say for sure, if I come back and the other half still isn't answered/something you'd like to know, I'll check it out.
adimeadozen 03-06-06, 09:50 PM	Changed my mind, here: Bonus HD Extra eight-sided (d8) Hit Dice, each of which gains a Constitution modifier, as normal. Remember that extra Hit Dice improve the animal companion’s base attack and base save bonuses. An animal companion’s base attack bonus is the same as that of a druid of a level equal to the animal’s HD. An animal companion has good Fortitude and Reflex saves (treat it as a character whose level equals the animal’s HD). An animal companion gains additional skill points and feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster’s Hit Dice. So, Base attack, saves, feats and skill points, but no size increase (iirc, its due to it being "bonus hd" instead of actually advancing it, which they... vaguely hint at there near the end).
Turel 03-08-06, 07:03 PM	bollocks! its a species thing, read under creature advancement. if its total HD put it in a different size catagory, then its literally "grown" that big. There are caps tho, not everything can get to collosal size, regardless of its HD.
BW0222 03-09-06, 01:36 AM	Read the FAQ or any of the 500 other posts which asked the same question. Animal companions do not advance in size. Bonus hit dice provide only the bonuses which the PHP provided. If you cast heroism on a wolf isn't doesn't grown in size. Familiars don't grow in size. etc., etc.
Turel 03-09-06, 06:04 PM	where does it say that Animal companions don't grow in size? can you point to one of the 500 posts about this? in my games it hasnt come across as broken, but id like to know the official ruling. :) what if you came across a +size animal? could you then take it as a companion?
BW0222 03-09-06, 07:29 PM	Turel, >where does it say that Animal companions don't grow in size? I already answered this question for you. >>Read the FAQ ... http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20030221a It's on page 7. I'm afraid I can't help you if you choose not to download it, read it, or if you want to disagree with it. >where does it say that Animal companions don't grow in size? That isn't how rules work. The rules tell you what is possible. It doesn't list out everything that is not possible. It doesn't say that they don't get death rays coming out of their eyes either. It doesn't have to. Rules in the MM are for advancement of animals. The PHP says nothing about advancing the animal X hit dice. It says they get bonus hit dice -- and then it defines what benefits those bonus hit dice give. It lists feats, skill points, saving throws, etc. It doesn't list out size increase or ability point increases. >in my games it hasnt come across as broken, Gaining +4 strength, +4 constitution, 700 lbs, etc. isn't broken? None of the 4th-level (level-3) creatures are large (except non-combat horses and sharks). There is a reason why a dire wolf is for 7th-level folks. At 4th-level, an 800 lbs (large) wolf could kick the snot out of any APL 4 enounter you are likely to come across. It also makes no logical sense that an animal would gain 700lbs during a 24 hour non-magical ritual and suddenly shrink in size if the druid dies or dismisses the animal.