Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Generic_NPC 06-29-07, 06:19 AM	I am going to be playing a gnome druid in an upcoming campaign, and I am planning to pick an animal companion that I can use my gnome speak with animals (burrowing only) ability to take advantage of the ac's constant presence. My DM would probably be pretty loose with the restrictions on what ac I could pick, and I could even go with an adjusted upgraded one if it comes down to that, but I'm not sure that I just want to go with the old dire badger. It feels a little unoriginal, yadadamean? Any ideas on other burrowing animals?
dknight100 06-29-07, 07:18 AM	RttToEE has taught me never to insult the dire badger to his face. It doesnt sound impressive... but man... they're everywhere in RttToEE and they like the taste of sleeping caster.
JellyPooga 06-29-07, 08:40 AM	Carcass Eater from Libris Mortis is a burrowing animal. Not specifically listed as an animal companion option, but I guess it'd be in the '1st level' list, given it's stats and abilities.
ewancummins 06-29-07, 08:49 AM	Armadillo!!! Dire armadillo, if you can get one. :)
Cardinal Teplin 06-29-07, 10:21 AM	Dire fox? Give it wolf stats or similar? Dire mole? wolverine, otter, dire rabbit, dire rat, meercat, weasel, dormouse of legend... Most mammals burrow. Mechanically the best is probably the dire weasel, but if the DM lets you have one he probably needs his head examined...
Ebonarc 06-29-07, 11:07 PM	I think by "burrowing", you'll want a creature with a burrow speed. Go with a badger or dire badger. I'm using a dire badger as a "boss" monster in a "ruined structure" dungeon for 1st level characters.
Generic_NPC 06-30-07, 02:07 AM	Thanks for all the responses. I think that maybe I need my head examined, because I became entranced by the idea of the dire armadillo, however weak/excessively strong it may be. I can see it all now... The little gnome that developed a way to ride a rolling dire armadillo like one of those thingies where you ride inside the wheel. I figure that stats would be weaker than a badger, but maybe close, substituting some feature for the badger rage, hmmmm... Any ideas on armadillo stats while we're at it?
dknight100 06-30-07, 03:02 AM	i find your term "Badger Rage" to be most awesome
Paladin_Hiroshi 06-30-07, 06:35 AM	Dire bagder FTW! It's the best choice I believe, because your DM may start frothing at the mouth when you suggest a bullete...:rolleyes:
Generic_NPC 07-01-07, 08:15 AM	i find your term "Badger Rage" to be most awesome I don't know what else to call it, mostly because it functions differently from a barbarian's rage or the frenzied berserker's frenzy. I am presently frothing at the mouth at the idea of a bulette animal companion, but that might be a bit too much of a stretch, being a huge creature and also a magical beast. Also, I would have to bend the rules a bit to wrangle the whole CR 7 thing. (It's a pretty low level campaign at the moment). Natural Bond only gives a +3 to effective druid level for the animal companion, up to a max of my character level, so I figure that the -3 adjustment for certain improved companions makes it even at a certain character level, but this may be seen as a bit shady by my DM. Keep it secret; keep it safe.
runestar 07-01-07, 08:24 AM	Complete mage has a druid variant where you can swap out animal companion for an elemental companion. An earth elemental should fit the bill just fine. Here is the relevant article (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20061010a) :)