Druid Animal Companion Advancement [Archive] - Wizards Community

Druid Animal Companion Advancement [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Bayne Mournbringer
04-27-04, 12:25 PM I wanted to know if a Druid's animal companion advanced as a cohort does? In other words, my Druid is level 8, when he receives XP he would divide the XP by 8 and that is what the animal companion receives as XP. Is this correct?
eudas
04-27-04, 04:56 PM animal companion advancement is independent of any xp splitting. the animal companion does not gain xp as a member of the party. animal companion advancement is dependent entirely on the druid's level; see also DRUID in the PHB.

eudas
Bayne Mournbringer
04-27-04, 05:02 PM Thanks, but that is not entirely clear as to how to advance the companion. The companion table in the PHB shows different levels for the companion as well as the bonuses for level advancement, the description in the text says level advancement, but nowhere does it say "Here is how it works". I have read the Druid part of the PHB and that is why I am posting for clarification.
eudas
04-27-04, 05:57 PM You use the stats of the creature from the MM, and add whatever modifications the Druid Animal Companion table lists on to that default animal. If the animal has enough hit dice after adding these to gain an extra feat, it does so, etc; did you have specific questions to address? Please clarify and maybe we can answer your questions more accurately.

It sounds like you're really after a step-by-step example to follow. I'd be happy to make one, but I'm at work so I would have to do it later.

eudas
PhaedrusXY
04-27-04, 07:08 PM Originally posted by Bayne Mournbringer
The companion table in the PHB shows different levels for the companion Italics added by me. No, the table shows how to advance the animal companion for a druid of a specific level. The levels shown in the table are for the druid, not the animal.

If you look at the description for each column in the table, it explains this. For the Class Level column, the description says this:Class Level: The character’s druid level. The druid’s class levels stack with levels of any other classes that are entitled to an animal companion for the purpose of determining the companion’s abilities and the alternative lists available to the character.
Pesi
04-27-04, 08:30 PM You might want to check out this page (http://www.hi.is/~ethi/AnimalCompanions).
(very unfinished and will probably stay that way, but it's there)
Bayne Mournbringer
04-28-04, 10:06 AM Let me clarify what I am after here.

My 7th level Druid selected a Brown Bear, -6 levels effectively giving me a Level 1 Brown Bear according to the Alternative Animal Companion list at the bottom right of Page 36 of the PHB.

My bear is Level 1 so he has 1 Bonus trick, Link and Share Spells according to the table at the upper left of Page 36 of the PHB. Correct, or do I not understand what is being explained? Not entirely sure.

My Druid advanced to Level 8 by receiving the correct amount of XP. Does this mean my bear automatically advances to Level 2 simply because I advanced, or does he receive XP at a fraction of what I receive and go through the XP steps as a PC (Level 2 = 1000XP, etc)?
Big Dawg
04-28-04, 10:19 AM Bayne:

The Animal Comp. is not a Cohort. It works nothing like that, so get that out of your head.

The Animal Comp. doesn't gain any XP what so ever, it's level depends strictly on your druid's level and that is it.

With the example you said, the animal companion would now equal a 2nd level druid's companion. The druid is level 8 and the bear is -6. that makes it a 2. so now go to the chart and add everything the chart says a 2nd level druid's comp. gets.

the animal does not increase in size despite what some will tell you.

-Chris
Bayne Mournbringer
04-28-04, 12:10 PM Thanks, that makes sense and is what I thought until the DM read the DMG Page 205 which says the Animal Companion is something like a cohort. I will use this info to try and convince the DM, but if you check out the DMG page 205, you will see it is a bit ambiguous (like many D&D rules).

I appreciate all of your help! Thanks everyone. :)
Arachest
04-29-04, 03:13 PM You should look at that page in the DMG again and see that it sayes that an animal companion is unlike a cohort. An animal companion will do simple things and can't be told complex one.
Bayne Mournbringer
04-29-04, 03:20 PM Originally posted by Arachest
You should look at that page in the DMG again and see that it sayes that an animal companion is unlike a cohort. An animal companion will do simple things and can't be told complex one.

DMG Version 3.5 page 205 bottom right side:

Quote:
"Druids can begin play with animal companions, which are something like cohorts, and..."

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bayne Mournbringer 04-27-04, 12:25 PM	I wanted to know if a Druid's animal companion advanced as a cohort does? In other words, my Druid is level 8, when he receives XP he would divide the XP by 8 and that is what the animal companion receives as XP. Is this correct?
eudas 04-27-04, 04:56 PM	animal companion advancement is independent of any xp splitting. the animal companion does not gain xp as a member of the party. animal companion advancement is dependent entirely on the druid's level; see also DRUID in the PHB. eudas
Bayne Mournbringer 04-27-04, 05:02 PM	Thanks, but that is not entirely clear as to how to advance the companion. The companion table in the PHB shows different levels for the companion as well as the bonuses for level advancement, the description in the text says level advancement, but nowhere does it say "Here is how it works". I have read the Druid part of the PHB and that is why I am posting for clarification.
eudas 04-27-04, 05:57 PM	You use the stats of the creature from the MM, and add whatever modifications the Druid Animal Companion table lists on to that default animal. If the animal has enough hit dice after adding these to gain an extra feat, it does so, etc; did you have specific questions to address? Please clarify and maybe we can answer your questions more accurately. It sounds like you're really after a step-by-step example to follow. I'd be happy to make one, but I'm at work so I would have to do it later. eudas
PhaedrusXY 04-27-04, 07:08 PM	Originally posted by Bayne Mournbringer The companion table in the PHB shows different levels for the companion Italics added by me. No, the table shows how to advance the animal companion for a druid of a specific level. The levels shown in the table are for the druid, not the animal. If you look at the description for each column in the table, it explains this. For the Class Level column, the description says this:Class Level: The character’s druid level. The druid’s class levels stack with levels of any other classes that are entitled to an animal companion for the purpose of determining the companion’s abilities and the alternative lists available to the character.
Pesi 04-27-04, 08:30 PM	You might want to check out this page (http://www.hi.is/~ethi/AnimalCompanions). (very unfinished and will probably stay that way, but it's there)
Bayne Mournbringer 04-28-04, 10:06 AM	Let me clarify what I am after here. My 7th level Druid selected a Brown Bear, -6 levels effectively giving me a Level 1 Brown Bear according to the Alternative Animal Companion list at the bottom right of Page 36 of the PHB. My bear is Level 1 so he has 1 Bonus trick, Link and Share Spells according to the table at the upper left of Page 36 of the PHB. Correct, or do I not understand what is being explained? Not entirely sure. My Druid advanced to Level 8 by receiving the correct amount of XP. Does this mean my bear automatically advances to Level 2 simply because I advanced, or does he receive XP at a fraction of what I receive and go through the XP steps as a PC (Level 2 = 1000XP, etc)?
Big Dawg 04-28-04, 10:19 AM	Bayne: The Animal Comp. is not a Cohort. It works nothing like that, so get that out of your head. The Animal Comp. doesn't gain any XP what so ever, it's level depends strictly on your druid's level and that is it. With the example you said, the animal companion would now equal a 2nd level druid's companion. The druid is level 8 and the bear is -6. that makes it a 2. so now go to the chart and add everything the chart says a 2nd level druid's comp. gets. the animal does not increase in size despite what some will tell you. -Chris
Bayne Mournbringer 04-28-04, 12:10 PM	Thanks, that makes sense and is what I thought until the DM read the DMG Page 205 which says the Animal Companion is something like a cohort. I will use this info to try and convince the DM, but if you check out the DMG page 205, you will see it is a bit ambiguous (like many D&D rules). I appreciate all of your help! Thanks everyone. :)
Arachest 04-29-04, 03:13 PM	You should look at that page in the DMG again and see that it sayes that an animal companion is unlike a cohort. An animal companion will do simple things and can't be told complex one.
Bayne Mournbringer 04-29-04, 03:20 PM	Originally posted by Arachest You should look at that page in the DMG again and see that it sayes that an animal companion is unlike a cohort. An animal companion will do simple things and can't be told complex one. DMG Version 3.5 page 205 bottom right side: Quote: "Druids can begin play with animal companions, which are something like cohorts, and..."