Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 vociferate Jan 22, 2009 0:41:52	Hi I am a 7th level druid with a couple other irrelevant levels (10 total, lets say). I have natural bond which gives +3 to my level in determining my animal companion. My companion is a Rhinoceros. I have been playing a game, and I think I am forgetting to add in my strength ability mod to my attack roles. Further, I don't think I improved him as he should when he gets more HD as I level (7+3?). Could someone help me out with: 1. Give me the appropriate rhino stats for 7th level druid +3 from natural bond. 2. Tell me what my companion's attack roll should look like? 1d20+(?) Why? 3. Tell me what my companion's natural attack damage should be? (2d6+12?) does this increase? Does that +12 include the +9 from having 29 str as a rhino, or is it added? Goofy me. I don't get it. I am sorry, I have tried to figure this out on my own, but I am still learning DnD
#2 Novacat Jan 22, 2009 1:34:34	I normally don't go out of my way anymore to dig up 3E rules answers, but for some reason I felt like doing all these calculations for you. The base Rhino has 8d8 Hit Dice. Your effective 10 levels of druid would increase a normal companion's Hit Dice by 6, but since it's a Rhino, you reduce your effective druid level by 6, leaving you with 4 levels of druid, for purposes of companion enhancement. You therefore add 2 Hit Dice. • Rhino Companion's new Hit Dice should look like this: 10d8+50 (100HP) • Base Attack Bonus is +7 • Base Saves are Fortitude +7, Reflex +3, Will +3 • Strength and Dexterity are both increased by 1, but they become odd numbers, so they don't significantly affect its combat stats. • Natural Armor increased by 2, to a total of 9 (AC 18 altogether) • Attack bonuses are +14 (2d6+12 damage on a Gore attack. Strength is already included in the attack bonus and damage bonus) • It gains Evasion, as per the Rogue special ability of the same name.
#3 mesinock Jan 22, 2009 1:51:37	Hi I am a 7th level druid with a couple other irrelevant levels (10 total, lets say). I have natural bond which gives +3 to my level in determining my animal companion. My companion is a Rhinoceros. I have been playing a game, and I think I am forgetting to add in my strength ability mod to my attack roles. Further, I don't think I improved him as he should when he gets more HD as I level (7+3?) Could someone help me out with: 1. Give me the appropriate rhino stats for 7th level druid +3 from natural bond. The (+3) you get from natural bond, is used to determine what additional powers your animal compainion gains based on your druid level. The rhino is not a normal druid animal compaion, as such when determining the additional powers of the rhino for being an animal companion the formual is (druid level -6). You would normaly determine the rhinos add powers as if your druid level was 1. However, natural bond grants you a +3 to this formula, so you may now determine the rhino's add powers as if your durid was 4. A level 4 druid's animal companion gains: +2 bonus HD, +2 natural armor, +1 str and dex, 2 bonus tricks, Link, share spell, and evasion. 2. Tell me what my companion's attack roll should look like? 1d20+(?) Why? 1d20+8. Melee attack rolls are based off of str mod. 26-27 stat has a +8 modifier. 3. Tell me what my companion's natural attack damage should be? (2d6+12?) does this increase? Does that +12 include the +9 from having 29 str as a rhino, or is it added? Goofy me. I don't get it. 2d6+12. 12 = (+8 str mod)+(+4 because WotC said so). Seriously I can not find any statistial game mechanic reason for it.
#4 tytalus Jan 22, 2009 4:44:54	1d20+8. Melee attack rolls are based off of str mod. 26-27 stat has a +8 modifier. No. It's 1D20+14 (+7 BAB, +8 STR, -1 size). As pointed out by Novacat. 2d6+12. 12 = (+8 str mod)+(+4 because WotC said so). Seriously I can not find any statistial game mechanic reason for it. Monsters with single attacks get 1.5 times their STR to damage, much like a someone using a weapon two-handed.