Alternate Druid Animal Companion

[Destil]

At what level would a winter wolf be a fair animal companion?

I'm leaning towards 10th since it's superior to the 7th dire wolf. But how does the dire wolf compare the the other 7th level options? I'm more worried about no survivability if I hold off until 10th, and it the dire wolf is one of the weaker choices I wouldn't have a problem with allowing it at 7th, the player has spent feat for a rather minor related bonus (Beast Totem from ECS) already (+3 to saves vs. Cold effects).

Also, how unbalanced would it be to allow the normal wolf to advance in size with bonus HD from druid level? The player is interested in being a wolf rider. I'm playing a druid with a wolf currently but the game is pretty low combat and I haven't had a chance to really see my own wolf in action for a while.... Now I know it would be rather overpowered at 3rd level (the wolf my own druid had was better than our half-orc monk at 3rd by a decent margin), but what about at 6th?

 

[Diirk]

Also, how unbalanced would it be to allow the normal wolf to advance in size with bonus HD from druid level? The player is interested in being a wolf rider. I'm playing a druid with a wolf currently but the game is pretty low combat and I haven't had a chance to really see my own wolf in action for a while.... Now I know it would be rather overpowered at 3rd level (the wolf my own druid had was better than our half-orc monk at 3rd by a decent margin), but what about at 6th?

A wolf advanced in size is virtually identical to a dire wolf anyway (except the dire wolf has a good will save), so there's no real point; just take the dire wolf at 7th. Its a pretty good choice, the high strength and trip is especially effective.

And the ECS places winter wolf as 10th level, page 61 under the Totem Companion feat.

 

[Jack Simth]

Well...

The Winter Wolf has a CR of 5; with the exception of the Elasomasorous (CR 7, only available in Aquatic campaigns), everything on the Druid-7 list is either CR 3 or CR 4. Everything on the Druid-10 list is CR 4, 5, or 6. If it goes on there at all, it's on the Druid-10 list, using comperable CR's.

That said, it's a bad idea. The beasty is too lop-sided for that level. It's attacks won't be particularly significant, and it's defense will be practically nothing for having only slightly better HP and AC than the Dire Wolf - and worse saves, and worse attack bonus (but a better attack). Drop it down three levels, and put it in a 7th level party, and it's too useful - especially with the grappling behavior written into it's description.

 

[Destil]

That said, it's a bad idea. The beasty is too lop-sided for that level. It's attacks won't be particularly significant, and it's defense will be practically nothing for having only slightly better HP and AC than the Dire Wolf - and worse saves, and worse attack bonus (but a better attack). Drop it down three levels, and put it in a 7th level party, and it's too useful - especially with the grappling behavior written into it's description.

This was my fear, too at 10th... horrid wolf is also level 10 and actually has a chance of survival, so I think I'll switch the bonus acid damage to cold and use that, maybe with a 1/point of Con bonus breath weapon just to keep feeling like a winter wolf.