Animal Companion and Summon Nature's Ally Alternates?

[Terramotus]

So I'm going to be playing in my first real 3.5 game after a lengthy absence into d20 Modern and Iron Heroes. After a get-together with the other players, I've decided to play a Druid. It's an Eberron game with everything but the kitchen sink thrown in source-wise, so I can have a little bit of fun with things.

I've studied up on I've got a few questions that I haven't been able to answer with my web-crawling.

1) Is there a formula or set of guidelines out there for how to figure out what level an animal should be available as a companion if the original source doesn't list the animal as being available as such? I'm thinking here of the dire animals in the MM2 in particular.

2) Is there a formula or set of guidelines for adding additional animals to the Summon Nature's Ally lists? Is there even any expanded list anywhere with additonal animals?

To stave off any negative comments, I'd like to state that I'm not really trying to power-game here. I'd just more options for variety and RP's sake, especially to the end of matching up companions and summons to the terrain I'm in. I mean, there's got to be a level that it's balanced to have a Dire Hawk as a companion or a summon for that matter.

Also, a strict reading of the rules is not 100% necessary here, since I'm sleeping with the DM. However, balance is important for the same reason. If there aren't any semi-official statements or generally agreed-upon derivations of the guidelines used to make the existing lists, I won't do anything.

As always, any assistance would be appreciated.

 

[Three_Haligonians]

Dragon Magazine #301 has an article that presents an alternate system for the various summon X spells. In short, each spell summons creatures of a particular CR and they include extensive lists of creatures and where to find the stats on them. (I say extensive, and it was but now it's dated - no MM III or MM IV for example).

Fear not though, they address this problem too. They give another alternate rule that lets you customize your summon spells: when you take the spell, you can pick three creatures of the appropriate CR to be on your "list" of available summons. As you go on adventures (or during your downtime, or whenever) you can add to your list with successful Knowledge checks - arcana, nature, and religion, as dictated by your spell casting class.

It's the system that I use (though I couldn't help myself and tweak it here and there), I really like it and you should give it a look if you can.

That being said, make sure you look it over with your DM. It can be a hefty change that requires some discussion. Also, it is just polite (might be bad pillow-talk though.. ).

J from Three Haligonians

 

[Terramotus]

Are you sure you don't mean #302? I just flipped through my back issues, and it's not in #301. According to Paizo's website, it looks like it's in #302, and wouldn't you know it, that's one of the gaps in my collection. Guess I'll have to order it online.

Anything like it with regard to Companions?

 

[Three_Haligonians]

Curses!

I do mean #302 - the one labeled "magic". That'll teach me to just trust my memory instead of double-checking. Dang hubris.

If you can find it, cool. If not, I could go into some more detail - if only to get you started on your own version.

Sadly, it is just for summoning spells.

J from Three Haligonians