Animal Companion.. odd question..

[Lord Pendragon]

Not only can a Druid/Ranger release an Animal Companion from thier service, they can undertake a (24hr?) Ritual to summon another in its place. This new companion has all the enhanced abilities based on Druid/Ranger level that the old one had. Why is this a question, its stated fairly clearly in the PHB.

This means that the Companion will have all the bonus HD and bonus tricks (which are learned automatically) after the 24 hour ritual. What it will not have are the standard (non-bonus) tricks the previous animal was taught. The new Companion doesn't get those automatically.

At higher levels, this isn't really an issue, since the bonus tricks far outweigh the "natural" tricks, but it is something to keep in mind.

If the old Companion was trained as a Warbeast (MMII), the new one would have to receive another month of training to gain the template, as well.

Personally, I'm torn on this issue. The player doesn't seem to want to "trade in" her companions to gain some kind of mechanical advantage. Rather, she doesn't want to take a good friend into an environment that will be hostile to it. That's good druid behavior, in my opinion.

I'd probably allow it. Basically, the druid would have a "good friend" in various areas of the world. While the druid adventured in that area, he'd adventure with a specific companion. When the druid leaves that area, the companion would remain in its home territory, while the druid would move on.

Eventually, the druid would have a network of animal friends all across the land. I really like the flavor of that. While away from the druid, each animal would be an ordinary animal. But when the druid calls upon it and spends 24 hours establishing the mystical bond, his druidic power then flows into the creature, boosting it up to Companion status.

 

[Thia Halmades]

And that's what I get for not reading the whole entry. Duly noted. I don't allow animal companions anyway (because they are another PIA NPC) but. At least now I know the correct ruling.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Lord Pendragon.. that is the direction I am leaning towards.. more so as my campaign path leads across a variety of different environs...

While I think the Animal Companion is one of the worst class abilities possible, I have 2 Druids and 2 Rangers in the group... and I don't think its quite fair to negate a class ability just because the character had no idea they were headed into the desert for an extended period of time.

 

[Drowbane]

Drowbane, call it the 'posting from work and remembering previous version rules' syndrome

Thanks for the correct ruling.

Please don't think I was smacking on ya for not knowing.

And animal companions roxxor yo!!

 

[Thaniel]

Edit. NM. Pendragon said it. Dang.

 

[genshou]

I voted for yes because I am still playing 3E, where animal companions are not some cheap paladin warhorse knockoff. IMHO of course.

 

[Sigurd]

I'd say its possible but the character would take an EXP hit if he/she didn't do everything they could to provide for the animal they were leaving. This would mean that , at minimum, the animal would have to know where its favourite terrain was and have a good expectation of getting there.

I also think it should be a very rare occurance that they would get the same animal back again if they re-enterred a region. Animals would get on with thier lives, find mates, have litters etc....

If the old animal died as a result of being abandonned there should be some grief penalty for the character.

 

[Squire James]

Well, generally a former animal companion is going to be a lot safer in the wild than following an adventuring party. Even without the special enhancements, I imagine the animal will still be a lot more capable than a normal one of its type. Smarter than the average bear, indeed!

I can just imagine a wolf taking control of a pack and teaching it commando tactics...