Animal Companions at higher Level

[Drowbane]

Show your DM the Natural Bond feat from Complete Adventurer and cross your fingers.

I have a Talenta Halfling Druid 4th who has that feat. His Clawfoot companion is nasty.

 

[Talmun]

It has 80 hp...its AC is 25 (pretty low)...

IME, for 11th level game that's darn respectable, unless your game is of the high-powered variety.

One thing I might suggest if you want more out of your companion is to ask the DM about the possibility of taking him as a cohort (you would have to take the Leadership feat, of course).

 

[pbd]

IME, for 11th level game that's darn respectable, unless your game is of the high-powered variety.

One thing I might suggest if you want more out of your companion is to ask the DM about the possibility of taking him as a cohort (you would have to take the Leadership feat, of course).

Yeah, we just fought a black dragon that power attacked for 12 and still hit him like 6 times...

He didn't make it.

 

[pbd]

Show your DM the Natural Bond feat from Complete Adventurer and cross your fingers.

I have a Talenta Halfling Druid 4th who has that feat. His Clawfoot companion is nasty.

Not sure your reading the feat right, it adds 3 to your effective druid level up to your character level. It is essentially the "practiced spellcaster" for the multiclass druid. My druid is single class, so no go.

 

[Talmun]

Yeah, we just fought a black dragon that power attacked for 12 and still hit him like 6 times...

He didn't make it.

Well, as others have pointed out, druid animal companions aren't really built for going toe-to-toe (claw-to-claw?) with dragons...heck, some characters aren't really built for that

My condolences on the passing of your tiger, though.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Not sure your reading the feat right, it adds 3 to your effective druid level up to your character level. It is essentially the "practiced spellcaster" for the multiclass druid. My druid is single class, so no go.

Actually, it doesn't - and it's an important distinction.

What it does is add +3 to your effective Druid level, up to your character level, when determining your companion's special abilities.

Take, for instance, the Dire Wolf (or the Tiger) from the Improved Companions table. For purposes of determining special abilities, you are treated as a druid of your level - 6.

With the feat, you would be treated as a druid of your level - 3. In many cases, this represents a gain of a couple hit dice and some additional natural armor.

It may be worth the investment, if you can get your DM to buy in.

EDIT:

Check this thread for more info: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=137277

 

[pbd]

Well, as others have pointed out, druid animal companions aren't really built for going toe-to-toe (claw-to-claw?) with dragons...heck, some characters aren't really built for that

My condolences on the passing of your tiger, though.

Well it was him and 5 others going to to toe with the dragon, it just full attacked him; and for some reason it kept hitting him even after he was down :\

 

[ElvishBard]

Well it was him and 5 others going to to toe with the dragon, it just full attacked him; and for some reason it kept hitting him even after he was down :\

Probably was so that the DM wouldn't feel bad about killing a PC, they are harder to replace than animal companions.

 

[Len]

Well it was him and 5 others going to to toe with the dragon, it just full attacked him; and for some reason it kept hitting him even after he was down :\

In our last game, the ettin ignored my animal companion completely and kept hitting me after I was down.

 

[Brother MacLaren]

Well it was him and 5 others going to to toe with the dragon, it just full attacked him; and for some reason it kept hitting him even after he was down :\

Wimpy DM, picking on the poor kitty because he doesn't want to hurt the precious PCs. And stupid stupid dragon.

Actually, AC 25 is good at 11th level for my current party. My druid's riding dog is AC 26 with only normal leather barding, going to AC 30 with Barkskin and 32 with Cat's Grace. The paladin is only AC 27 if he's using his shield, and the rogues and barbarian don't come anywhere close to that (nor does the druid in wild shape).