Animal companions
- Thread starter Trellian
- Start date
Trellian said:
The only other list I know of is the new Sandstorm book. It offers about another 10 new companions to choose from. I don't have the book, I simply recall seeing it when I was thinking of buying it.
Also the Master Equipement book has a Climb Dog, and it mentiones how it can be used as an animal companion (where it falls in the list).
If you see an animal you want that isn't in the lists, do what I do and compare it to the animals that are on the list. Start with the Challenge Rating. That should narrow it down. If it doesn't conclusively place it in a category, start comparing the animals other ablities (HD, etc).
Hope that helps.
Apologies for hijacking the thread, but has anybody ever worked out if it's better to have an animal companions for a long time versus gaining a new one at higher levels? So, for example, should a 12th level druid hope to have an animal companion from level 1, or is it better to pick up a Dire Lion, for example, at level 10 or something?
Pinotage
Pinotage
Klaus
First Post
It varies.
If you take a Dire Wolf when the level comes, it's a 6HD creature with Str 27 and humongous damage. If you stick to your wolf, it is a 6HD creature with (IIRC) Str 16 or so, small damage (compared to others), but several tricks and perks (Devotion and what-nots).
So if you're after combat power, you should trade in your animal companion for a larger one (or roleplay it as being a mystical evolution of your AnComp, like a wolf turned into a Dire Wolf, like I do IMC). If you want more versatility and less conspicous AnComp, stick to the basics and watch the bonuses accrue.
As for the original question:
I wrote several animals for the CC5: Summoned Creatures web-enhancement, over at www.fierydragon.com . Check 'em out.
That being said, 80% of animals can be reconstructed with minor tweaks to existing animal stats (sometimes including a size change). Giraffe? Huge Light Horse (maybe less Jump and Str and more Spot... lots). Gazelee? Medium Light Horse (with better speed and maybe a Gore attack).
If you take a Dire Wolf when the level comes, it's a 6HD creature with Str 27 and humongous damage. If you stick to your wolf, it is a 6HD creature with (IIRC) Str 16 or so, small damage (compared to others), but several tricks and perks (Devotion and what-nots).
So if you're after combat power, you should trade in your animal companion for a larger one (or roleplay it as being a mystical evolution of your AnComp, like a wolf turned into a Dire Wolf, like I do IMC). If you want more versatility and less conspicous AnComp, stick to the basics and watch the bonuses accrue.
As for the original question:
I wrote several animals for the CC5: Summoned Creatures web-enhancement, over at www.fierydragon.com . Check 'em out.
That being said, 80% of animals can be reconstructed with minor tweaks to existing animal stats (sometimes including a size change). Giraffe? Huge Light Horse (maybe less Jump and Str and more Spot... lots). Gazelee? Medium Light Horse (with better speed and maybe a Gore attack).
Klaus said:
I agree with Klaus. I have a Druid 10 with a dog animal companion. The main choice comes down to purpose. If you want a combat monster - go big; but they go down fast (like a barbarian) due to their poor armor class. My dog has the best armor class in the party and consequently rarely takes a hit. I also use the attack skill sparingly so as not to risk it too greatly.
I looked at all the options when he lost his wolf companion (the one from 1st level) at 10th level and I kept coming back to the dog (slightly superior to a wolf and much easier to move in an urban environment).
Bonus skills and special abilities are gravy.
Plane Sailing
Astral Admin - Mwahahaha!
The Eberron campaign book gives appropriate lists of animal companinos for each national region (an excellent idea IMO) and that may indeed also include some variant animals.
I know that the child of winter druid sect can take vermin as their animal companions which is nice too.
I know that the child of winter druid sect can take vermin as their animal companions which is nice too.
Jeff Wilder
First Post
The latest Dragon addresses the question of adding new animal companions, and the advice is basically the same as already offered: compare them to the current lists; if you're torn between two lists, put the new animal in the higher-level list, as it's better to have the new animal be under-powered than over-powered.
