are animal companions integral to a ranger's class ablities?

[dreaded_beast]

from my understanding of the classes, each class has certain abilities that make them balanced in relation to one another. for example, the sheer amount of feats that a fighter gets or the wizard's abilities to potentially have nearly every spell in the book. my assumption is that these are class abilities and are taken into account when determining the balance and playability of a character class. take away this class ability and the class is weaker and no longer balanced when compared with the other classes.

if the above assumption can be considered true, then take the ranger.

is having an animal companion factored into whether or not the ranger is comparable to other classes?

would a ranger be a weaker class in comparison with other classes if he didn't have one?

and this one has been stumping him, how does a ranger obtain animal companions in the first place, through the judicious use of the animal friendship spell?

 

[Blacksad]

Wouldn't it be better in the D&D rules forum?

Anyway, the druid and ranger animal companion abilities are the result of the animal friendship spell, it's in the D&D FAQ if you want a source.

From my experience, those animals companion are important for the strength of the character (i.e. one of my player play a ranger, tend to use two weapon fighting, and having a wolf who flank his target help reduce his attack penalties, plus, depending on the companion they might have really useful abilities: track by scent, etc...).

 

[kengar]

Rangers don't get an animal companion until later levels (when they can cast the Animal Friendship spell). By then, the companion isn't that big a deal combat-wise. It is far more useful -from a balance perspective- to the druid at low levels, who needs help in combat because of their armor & weapon restrictions, etc.

 

[mooby]

In my experience, if you are a ranger, and expect your animal companion to be any help in combat, you're going to be sorely dissappointed. They're so weak (Ranger's casting level is 1/2 their ranger level, and they don't start until 4th level anyway!), and the companions die off quickly if you bring them into combat.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

It's a nice benefit, particularly for story and RP, but I don't consider it the same combat benefit as the druid, because of the caster level hit.

If the ranger as written lost animal companions, he'd lose some flavor, but I wouldn't see that as weakening him dramatically.

 

[diaglo]

besides having to train the animal to do "tricks"

most animal companions aren't very smart. they have a limit to the number of tricks you can teach them.

the druid is better suited for the animal companions.

they are nice for a ranger but not necessary. much like a construct can be for higher lvl arcane casters.

 

[Angcuru]

My ranger isn't going to be taking an animal companion till he is high enough level to get a Celestial Dire Hawk. Not for a while, I'd say.

 

[Steverooo]

Not all Rangers use Animal Friendship. (Gasp!) It's true! Mine has, but the only "Animal Companion" he has is his Light Warhorse. Getting something to help him fight is pretty ridiculous, for a Ranger, because it wouldn't (all he'd get would be the +2 flanking bonus)!

 

[Angcuru]

I really don't see the need for it, personally. Just because they CAN doesn't mean that they HAVE to have an animal companion.

 

[Staffan]

My ranger isn't going to be taking an animal companion till he is high enough level to get a Celestial Dire Hawk. Not for a while, I'd say.

Especially since a Celestial animal is a magical beast and not an animal.