druid animal advancement

[Tellerve]

I was just wondering on some specifics about the advancement of a druid's animal companion.

For instance, I have a wolf, who is normally a 2hd wolf, although it may in the future of the campaign move up to the 4hd Large wolf. However, I've gotten 3rd level as a druid recently and so gained the +2hd among other things.

I assume the animal only grows from the "normal" advancement for its kind. But do those druid increased hit die count towards BAB, skill points, and saves...and anything else I didn't think about?

Also I noticed in 3.0 MM that animals don't get any more skill points as they gain hit die but they do in 3.5mm. Again, is this something that the druid hit die would increase?

Thanks,

Tellerve

 

[Scion]

You mean for 3.5 correct?

Your animal will not gain size, it is an animal and not a magical beast, it will gain skill points and feats as an animal hd along with bab and saves.

I believe this is all in the errata on the wizards site

 

[shilsen]

besides the aforementioned benefits (BAB, saves, skills, feats), don't forget that the animal companion also gets the +1 ability score increase every 4th HD.

 

[Diirk]

No it doesn't... it gets whats mentioned in the animal companion section, and thats it. HD, BAB, saves, skills, feats, but no ability score increases. Giving it ability score increases would be silly, it already gets +1 str/dex every 2 HD

 

[Scion]

While I do agree that they seem not to get the extra stat point, but I dont think it is silly to allow it, nor even unbalancing.

Especially since the bonus could go to something it needs desperately, like more con!

 

[d30]

No it doesn't... it gets whats mentioned in the animal companion section, and thats it. HD, BAB, saves, skills, feats, but no ability score increases. Giving it ability score increases would be silly, it already gets +1 str/dex every 2 HD

A hottly contested topic the ability adjustment is.

I take the use of terms such as "as normal for advancing mosters" and "remember an animal companion gains x,x and x... for gaining additional Hit Dice..." <to paraphrase> to mean that they are kindly reminding the druid that animals get stuff when you add Hit Dice. Failure to mention the ability increase is either: a) an oversight or b) not a failure as it is universal that increasing in hit dice by a number divisible by 4 results in an ability increase. Repeating rules in every case where they apply is pointless and otherwise not good.

Remember, rules for ability increases are mentioned in the PHB, but rules for advancing animals are not, and why they are required in the advancing your animal companion section.

That is my take anyway.

 

[jgsugden]

Andy Collins specifically answered this question: Animal companions *do* gain an attribute point every time they pass a 4 HD level. A wolf animal companion gains a +1 to an attribute when his druid gains 3rd level.

One thing to remember, though, is that the wolf is an NPC, even though it is guided by a PC. The DM, not the player, has the final choice on skills, feats and ability score increases. Of course, it doesn't hurt the DM to do exactly what the player requests ...

 

[Scion]

all animals like con right?

although I could've sworn there was a line somewhere in the phb or dmg that said animal companions gained abilities are in the control of the pc.

 

[Diirk]

Really? Thats interesting, you'd think it would mention that considering the feats and skills are also universal, yet it explicitly mentions those...

Happen to have a link to where he mentioned it? I might pass it on to my DM and see what he thinks, my dancing bear needs more charisma for his cross class Perform (Dance) !

 

[jgsugden]

I believe this was mentioned on the long thread on the WotC board where Andy answered questions about 3.5. That thread was lost when they changed over the boards.