Druids Animal Companion

[sam500]

As a druid's animal companion advances in hitdice does it's size increase as a normal wolf in the monster manual?
One player says yes, one player says no.
Can anyone site a reference in the rules?
Thanks guys.
Sam

 

[Vuron]

The FAQ indicates no. Normal animals with HD advancement reflect stronger bigger examples of the breed in general. Animal companions are advancing HD based on experience (albiet of the druid master) and as such don't gain in size.

That being said I think if it makes sense in your game for a wolf animal companion to advance in size you can do so but keep in mind that the increases in strength, constitution, etc are giving some animal companions a significant power boost.

 

[Graf]

It would be a signficant power boost for that player and a headache for everyone else.
(Where do you keep a wolf the size of a horse? Is a DM who makes a dungeon with 5 foot wide corridors penalizing the player?)

I'd stick with the faq unless you're deliberately looking for something like Mononoke Hime.

 

[Arkhandus]

They're described as bonus hit dice, and the PHB doesn't mention size increases though it mentions skills and feats accumulating normally. I would say that it isn't supposed to increase the animal's size.

 

[Neijin]

Remember that Reduce Animal lasts 1 hour/level, so if you have a very big animal companion you could shrink it back down a bit.