Well, folks could consider cutting the gent a break. Yes, perhaps his rules-knowledge seemed less than stellar - but that's what this forum is for, isn't it? He had a reasonably legitimate question. Out of three replies, he got more twigging about what details he had wrong than he got well-thought discussion. Heck, Razzer couldn't even take the time to get his own details right - animal companions are a 3e concept.
If you were a new poster who came in with a question, and seemingly got met with derision rather than answers, perhaps you'd not be all that happy either, huh? And it isn't like sitting here and criticizing his antagonism is actually constructive, either.
You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, folks. So, is nobody going to lead by example - actually treat the guy's question with a little bit of thought, and give more than one-sentence, unsupported opinions?
First, cousin_avi, you are probably under-valuing the Animal Companion ability. At low levels the critters are impressive combatants, relative to character power, and when buffed up with things like Magic Fang, they become a force to be reckoned with. In "Masters of the Wild" They introduce even more powerful animals for the purpose of making sure the companion power doesn't go for nought.
I think, though, that druids don't get familiars as a matter of style. Just because it's a relationship with an animal doesn't mean it's automatically fitting for a druid. I personally don't think it's very druidic to have a strong mystic bond with only one individual animal. The archetypal druid is more a generalist - he gets along well with all animals, rather than bonding with only one individual.
However, maybe this is still insufficient for you. Then, I direct you to "Masters of the Wild" - there's a few tricks for the druid that are familiar-esque. The Wood Wose spell summons up a nature spirit to do the druids bidding. There's also Beget Bogun, with which a druid makes a kind fo natural homonculous as an aid.
If you were a new poster who came in with a question, and seemingly got met with derision rather than answers, perhaps you'd not be all that happy either, huh? And it isn't like sitting here and criticizing his antagonism is actually constructive, either.
You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, folks. So, is nobody going to lead by example - actually treat the guy's question with a little bit of thought, and give more than one-sentence, unsupported opinions?
First, cousin_avi, you are probably under-valuing the Animal Companion ability. At low levels the critters are impressive combatants, relative to character power, and when buffed up with things like Magic Fang, they become a force to be reckoned with. In "Masters of the Wild" They introduce even more powerful animals for the purpose of making sure the companion power doesn't go for nought.
I think, though, that druids don't get familiars as a matter of style. Just because it's a relationship with an animal doesn't mean it's automatically fitting for a druid. I personally don't think it's very druidic to have a strong mystic bond with only one individual animal. The archetypal druid is more a generalist - he gets along well with all animals, rather than bonding with only one individual.
However, maybe this is still insufficient for you. Then, I direct you to "Masters of the Wild" - there's a few tricks for the druid that are familiar-esque. The Wood Wose spell summons up a nature spirit to do the druids bidding. There's also Beget Bogun, with which a druid makes a kind fo natural homonculous as an aid.
Last edited:
