Favorite Animal Companion

[greymist]

I chose wolf from the list, but I would probably go for domestic cat, as Wombat said, easier to explain in urban settings.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Horse, mounted rangers are cool and so are mounted spell casters.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I love the idea of having a mounted specialist with a heavy horse animal companion who he trains for combat. Nice synergy with his riding feats and such like.

Of course, if you go for a gnome or halfling you can get all those benefits with a riding dog and be able to use it in Dungeons too. (Anybody ever have flashbacks to the film 'labyrinth' when they hear about riding dogs?)

For coolness I like the idea of a deinonychus companion, for fighting power a tiger.

 

[lukelightning]

Plus tigers seem to have a virtual "improved natural weaponry" doing more damage than a lion.

Tigers win ....They're tremendously good at killing mages, and pretty good at killing any other medium humanoids....

I prefer the subtler familiars...Such animals are easy to explain in urban environments...

And have the other druids laugh at me? No way.

 

[lukelightning]

... Ape full power attacking with a Spiked Greatclub.

I don't think apes can wield weapons. It's up to the DM to decide if apes have hands capable of wielding a weapon (I would rule no). Plus I would rule that they lack the intelligence to use a weapon. And they would need to spend a feat on it. I'd rather have my ape take weapon focus (claws) and improved natural weaponry and go for the super rend attacks.

 

[Hussar]

Gotta love apes.

Incredibly versitile. Plus, apes can use weapons. Nothing like an animal companion with a magic club to turn the tide.

Besides, you all know that Tarzan is just way cooler than Aragorn dontcha?

 

[F5]

I picked horse, but what I really meant was Stag. But since there's no actual game stats for a stag, I just use a light horse with a d6 Gore attack rather than a bite.

Riding into combat on the back of an Animal-growthed, advanced stag just seems more...druidic.

 

[lukelightning]

Yeah, there are a lot of better animals that aren't on the list; they should have included all animal in the MM in the official list. Of course a stag like you describe would be an elk, not a regular deer which would be more like a pony. Oh, how about a moose! I just got an idea for a Druid from the northern region of Kan Ada; instead of venerating oaks they are into maple trees...

I picked horse, but what I really meant was Stag. But since there's no actual game stats for a stag, I just use a light horse with a d6 Gore attack rather than a bite...

 

[lukelightning]

...Plus, apes can use weapons..

Again, any "apes using weapons" is a houserule. Animals have no weapon proficiencies, plus I doubt an ape's hands or intelligence would allow them to use a weapon. The animal type specifically states animals are proficient with natural weapons only. I interpret this to mean they can't get proficiency with weapons, as it further goes on to say they aren't proficient with armor unless they are trained.

 

[Jaws]

Of course I picked dire shark.


Peace and smiles

j.