How do you keep an animal companion alive?

[Shaele]

thanks

Thanks for all of the suggestions! I think I'll save up for a scroll of Awaken, then encourage him to gain a few levels of rogue... improved evasion could be a handy thing

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

How does a cat scout? It isn't that intelligent, and you'll need to use Speak with Animals for it to report.

You're betting off using wildshape when you gain that ability.

 

[Shaele]

Even wolf animal companions are NOT intended for use as battle fodder. As a matter of fact, a druid would probably heal his animal companion before he healed his other adventuring companions. To let them die is a betrayal of their intimate trust on a very fundamental level.

I completely agree, and that's my concern. I'd like to pick animal companions for rp reasons, not based on how combat-useful they can be. Racoons, cats, squirrels could all make really interesting animal companions, but none of them could last through a single area-of-effect spell.

 

[Shaele]

How does a cat scout? It isn't that intelligent, and you'll need to use Speak with Animals for it to report.

You're betting off using wildshape when you gain that ability.

I'm working towards Animal (Cat) Lord as a PRC... poor spellcasting ability, but it includes the ability to communicate with cats telepathically, share their senses, and so on.

I envisioned two animal companions long-term: a "big" cat (tiger or lion) for it's combat ability, and a tabby as a more intelligent, personable companion.

From a rules POV, this is tricky of course - Awaken turns an animal into a "magical beast", so I'm not even sure that the telepathy etc. will continue to work afterwards. Hrmph. Fun concept, might be tricky to pull it all together.

 

[isoChron]

Awakened Animals can speak on their own.
And if you want to speak with felines buy a Belt Of Lions (Magic of Faerun).

Belt of lions gives +10 Tumble (only if you have at least 1 rank on your own), +10 Move Silently (see tumble), Speak with animals (only felines), low light vision and a +4 bonus to Charisma checks and Charisma based skill checks related to dealing with felines.
Nice thing for you to have I think. Hmm, price is 20.000 gp.

If you love cats this is the thing to go.

bye

 

[Emerald]

I always thought that a druids animal companion had to be a natural animal, if you cast awaken on your animal companion and thus turned them into a "magical beast", they could no longer be your animal companion. You can not cast animal friendship or speak with animals on a magical beast.

 

[Lord Ravinous]

You could always work out something w/ your DM about getting a specialized item made by a wizard or sorcerer, a magic jacker of familiar pocket wouldn't cost too much, or buy him/her a Flea Collar of Evasion (just a different housing for a Ring of Evasion, there's options aplenty.

 

[Steverooo]

I always thought that a druids animal companion had to be a natural animal, if you cast awaken on your animal companion and thus turned them into a "magical beast", they could no longer be your animal companion. You can not cast animal friendship or speak with animals on a magical beast.

True, AS FAR AS IT GOES... BUT Animal Friendship will already have been cast, and has an "Instant" duration. Thus, no problem! Also, Awakened Animals can speak 1+INT modifier languages that the caster can, so Speak with Animals is unneeded!

Ergo, no problems.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

And Animal Empathy and Diplomacy are Class Skills for Druids.

I believe the explain in the MotW, that you may assume that the Awakaned Animal will stay with you, but might leave if you make a new animal friend with the HD you originally "reserved" for the Awakened one. (Or did I make this up? )

Mustrum Ridcully

 

[isoChron]

And Animal Empathy and Diplomacy are Class Skills for Druids.

I believe the explain in the MotW, that you may assume that the Awakaned Animal will stay with you, but might leave if you make a new animal friend with the HD you originally "reserved" for the Awakened one. (Or did I make this up? )

Mustrum Ridcully

I think you are right, there is a whole chapter in Masters of the Wild about awakened animal companions.
The awakened animal still counts against your HD limit but is no longer "bound" to you. It stays because of "friendship". As long as you treat it good and don't break your HD limit concerning befriended animals it will stay with you. You don't need Speak With Animals 'cause it (the now magical beast) already knows at least one language the caster of Awaken knows.
The down side is you can't cast spells like natures favor or animal growth on the awakened pet because it's not an animal anymore.

BYE