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Message: <blockquote data-quote="KarinsDad" data-source="post: 4817241" data-attributes="member: 2011">It does.1) The Ranger has to spend a minor action to get the companion to move. Currently, he could have it move for free if the Ranger moves.2) The Ranger has to spend a move action to get the companion to fight defensively. Currently, he could have it fight defensively for free if the Ranger fights defensively.3) In our game, the companion is rarely close to combat because the few times it was close, it got whaled on. Now, it's a choice. Have the companion fight and risk itself, or have the companion stay back. So far in our campaign, the companion attacked for about half of an encounter once and outside of that, only averages about 1 attack per encounter. This is the real balance. Risk vs. reward. Animal companions have nowhere near the number of healing surges as PCs. Putting them at risk does gain a slight increase in dpr, but it does so by risking the companion. Pro and Con. At least in our game, the player is not heavily risking the companion, but still has the option to use the companion to fight. To me, this is balance. The Ranger does not seem a lot more powerful than other PCs because the Ranger does not use this advantage too often. The risk is too great. It's a go to the well ability, but one that makes the animal companion feel less artificial.</blockquote>