Is this Variant Class feature balanced?

[griff_goodbeard]

I'm contemplating running a war based Eberron game, where the PC's are part of a mounted strike team. The campain will be skewed towards the melee classes (no primary casters allowed), and so I wanted to tweak some of the base classes a la UA variant class features

I want to add animal companion (as druid) to the barbaran, what would you remove to balance this. My first thought that in this type of game, Rage for animal companion straight up would probably work. Then I was thinking of leaving Rage and subracting Uncanny dodge tree, Fast Move, and trap sense. But would this really be enough? Maybe subracting those three and giving him animal companion (as ranger)? Help me balance this. Thanks!

 

[Darklone]

Animal companion = Rage. At least at lower levels. And it depends on half class level (ranger) or druid progression.

But if you want the best of all worlds, take a look at these two dudes (and give the sage one the Wild cohort feat)

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#druidVariantDruidicAvenger
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#druid

Spellcasting, good hitpoints, some weapons, muchomucho class abilities...