Lowballing Animal Companions

Agreed, that's what it says in the Ranger section. And if you are looking only at a Ranger's Animal Companion, those are the rules you follow.

Under the Druid section, though, it says that when combining Druid levels with another class that grants an Animal Companion (like Ranger), the class levels stack. That's for the Druid's Animal Companion.

One addresses a single class, the other addresses how to combine classes. And the section on combining classes talks about class levels, not "effective Druid levels".
 

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@Greenfield

As vague as it is; I see the entry where you are reading that, the Animal Companion sidebar.

"Class Level: The character's druid level. The druid's class levels stack with levels of any other classes that are entitled to an animal companion (such as a ranger) for the purpose of determining the companions abilities and the alternative lists available to the character."

I underlined the key sentence in this paragraph. A Ranger technically has no Druid level, because they are a Ranger. However, that is why they created the secondary entry where a Ranger is counted as a half Druid for such abilities in their own animal companion entry. This is usually the case for any class with such abilities.
 

I agree on what it should say.

What it does say is that the character's Druid level is calculated by adding class levels of Druid and any other class that includes the Animal Companion.

It doesn't say "add effective Druid levels". It refers to class levels stacking.

Like I said, we can argue back and forth all day. It won't change the ink on the paper.
 

@Greenfield

Even if that was the case however, the Ranger Animal Companion entry specifically notes its restriction. Even with an example. Which is what overrides the rules of the sidebar entry.

It says the companion acts as half of a druid's companion.

In most cases when an exception is noted, the exception is taken over the original entry.

For instance, caster level is typically equal to the spellcasting class level. An exception to this however is Paladin's whose spellcasting is equal to half their level. Regardless of the original entry, that rule applies.
 

<looks at ink on page> Nope, still hasn't changed...

Since we're not talking about a Ranger's Animal Companion, the class specific restrictions don't apply, and referring back to them is a distraction at best.

We're talking about a Druid's Animal Companion, and the rules for that appear to have an odd exception when it comes to including Ranger levels in the mix. That exception is, they're counted based on class levels, not caster levels or effective Druid levels.

I agree that it's probably not what was intended. But that is what it says.
 

That's a bit confusing the way you put it.

The Ranger's and Druid's Animal Companion ability is the exact same. (In functionality.) The Ranger is just counted as half, regardless of what class levels he has in Ranger. If any other class had 'Animal Companion' specifically without such notations such as the Ranger's, the default text takes place where the class levels stack instead.

The Beastmaster is a perfect example. The PrC levels are counted as equal to their level + 3 for determining animal companion abilities.

The Ranger is like what a Paladin is to a Cleric in terms of Turn Undead.

I do ask, how does the restriction NOT apply? It is written is it not?

If we want to be technical, WotC says anything written that is newer than the material referenced that the newer one takes precedence.
Ranger comes after Druid, so that means it's 'material' is newer. Even if by a few pages.
 

<looks at ink on page> Nope, still hasn't changed...
I agree that it's probably not what was intended. But that is what it says.

Then I believe what we have here is a failure in reading comprehension.

Note that it doesn't say the druid class levels stack with the class levels of any other class. That's plenty of space for a thoughtful reader rather than rule lawyer trying to eke out an unfair and unintended advantage to recognize that the ranger's animal companion is based on a lower level druid equivalent.
 


Well, let's look at the exact text from the SRD.
SRD said:
Animal Companion (Ex): A druid may begin play with an animal companion selected from the following list: badger, camel, dire rat, dog, riding dog, eagle, hawk, horse (light or heavy), owl, pony, snake (Small or Medium viper), or wolf. If the campaign takes place wholly or partly in an aquatic environment, the following creatures are also available: crocodile, porpoise, Medium shark, and squid. This animal is a loyal companion that accompanies the druid on her adventures as appropriate for its kind.
A 1st-level druid’s companion is completely typical for its kind except as noted below. As a druid advances in level, the animal’s power increases as shown on the table. If a druid releases her companion from service, she may gain a new one by performing a ceremony requiring 24 uninterrupted hours of prayer. This ceremony can also replace an animal companion that has perished.
A druid of 4th level or higher may select from alternative lists of animals (see below). Should she select an animal companion from one of these alternative lists, the creature gains abilities as if the character’s druid level were lower than it actually is. Subtract the value indicated in the appropriate list header from the character’s druid level and compare the result with the druid level entry on the table to determine the animal companion’s powers. (If this adjustment would reduce the druid’s effective level to 0 or lower, she can’t have that animal as a companion.)
Okay, that's the main text.
SRD said:
THE DRUID’S ANIMAL COMPANION
A druid’s animal companion is different from a normal animal of its kind in many ways. The companion is treated as a magical beast, not an animal, for the purpose of all effects that depend on its type (though it retains an animal’s HD, base attack bonus, saves, skill points, and feats). It is superior to a normal animal of its kind and has special powers, as described
below.
Class Level Bonus HD Natural Armor Adj. Str/Dex Adj. Bonus Tricks Special
1st–2nd +0 +0 +0 1 Link, share spells
3rd–5th +2 +2 +1 2 Evasion
6th–8th +4 +4 +2 3 Devotion
9th–11th +6 +6 +3 4 Multiattack
12th–14th +8 +8 +4 5
15th–17th +10 +10 +5 6 Improved evasion
18th–20th +12 +12 +6 7
Animal Companion Basics: Use the base statistics for a creature of the companion’s kind, but make the following changes.
Class Level: The character’s druid level. The druid’s class levels stack with levels of any other classes that are entitled to an animal companion for the purpose of determining the companion’s abilities and the alternative lists available to the character.
In the text I highlighted, it's defining "Class Level" for purposes of using the chart, and says that it's the Druid's class level. It also says that the druid's class levels stack with the levels of any other classes... blah blah blah.

Now as far as I know, this is the only part of the rules that addresses combining levels of multiple classes that allow an Animal Companion.

And, like it or not, it doesn't say that we should stack "effective" or "caster" levels. It says stack the levels of the classes. Period.

So, despite Arrowhawk's repetitive redundancy, my reading comprehension is just fine. I'm reading the words written, exactly as written. I'm not trying to insert words that aren't there (unlike some), nor am I ignoring any words that are. I'm not trying to redefine any of the words (unlike some), nor using obscure meanings for any of them.

"levels of classes" means exactly that. No spin, no obscure or irrelevant references, just the rules as written, exactly as written.

If there's another section of the rules (SRD or hard copy) that tells us how to combine multiple classes w/regard to Animal Companions, somebody point to it. That would constitute a change in the ink on paper.

Until then, you're arguing with a book. Your arguments aren't going to change what the book says, no matter how persuasive you might be. The ink on the paper won't change.
 

Wotc Sage said:
Multiclassing
How does a multiclassed druid/ranger determine the statistics for her animal companion?
Use the sum of the character’s “effective druid level” for the purpose of determining animal companion statistics. A druid’s effective level is her class level, while a ranger’s is equal to one-half his class level. A 5th-level druid/6th-level ranger, for example, would have an animal companion as if she were an 8th-level druid (5 plus one-half of 6).

From the FAQ section from the WotC staff. Which was already kinda elaborated in the PHB already. The FAQ is an official source by WotC.

I can provide the FAQ (I don't think such a source is against the rules AFAIK for clarification purposes) if you like.

Also as a newer source, it also trumps the PHB's interpretation, regardless of your own.
 

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