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<blockquote data-quote="Hypersmurf" data-source="post: 2434631" data-attributes="member: 1656">Well, it's in a PbP, so I've only seen it in action once so far <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Fun, though - he always has a few cats hanging around him, but when trouble threatens, the rest all come pouring out of alleys and sewers, down off roofs, etc.&nbsp; (It's an urban campaign.)Thoughts - a few of the companion improvements are nice for a swarm.&nbsp; Evasion (and extra Dex) is great, since they take all that extra damage from area effects.&nbsp; Extra hit dice directly affect the damage of their swarm attack and the DC of their Distraction ability.Extra Str is a bit of a wash, since they can't grapple and it has no effect on their swarm attack - no attack rolls, not Str bonus to damage.Multiattack - I've interpreted it as allowing them a second swarm attack, though that would be a DM call.The big disadvantage is that all the standard buff spells for animal companions target a specific number of creatures, so the swarm is all but impossible to buff.I think a swarm companion of Diminutive creatures, immune to weapon damage, would be severely nasty... but Tiny creatures aren't immune to weapons, so that's not an issue.We're treating the cat swarm as a Druid Level - 3 companion, so these are the stats I'm using with a Druid 13 with Natural Bond:[code][b][u]Animal Companion[/u][/b] [sblock]AdelleAdonAidaAjaxAlaghonAlexAliasAliceAlleyAlmondAlusairAlustrielAmbrosiaAmnAmoretteAmyAngelicaAngusArabelArilynArtusAshAthkatlaAutumnAvalancheAytanAzounBadBadgerBaldrickBaldyBanditBarnabyBashfulBattyBaxterBeautyBensonBessieBlackberryBlizzardBlossomBrennaBruannaBruiserBuckyBugBuzzCaledanCaliaCalimport CallieCarissaCedarspokeCedricCharcoalCheekyCheetahChestnutChewyChipperCirrusClawCloudCooperCoralCormyrCottonCrunchCurlyCycloneDaerlunDandelionDanicaDaniloDashDiabloDiamondDiggerDimswartDollyDotDottyDoveDuncanDurnanDustyEarsEchoEclipseElminsterElsaErinEsmeltaran EveEveningstar EyebrowFangFeliciaFergusFireflyFlashFleeceFloppityFlowerFluffyFlynnFrecklesFriskyFrogFyodorGalvinGarnetGideonGildengladeGobblesGrisabellaGruntHalabarHaliaHaloHalruaaHarmonyHazelHectorHillsfar HissyHlathHlondethHobnobHootHoppityHugsIdaIljakIvoryIxinosJabberJewelJinxJoyKagarrKesiaKhelbenKirbyLaeralLhair LheshaylLilithLotusLynxLyraLytaMagnoliaMagnusMagpieMahoganyMarblesMeekoMelodyMeredithMestralMiaMicestroMickeyMidnightMiloMimphMinxMischiefMithelMitzyMonkeyMoraMourngrymMouserMoustacheMoxieMulmaster MusclesNathlekhNessieNeverwinter NigelNimpethNinaNipNonthalNovaNuggetNutsObarskyrOliveOnyxOpalOrdulinOreoOrmathOrmpetarrOthelloOutlawPandaPandemoniumPansyPantherPatchPatrickPawsPeirgeironPepperPhantomPiebaldPintaPitchPouncePrancePussamaccattusRainbowRamblerRamzeyRatRatbagRavenRethRexRidgeRobynRowdyRoyceRufflesSableSalgauntSamraSamsonSapphireSaulScratchyScruffySeaweedSelinaSembiaShadowShadowdale ShaerlShaggyShakesShamphShandrilShinerSigel SilkySilverSilverymoon SimbulSimoneSkullport SkySlySniffSnortSnowflakeSocksSophieSoxSpiderSplotchSpotSpottySqueakStarStormStretchSunshineSurkhSuzailSyluneSylviaTantris TessaTippyTopazTristanTrixieTroubleTulipTummyTwigsUrmlaspyr VangerdahastVeladornVilheimWaterdeep WavesWhiskersWhisperWillowWinterwoodXorhunZarandaZebra[/sblock]&nbsp; &nbsp; [b]CAT SWARM[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Tiny Animal (Swarm)[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Hit Dice&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; :[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; 12d8+24 (78 hp)&nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Initiative&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; :[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; +4&nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Speed&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; :[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; 30 ft. (6 squares)&nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Armor Class&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; :[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; 25 (+2 size, +4 Dex, +8 natural armor, +1 Dodge feat house rule), &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; touch 17, flat-footed 20&nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Base Attack/Grapple :[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; +9/—&nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Attack&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; :[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; Swarm (3d6)&nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Full Attack&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; :[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; Swarm (3d6/3d6)&nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Space/Reach&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; :[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; 10 ft./0 ft.&nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Special Attacks&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; :[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; Distraction, Multiattack&nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Special Qualities&nbsp;&nbsp; :[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; Half damage from slashing and piercing, &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; low-light vision, scent, swarm traits, link, &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; share spells, evasion, devotion&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Saves&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; :[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; Fort +9, Ref +12, Will +7&nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Abilities&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; :[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; Str 8, Dex 19, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 7&nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Skills&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; :[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; Balance +12, Climb +15, Hide +16*, Jump +12, &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Listen +5, Move Silently +8, Spot +5&nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Feats&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; :[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; Dodge, Iron Will, Ability Focus (Distraction), &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Mobility, Improved Toughness, Weapon FinesseB&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Combat[/b]&nbsp; &nbsp; [i]Distraction (Ex):[/i] Any living creature that begins its turn with the swarm in &nbsp; &nbsp; its square must succeed on a DC 19 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [b]Skills:[/b] Cats have a +4 racial bonus on Climb, Hide, and Move Silently checks &nbsp; &nbsp; and a +8 racial bonus on Jump checks. Cats have a +8 racial bonus on Balance &nbsp; &nbsp; checks. They use their Dexterity modifier instead of their Strength modifier &nbsp; &nbsp; for Climb and Jump checks. &nbsp; &nbsp; *In areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth, the Hide bonus rises to +8.[/code]-Hyp.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Hypersmurf, post: 2434631, member: 1656"] Well, it's in a PbP, so I've only seen it in action once so far :) Fun, though - he always has a few cats hanging around him, but when trouble threatens, the rest all come pouring out of alleys and sewers, down off roofs, etc. (It's an urban campaign.) Thoughts - a few of the companion improvements are nice for a swarm. Evasion (and extra Dex) is great, since they take all that extra damage from area effects. Extra hit dice directly affect the damage of their swarm attack and the DC of their Distraction ability. Extra Str is a bit of a wash, since they can't grapple and it has no effect on their swarm attack - no attack rolls, not Str bonus to damage. Multiattack - I've interpreted it as allowing them a second swarm attack, though that would be a DM call. The big disadvantage is that all the standard buff spells for animal companions target a specific number of creatures, so the swarm is all but impossible to buff. I think a swarm companion of Diminutive creatures, immune to weapon damage, would be severely nasty... but Tiny creatures aren't immune to weapons, so that's not an issue. We're treating the cat swarm as a Druid Level - 3 companion, so these are the stats I'm using with a Druid 13 with Natural Bond: [code][b][u]Animal Companion[/u][/b] [sblock] Adelle Adon Aida Ajax Alaghon Alex Alias Alice Alley Almond Alusair Alustriel Ambrosia Amn Amorette Amy Angelica Angus Arabel Arilyn Artus Ash Athkatla Autumn Avalanche Aytan Azoun Bad Badger Baldrick Baldy Bandit Barnaby Bashful Batty Baxter Beauty Benson Bessie Blackberry Blizzard Blossom Brenna Bruanna Bruiser Bucky Bug Buzz Caledan Calia Calimport Callie Carissa Cedarspoke Cedric Charcoal Cheeky Cheetah Chestnut Chewy Chipper Cirrus Claw Cloud Cooper Coral Cormyr Cotton Crunch Curly Cyclone Daerlun Dandelion Danica Danilo Dash Diablo Diamond Digger Dimswart Dolly Dot Dotty Dove Duncan Durnan Dusty Ears Echo Eclipse Elminster Elsa Erin Esmeltaran Eve Eveningstar Eyebrow Fang Felicia Fergus Firefly Flash Fleece Floppity Flower Fluffy Flynn Freckles Frisky Frog Fyodor Galvin Garnet Gideon Gildenglade Gobbles Grisabella Grunt Halabar Halia Halo Halruaa Harmony Hazel Hector Hillsfar Hissy Hlath Hlondeth Hobnob Hoot Hoppity Hugs Ida Iljak Ivory Ixinos Jabber Jewel Jinx Joy Kagarr Kesia Khelben Kirby Laeral Lhair Lheshayl Lilith Lotus Lynx Lyra Lyta Magnolia Magnus Magpie Mahogany Marbles Meeko Melody Meredith Mestral Mia Micestro Mickey Midnight Milo Mimph Minx Mischief Mithel Mitzy Monkey Mora Mourngrym Mouser Moustache Moxie Mulmaster Muscles Nathlekh Nessie Neverwinter Nigel Nimpeth Nina Nip Nonthal Nova Nugget Nuts Obarskyr Olive Onyx Opal Ordulin Oreo Ormath Ormpetarr Othello Outlaw Panda Pandemonium Pansy Panther Patch Patrick Paws Peirgeiron Pepper Phantom Piebald Pinta Pitch Pounce Prance Pussamaccattus Rainbow Rambler Ramzey Rat Ratbag Raven Reth Rex Ridge Robyn Rowdy Royce Ruffles Sable Salgaunt Samra Samson Sapphire Saul Scratchy Scruffy Seaweed Selina Sembia Shadow Shadowdale Shaerl Shaggy Shakes Shamph Shandril Shiner Sigel Silky Silver Silverymoon Simbul Simone Skullport Sky Sly Sniff Snort Snowflake Socks Sophie Sox Spider Splotch Spot Spotty Squeak Star Storm Stretch Sunshine Surkh Suzail Sylune Sylvia Tantris Tessa Tippy Topaz Tristan Trixie Trouble Tulip Tummy Twigs Urmlaspyr Vangerdahast Veladorn Vilheim Waterdeep Waves Whiskers Whisper Willow Winterwood Xorhun Zaranda Zebra[/sblock] [b]CAT SWARM[/b] [b]Tiny Animal (Swarm)[/b] [b]Hit Dice :[/b] 12d8+24 (78 hp) [b]Initiative :[/b] +4 [b]Speed :[/b] 30 ft. (6 squares) [b]Armor Class :[/b] 25 (+2 size, +4 Dex, +8 natural armor, +1 Dodge feat house rule), touch 17, flat-footed 20 [b]Base Attack/Grapple :[/b] +9/— [b]Attack :[/b] Swarm (3d6) [b]Full Attack :[/b] Swarm (3d6/3d6) [b]Space/Reach :[/b] 10 ft./0 ft. [b]Special Attacks :[/b] Distraction, Multiattack [b]Special Qualities :[/b] Half damage from slashing and piercing, low-light vision, scent, swarm traits, link, share spells, evasion, devotion [b]Saves :[/b] Fort +9, Ref +12, Will +7 [b]Abilities :[/b] Str 8, Dex 19, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 7 [b]Skills :[/b] Balance +12, Climb +15, Hide +16*, Jump +12, Listen +5, Move Silently +8, Spot +5 [b]Feats :[/b] Dodge, Iron Will, Ability Focus (Distraction), Mobility, Improved Toughness, Weapon FinesseB [b]Combat[/b] [i]Distraction (Ex):[/i] Any living creature that begins its turn with the swarm in its square must succeed on a DC 19 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. [b]Skills:[/b] Cats have a +4 racial bonus on Climb, Hide, and Move Silently checks and a +8 racial bonus on Jump checks. Cats have a +8 racial bonus on Balance checks. They use their Dexterity modifier instead of their Strength modifier for Climb and Jump checks. *In areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth, the Hide bonus rises to +8. [/code] -Hyp. [/QUOTE]

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