natural bond (complete adventurer)

[green slime]

The applied level (the one you check on the table for animal companion benefits) does never exceed the character level (Beastmaster is an exception here)... technically... which is the above-mentioned cheat as it works around the character level maximum limitation in the feat description.

The advanced animal companion already takes up some part of the level-dependant benefits by providing a better base creature, hence the (-3, -6, etc) modifier to the druid's level before checking the table; so effectively, if you allow the modifiers to cancel each other out, you do get more than you should for your level.

The intent should be clear enough.

Bye
Thanee

The intent is for players to have fun. Is it fun? Does it step on the toes of the other players or their characters? I'd not allow the suggested use for the feat for a low level character, but given that Leadership is also a reasonable choice for a 6th level Druid, I'd allow the druid to increase his "effective Druid level" instead and increase the power of his Animal Companion.

 

[iceifur]

A first-level human ranger should not have the animal companion of a fourth-level druid any more than he should have caster level 4. It's just silly.

As an aside, the ranger doesn't even have the animal companion ability until 4th level, which means (barring any funky bonus feat action) the earliest a ranger could take Natural Bond would be 6th level.

 

[Klaus]

The applied level (the one you check on the table for animal companion benefits) does never exceed the character level (Beastmaster is an exception here)... technically... which is the above-mentioned cheat as it works around the character level maximum limitation in the feat description.

The advanced animal companion already takes up some part of the level-dependant benefits by providing a better base creature, hence the (-3, -6, etc) modifier to the druid's level before checking the table; so effectively, if you allow the modifiers to cancel each other out, you do get more than you should for your level.

The intent should be clear enough.

Bye
Thanee

You're paying with a feat to 'get more than you should'.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I agree with Thanee. IMHO on the balance more reasonable to conclude that designer intent precludes a straight Druid gaining advantage from Natural Bond.

That said, it is certainly not overpowered or likely to be a game problem to allow this feat to work in all such cases. If I were DM I would simply ignore the restriction on effective level entirely. If a Druid wants to spend a precious feat boosting her Animal Companion, let her do it.

 

[Thanee]

You're paying with a feat to 'get more than you should'.

That's a valid point of view from a balance perspective. But the feat specifically limits the bonus to character level, allowing to exceed that limit (effectively, including the bonus you get for choosing an advanced animal companion) is what I meant with getting more than one should.


BTW, here's an example animal companion, which you can have at 6th level then (hope I got everything right ):

Ape Animal Companion: large animal; HD 10; hp 68; Init +4; Spd 30 ft., climb 30 ft.; AC 23, touch 13, flat-footed 19; Base Atk +7; Grp +18; Atk/full Atk 2 claws +13 melee (1d6+7) and bite +11 melee (1d6+3); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SQ low-light vision, scent, link, share spells, evasion, devotion; AL N; SV Fort +9, Ref +11, Will +4; Str 24, Dex 18, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 7.
Skills and Feats: Climb +16 (can always Take 10), Listen +9, Spot +9; Alertness, Toughness, Multiattack, Improved Natural Armor, Power Attack.
Tricks: {10 known}.

You won't get anything even remotely that good with Leadership.

Bye
Thanee

 

[iceifur]

Faugh. There's always this, which doesn't even require Natural Bond:

Elf Druid 5 / Beastmaster 1​

Feats: Skill Focus (Handle Animal), Aerenal Beastmaster (Races of Eberron, page 105), one other feat​

Animal Companion (effective Druid level 12th)​

Reddaz (Baboon)​

Medium Animal
HD: 9d8+9 (49 hp)
Init: +4
Speed: 40', climb 30'
AC: 23 (+4 Dex, +9 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 19
BAB/Grap: +6/+11
Attack: Bite +11 melee (1d6+7), or unarmed strike +11 melee (1d4+5)
Full Attack: Unarmed strike +9/+4 melee (1d4+5), and unarmed strike +9/+4 melee (1d4+2), and bite +4/-1 melee (1d6+2)
Space/Reach: 5'/5'
SA: ---
SQ: Low-light vision, scent, link, share spells, evasion, devotion, Multiattack, 5 bonus tricks
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +10, Will +4
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 4
Skills: Climb +13, Jump +13, Listen +5, Spot +5
Feats: Alertness, Improved Unarmed Strike, Two-Weapon Fighting, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
Tricks: 11 total​

Fury of fists and fangs FTW. Throw in an Amulet of Mighty Fists to get the game a really rollin'.