Options for replacing ranger companion?

[Evilhalfling]

So does anyone actually take a companion as a ranger?
They die like flies if used offensivly
and really the party has too many beasts anyay:

Druid's companion
Wizards familiar
Sorcerers familiar (already HR away)
Psions Crystal (now optional and requires no feed or care)
Paladins mount
Other horses.

So what would work as a replacement?
a clerical domain + granted power seems stronger than any companion.
a spirit compaion that could be summoned for 1 hr/ per 2 levels rules as a paladin mount/ advancement as a ranger companion?

Bonus feat?

Any suggestions?

 

[Vrecknidj]

I think the 3.5 ranger is plenty tough, so an extra feat would just be too much. My initial reaction is to say that not taking the animal companion is its own reward. I mean, either you take one, and get the advantages and disadvantages, or you don't, and then you avoid the disadvantages and the advantages.

I think that avoiding the disadvantages of having an animal companion is worth not taking one.

If, on the other hand, someone could convince me that the combat advantages, or the reconnaissance advantages were actually significant, then I'd be willing to allow maybe another skill point per level? Perhaps one of those feats that grants a +2 to two skills.

Dave

 

[Rhun]

Instead, perhaps you could take a contact of some kind...perhaps a forest denizen that keeps your ranger in the loop of everything that goes on in the forest? He could provide both information and aid from time to time. This type of contact would also give the DM an easy way of planting adventure hooks as such.

 

[whydirt]

I would say that either a non-combat feat or access to a domain (but not the granted power) would be fine.

 

[RisnDevil]

I don't neccessarily think that giving a domain and the power is too overpwering, especially if you limit the domains available. Stuff a RANGER would have a reason for having.

And saying not taking a companion is its own reward anyway just depends what resources you have, because I seem to recall a Scarred Lands creature that is a basic animal, a falcon I believe, that had a vorpal dive attack and was only like 1/4hd!

 

[Plane Sailing]

I think the animal companions are great!

My main PC's cohort is a ranger, and he has a terrier as the animal companion (small dog, tougher CON than normal). He is mostly role playing flavour and fun, although there have been some great moments (like when the terrier was dying and an ice storm was cast into the area, the ranger dove onto the dog and shielded its body with his own).

An idea that I'd like to try is a ranger that specialised in mounted feats and had a heavy warhorse as his animal companion. He could be the Lone Ranger with trigger

Mind you, in our campaigns we allow ranger companions to be treated as ranger level -3 when looking up the progression of the animal, rather than ranger level /2. This keeps them more viable while still keeping them a consistent distance behind the druid companion.

Cheers

 

[Terath Ninir]

Mind you, in our campaigns we allow ranger companions to be treated as ranger level -3 when looking up the progression of the animal, rather than ranger level /2. This keeps them more viable while still keeping them a consistent distance behind the druid companion.

Consider that idea Yoinked. Darlena's half-drow ranger has a Large spider companion that would probably become lunch for something in a few levels. I was wondering what to do to make it more viable, and that fits the bill. Still have to get it some magic items, though, to help out more.

 

[Rhun]

Mind you, in our campaigns we allow ranger companions to be treated as ranger level -3 when looking up the progression of the animal, rather than ranger level /2. This keeps them more viable while still keeping them a consistent distance behind the druid companion.

I do that as well. It seems to fit much better, if you ask me.

 

[Terath Ninir]

I do that as well. It seems to fit much better, if you ask me.

It makes sense -- it fits the pattern of paladins. Paladins have turn undead at level-3; so rangers having a druid ability at level-3 fits my sense of pattern.

 

[Evilhalfling]

I dont really want to make it a more attractive option, my next game is looking like 7 players and a DM, and I don't want any more companions loitering around. It is the largest non convention group I have played with, and I am nervous about it.

Well it sounds like most rangers will continue not to take animal companions and I wont have to worry about it. I think I agree that the benifits and problems of having one balance out, so I won't worry about a benifit to replace them.

I have used PS method as well, even allowing ranger-3 to stack with druid levels for a multiclassed PC's animal.