PC CHR design help: Tarzanlike Druid w/ strong companion

[DonTadow]

One of my players has just suggested he wants to make as a backup character a druid with a gorilla as his animal companion. He wishes for his druid class to be lower in levels to adjust for a stronge,r higher leveled gorilla companion. I'd like to figure out what level to tell him to draw the druid up as but have hit a snag. The average level for the party now is 9th level.

Are there any feats or prestige classes that improve animal companions as there are with familiars? Is there anyway he can accomplish this goal while staying within the printed material and not having too low of a level reduction? What would you rule on this character?

 

[Felnar]

did you look at page 36 of the PHB?
there's an ape companion, but it's special abilities are based off a druid 3 level lower than your druid level

hope that helps

 

[DonTadow]

What the player wants is for the companion to be at a higher level than him. Sort of like Tarzan and his ape. The player wants the druid to be low level and the Ape to have high hit dice to 'even out" the difference between his pc and the rest of the party.

 

[Kobold Stew]

One way to do this would be to let the Gorilla be the character (either anthropomorphised a la Savage Species, or houseruled as an animal with character traits) and give him/her the leadership feat. The Druid then becomes an NPC who (depending on how you handle such things) would be under the player's control.

It would be a good challenge for a good player.

Kobold Stew

 

[Whimsical]

Ya. Have the player run an Awakened Ape!

 

[Felnar]

What the player wants is for the companion to be at a higher level than him. Sort of like Tarzan and his ape. The player wants the druid to be low level and the Ape to have high hit dice to 'even out" the difference between his pc and the rest of the party.

well, its not exactly what he's looking for but, its close.
a 9th level druids companions bonuses for an ape are +4HD, which makes the ape an 8HD magical beast. Anyway, thats all the core stuff i can think of.
- Felnar

 

[Targos]

Although these aren't strictly druid PrCs persay, the Animal Lord or BeastMaster from Complete Adventurer may be considerations. Otherwise you could check out the Unearthed Arcana options for varient classes. Perhaps reduce/eliminate spell casting progression of the druid for enhanced animal companion features. (I don't actually own the book so I can only speculate to the options.)

 

[DonTadow]

One way to do this would be to let the Gorilla be the character (either anthropomorphised a la Savage Species, or houseruled as an animal with character traits) and give him/her the leadership feat. The Druid then becomes an NPC who (depending on how you handle such things) would be under the player's control.

It would be a good challenge for a good player.

Kobold Stew

I think I"ll suggest he go this route. It's definatly what he wants. And I"m sure I can fidge the rules a bit to add the permanent awakened to the animal

 

[Whimsical]

No rules tweak needed. Check the awaken spell. It has a duration of instantaneous, which means it can't be dispelled and he will remain awakened even in an antimagic zone.

Break Enchantment could dispel it, but with the 1 minute casting time, it's not something to expect to happen in combat.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Break Enchantment could dispel it, but with the 1 minute casting time, it's not something to expect to happen in combat.

Exactly. An d even if this happens, your Tarzan-like Druid will be nearby, ready to re-awaken his master!

lol.

Stew.