PHB II Druid Question

[Khelvan]

I got a question about PHBII.
One of my players uses PHBII alternative Shapeshifiting for his Druid instead of Wildshape.
The Book says he doesnt get an Animal Companion on Level one if he chooses this.
Does this mean he forfeits the Companion completely?
I am not sure, can someone here help me with this?

Thanks

Khelvan

 

[blargney the second]

My understanding is no animal companion at all at any level.

 

[shilsen]

My understanding is no animal companion at all at any level.

What he said.

 

[Henry]

I never realized that. So he exchanges wildshape for that, AND he loses the companion? YEESH!

 

[Christian]

I never realized that. So he exchanges wildshape for that, AND he loses the companion? YEESH!

It's a big trade-off, and I have no doubt that the druid gives up both some power and a certain amount of flexibility in available forms. I've found* that the flexibility of unlimited swift-action shapechanging and the convenience of not having to track a huge stack of potential stat changes makes it worthwhile. YMMV, of course. I think the standard druid is slightly unbalanced, and this change helps bring him in line with the rest of the group, too.

*I'm currently playing a shapeshifting druid, started him at 4th level & now about to hit 9th.

 

[Darklone]

Wildshape AND companion? Cool. That's both UA variants at once which give you most of the barbarians, rangers AND monks special abilities!

 

[boolean]

For some players, one less thing to keep track of is an advantage.

That's why many of the alternate class features in PHB2 swap out extra critters in the party - familiars, animal companions, special mounts.

 

[Klaus]

I got a question about PHBII.
One of my players uses PHBII alternative Shapeshifiting for his Druid instead of Wildshape.
The Book says he doesnt get an Animal Companion on Level one if he chooses this.
Does this mean he forfeits the Companion completely?
I am not sure, can someone here help me with this?

Thanks

Khelvan

No Animal Companion at all... from druid levels. If you take levels in, say, ranger, or Beastmaster, you still get an animal companion from those.

And of course, your shapeshifting druid can still take the Wild Cohort feat and get a (slightly weaker) animal.