Psychic warrior panther animal companion

[Forever]

The title is a mouthful, I suppose. I play an 8th level druid currently, and upon reaching 9th level, will Awaken my animal companion, a panther (as leopard, in the MM). My DM let me fudge things a bit, and since my history was written before MoTW came out, is letting me add three ability points since I have raised him from birth.

I've been wondering over this for a while, but I've decided to class him into a psychic warrior, focusing on dexterity and strength (STR is where I put those three extra ability points).

Anyone have any interesting ideas/suggestions?

 

[Dragongirl]

Personally I like feline rogues. Most cats are already good at move silently and hide, and then add sneak attack and cat-rogues rule. IMO

 

[Forever]

a little *bump*, no psionic ideas?

 

[Dinkeldog]

My reading is that things like Talons and Claws of the Bear should affect the damage by all your claw attacks, so I'd go for that. Are you going to be limited in armor, or able to take the standard barding types, at least? If so, Burst of Speed might be a good thing. At the level you're at, everyone should be hasted all the time, so he should be able to accomplish a Burst of Speed, Charge.

My other recommendation is to get one of the amulets from S&F that give a bonus to unarmed attacks. Very expensive, but necessary against anything incorporeal or with DR

 

[Forever]

Thanks for the suggestions, I wrote them down. Claws of the Bear looks greatThe panther already has some +1 leather barding (looking for mithril). I'll take a look at S&F, too.

One problem is that we're never hasted - my DM(bf)'s roommate controls the wizard through the Leadership feat (we have a small group), and is very stingy with spells. I've tried suggesting Haste but he never prepares it - only wants to use offense spells. It floored me one day when he Greater Magic Weapon'ed my arrows.

But thanks! This will be our first psionic character and I'm excited.

 

[Jeph]

Give him Inertial Armor, and maybe Improved Inertial Armor, if you don't want barding. Try Psionic Fist and Unavoidable Strike, he'll be deadly. Focus and Specialization in Bite, maybe Claws. Maybe Multiattack.

Oh yeah, put only 2 points in Str, 1 in Dex. That way, they both get a modifier +, instead of just Str getting it.

If you just want to be odd, enhance his claw attacks to be Throwing and Teleporting. That could just be fun. However, if your GM has a few IQ points, he won't let you do that.

he might like Speed of Thought, Psionic Charge, Mental Leap, and Up the Walls. Those are awesome at mobility enhancement. You can make 200' leaps with no roll, if you have enough Speed of Thoughts. (and boots of Strde/Spring, and Ring of Jumping, and Mental Leap . . . )

When he's high enough, Dimension Door is awesomeness. Catfall is natural, Burst is fun, Far Punch is too. Talons might be useful. DO NOT get Bite of the Wolf, it is equivalent to Talons for the panther (+1 average damage, and one level higher). I think that the Metaphysical Weapon chain effects unarmed/natural weapons. Animal Affinity is also natural, Claws of the Bear will make him rock, especially when combined with Multiattack, Talons, Lesser Metaphysical Weapon, Psionic Fist, and Unavoidable Strike. Bite of the Tiger for next level, Improved Biofeedback is nice. Displacement is awesom, Metphysical Weapon is a natural step up. Prowess is useless. Next level, Polymorph Self might be good but then he wouldn't be cute and fuzzy anymore ( ), so get Telekinesis and Dimension Door. Next level, Ectoplasmic Armor, the others don't really matter. Next level, Breath of the Dragon = firebreathing kitten, Etherial Jaunt is cool, Shield of Prudence stacks with Ectoplasmic Armor.

Hope that helps,
-Jeph