"Sharing spells" with a druidic animal companion

[kenobi65]

From the SRD description of the druid's animal companion:

"Share Spells (Ex): At the druid’s option, she may have any spell (but not any spell-like ability) she casts upon herself also affect her animal companion. The animal companion must be within 5 feet of her at the time of casting to receive the benefit."

Let us say that my druid, Arangil, has his animal companion, Duncan the deerhound, within five feet of him. Arangil casts Cure Light Wounds on himself for 6 points of healing. Does Duncan also receive 6 points of healing?

The rule above suggests to me that the animal companion receives the same effect as the druid. Is my interpretation correct? (I can't find anything in the D&D FAQ on this one...)

Thanks in advance for opinions -- informed opinions are even more deeply appreciated!

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

I believe this is correct.

For spells that last longer, IIRC, the animal companion must stay within 5' of the druid in order to keep the effect.

AR

 

[Hypersmurf]

The rule above suggests to me that the animal companion receives the same effect as the druid. Is my interpretation correct?

Right.

Tome and Blood had some freaky-crazy rules for Share Spells, which would disagree, but you're really best off pretending they don't exist... especially since they directly contradict the 3.5 Share Spells text on at least one point, so you can feel justified in ignoring the rest

-Hyp.

 

[Mahali]

Before 3.5 they said "no" for healing spells because it was too powerful.

Don't think it was ever made official but most GMs I know already disallowed it.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Before 3.5 they said "no" for healing spells because it was too powerful.

Well, it wasn't 'No'. It was 'one target gets healed up until they're at full hit points, and then any leftover points spill over to the other target'.

Weird, zany rules.

-Hyp.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

In a side note, I've been ranting about paladin spells over in another thread, but it occurs to me that if Cure spells can be shared with a mount at full value, it suddenly makes them useful again to paladins and rangers. Sure, the caster level is bad, but having a Cure Moderate Wounds affect both the paladin/ranger and the mount/companion is very worthwhile. Even more worthwhile for the druid, but still good for the paladin/ranger.