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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pawsplay" data-source="post: 5364141" data-attributes="member: 15538">I already stated that. Again, primarily because the rules suggest that an animal companion is exactly like the MM entry. Secdonarily, because for simplicity's sake, I assumed stationary goalposts.If you wish to insist that in this scenario the GM is generous, and you wish to state that Weapon Focus for the Riding Dog is our benchmark, we may proceed. The fighter still beats the tar out of the riding dog, unless you assume a fairly suboptimal fighter build and fairly favorable circumstances for the riding dog. I can see no other reasonable conclusion; the numbers have been posted all up and down the thread. Even "Regdar" can easily defeat a wolf in a fair fight. Dog Boy gives up 1 AC and 1 hit point and movement rate for much higher damage potential, the possibility of shield use, and a favorable (though not in all circumstances superior) tripping ability. Assuming Dog Boy II has Combat Expertise, Improved Trip, and Alertness, he now has better spot and listen. Using Combat Expertise, he can raise his AC to 16, matching the riding dog's. His attack bonus is now an effective +2, allowing him to make a touch attack vs. an AC of 12 (assuming not flat-footed) on a 10 or higher, 55% chance to hit. He gets +4 on his Str check to trip.Foofles the Attack Riding Dog, attacking with a +4 bonus, needs a 12 or higher to hit an AC of 16, a 44% chance. If it hits, it can make a trip attempt with a +1 bonus on its check. As you can see, even a knucklehead like Dog Boy can outperform a riding dog, even at its schtick. He also has a higher Spot and Listen bonus than the specially trained Riding Dog in this example (+4 each, compared to +3 for Foofles). Furthermore, he still has his bow, and if he meets a large opponent, he still has his sword and shield. It should, at this point, be sufficiently obvious that even at 1st level, even a combat-focused riding dog is no match for even a mediocre fighter with at least Str 14. Foofles can, however, jump higher, run, faster, and yes, has the scent ability.</blockquote>

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