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D&D Question...3.5
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Author:  Raell [ Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:06 am ]
Post subject:  D&D Question...3.5
This is kinda hard for me to ask as I don't quite get how it works to begin with.

This question has to do with an animal companion and how they advance.

I have this pet. It is an eagle. Before it was just a small creature. Now at level five it is considered a large creature. Does this mean it is just magical enhancement to the stats or does the bird increase in phyical size as well? If it is the first I can see it, if it is the second I am having trouble wrapping my head around my bird all of a sudden being big enough to fly me from town to town in it's claws.

Help me understand.
Author:  Raltar [ Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:36 am ]
Post subject: 
Well, as animals gain hit dice, they get bigger. I'm not sure how your eagle got large. It starts out as a small animal and can advance to a medium size animal at 2-3 HD, but it does say the advancement listing isn't a hard limit.

I'm assuming you are a druid because a ranger doesn't get animal companion until level 4 and it's at half their level(unless you are playing pathfinder, in which case it would be ranger level -3, but it's effectively the same thing at that level)...meaning you could have a 2 HD eagle, max. And those are only medium animals.
Author:  Raell [ Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:47 am ]
Post subject: 
What you are saying it does get larger in a phyical sense? Not just hit point wise? So it would be like having big bird for a companion...


Also only playing a ranger, I seem to have a problem with the program I am using for my character sheet, I will fix the birds level right away.
Author:  Gorse [ Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: D&D Question...3.5
Please explain the size part you are talking about as I do not see any reference in 3.5


Ranger Animal Companion:
Animal Companion (Ex): At 4th level, a ranger gains an animal companion selected from the following list: badger, camel, dire rat, dog, riding dog, eagle, hawk, horse (light or heavy), owl, pony, snake (Small or Medium viper), or wolf. If the campaign takes place wholly or partly in an aquatic environment, the following creatures may be added to the ranger's list of options: crocodile, porpoise, Medium shark, and squid. This animal is a loyal companion that accompanies the ranger on his adventures as appropriate for its kind.
This ability functions like the druid ability of the same name, except that the ranger's effective druid level is one-half his ranger level. A ranger may select from the alternative lists of animal companions just as a druid can, though again his effective druid level is half his ranger level. Like a druid, a ranger cannot select an alternative animal if the choice would reduce his effective druid level below 1st.

Druid Animal Companion:
Animal Companion (Ex): A druid may begin play with an animal companion selected from the following list: badger, camel, dire rat, dog, riding dog, eagle, hawk, horse (light or heavy), owl, pony, snake (Small or Medium viper), or wolf. If the campaign takes place wholly or partly in an aquatic environment, the following creatures are also available: crocodile, porpoise, Medium shark, and squid. This animal is a loyal companion that accompanies the druid on her adventures as appropriate for its kind.
A 1st-level druid's companion is completely typical for its kind except as noted below. As a druid advances in level, the animal's power increases as shown on the table. If a druid releases her companion from service, she may gain a new one by performing a ceremony requiring 24 uninterrupted hours of prayer. This ceremony can also replace an animal companion that has perished.
A druid of 4th level or higher may select from alternative lists of animals (see below). Should she select an animal companion from one of these alternative lists, the creature gains abilities as if the character's druid level were lower than it actually is. Subtract the value indicated in the appropriate list header from the character's druid level and compare the result with the druid level entry on the table to determine the animal companion's powers. (If this adjustment would reduce the druid's effective level to 0 or lower, she can't have that animal as a companion.)


Animal Companion Basics:
Use the base statistics for a creature of the companion’s kind, but make the following changes.

Class Level
The character’s druid level. The druid’s class levels stack with levels of any other classes that are entitled to an animal companion for the purpose of determining the companion’s abilities and the alternative lists available to the character.

Bonus HD
Extra eight-sided (d8) Hit Dice, each of which gains a Constitution modifier, as normal. Remember that extra Hit Dice improve the animal companion’s base attack and base save bonuses. An animal companion’s base attack bonus is the same as that of a druid of a level equal to the animal’s HD. An animal companion has good Fortitude and Reflex saves (treat it as a character whose level equals the animal’s HD). An animal companion gains additional skill points and feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster’s Hit Dice.

Natural Armor Adj.
The number noted here is an improvement to the animal companion’s existing natural armor bonus.

Str/Dex Adj.
Add this value to the animal companion’s Strength and Dexterity scores.

Bonus Tricks
The value given in this column is the total number of "bonus" tricks that the animal knows in addition to any that the druid might choose to teach it (see the Handle Animal skill). These bonus tricks don’t require any training time or Handle Animal checks, and they don’t count against the normal limit of tricks known by the animal. The druid selects these bonus tricks, and once selected, they can’t be changed.

Link (Ex)
A druid can handle her animal companion as a free action, or push it as a move action, even if she doesn’t have any ranks in the Handle Animal skill. The druid gains a +4 circumstance bonus on all wild empathy checks and Handle Animal checks made regarding an 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. If the spell or effect has a duration other than instantaneous, it stops affecting the animal companion if the companion moves farther than 5 feet away and will not affect the animal again, even if it returns to the druid before the duration expires.

Additionally, the druid may cast a spell with a target of "You" on her animal companion (as a touch range spell) instead of on herself. A druid and her animal companion can share spells even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the companion’s type (animal).

Evasion (Ex)
If an animal companion is subjected to an attack that normally allows a Reflex saving throw for half damage, it takes no damage if it makes a successful saving throw.

Devotion (Ex)
An animal companion gains a +4 morale bonus on Will saves against enchantment spells and effects.

Multiattack
An animal companion gains Multiattack as a bonus feat if it has three or more natural attacks and does not already have that feat. If it does not have the requisite three or more natural attacks, the animal companion instead gains a second attack with its primary natural weapon, albeit at a -5 penalty.

Improved Evasion (Ex)
When subjected to an attack that normally allows a Reflex saving throw for half damage, an animal companion takes no damage if it makes a successful saving throw and only half damage if the saving throw fails.
Author:  Talya [ Thu Oct 15, 2009 7:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re:
Raell wrote:
What you are saying it does get larger in a phyical sense? Not just hit point wise? So it would be like having big bird for a companion...

Normal animal advancement hit dice would make them larger. Animal Companions don't get larger, however. The hit dice they get somehow don't count that way...
Author:  TheRiov [ Thu Oct 15, 2009 7:44 am ]
Post subject: 
HD or HP isn't a reflection of blood in your body. 1st Edition AD&D considered it more of a measure of 'favor of the gods' or luck. You can only take so much before your number is up essentially. A more experienced hero (or companion) is more likely to get a lucky (or divine favor) that keeps the blow from being quite so lethal. *shrug*
Author:  Corolinth [ Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:45 am ]
Post subject: 
"Advanced" monsters often get larger as hit dice increases. A classic example is dragons. They grow older, eat more adventurers, and eventually grow big and strong. This is why young dragons are not as big as old dragons.

The hit dice an animal companion gains for being your best good animal buddy do not cause him to grow any larger. I'm not sure exactly why. One would assume that rangers and druids feed their animal companions properly. Possibly the time frame has something to do with it.
Author:  Numbuk [ Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: D&D Question...3.5
Yeah, there is a split in the roleplaying community as to what HP's really stand for.

The first camp holds true that any loss of hitpoints means a physical wound.

The second camp maintains that it makes no sense to be at 1 hitpoint, your guts hanging out on the floor, and fully functional as if you were at full health. They are more of the camp that hitpoints are more representative of fighting stamina as well as wounds (the largest hit being the one that takes you below zero).

I kind of sit somewhere in between. Mostly due to the fact that it's not that fun gameplay wise when a conversation goes like this:

"I attack the ogre mage with my axe!"
"All right! You swing your axe, he ducks out of the way, but he looks a bit more shaken!"
"I missed?"
"No. Why?"
Author:  DFK! [ Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: D&D Question...3.5
Numbuk wrote:
Yeah, there is a split in the roleplaying community as to what HP's really stand for.

The first camp holds true that any loss of hitpoints means a physical wound.

The second camp maintains that it makes no sense to be at 1 hitpoint, your guts hanging out on the floor, and fully functional as if you were at full health. They are more of the camp that hitpoints are more representative of fighting stamina as well as wounds (the largest hit being the one that takes you below zero).

I kind of sit somewhere in between. Mostly due to the fact that it's not that fun gameplay wise when a conversation goes like this:

"I attack the ogre mage with my axe!"
"All right! You swing your axe, he ducks out of the way, but he looks a bit more shaken!"
"I missed?"
"No. Why?"



This debate is why my home-brew in 3.x used the variant Wound/Vitality system. I found it to be a superior abstraction.
Author:  Gorse [ Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: D&D Question...3.5
For what it is worth, TMNT (and other Strangness) uses a dual system as well. I always found that aspect appealing.
Author:  Diamondeye [ Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re:
Corolinth wrote:
"Advanced" monsters often get larger as hit dice increases. A classic example is dragons. They grow older, eat more adventurers, and eventually grow big and strong. This is why young dragons are not as big as old dragons.


"I'm the Dagon of Grindly Grunn
I breathe fire as hot as the Sun
When a knight comes to fight
I just toast him on sight
like a hot, crispy cinnamon bun."
Author:  Raell [ Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sounds like a dragon with good taste.

Ok, sending this to my DM. He needs another reason to **** with the druid in my party anyway.
Author:  Katas [ Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:26 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think the best way to look at it is that the animal companion is a creature like a normal animal of that type but with a special template, so some features of the animal (including size) do not apply while that template is active.

That gives the DM the ability if the druid/ranger is killed for the eagle to go berserk and enlarge itself in accordance with the rules for advancement and size enlargement.

Or the character the chance to argue it would if in so doing he believes it will be better for the party and possibly prevent a TPK.

Of course, if the creature is something that may help the foes slaughter the party, it may be important to bring that up with the party so the druid is healed/protected and the question doesn't come up.
Author:  Talya [ Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:22 pm ]
Post subject: 
As a druid, always use a dire animal for your companion. The will save is essential!
Author:  Monte [ Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:37 am ]
Post subject: 
I like the split HP/Vitality system, too. It makes narrating combat so much easier, as a GM.
Author:  darksiege [ Sat Oct 24, 2009 5:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
i prefer to avoid 3.0/3.5 and play 1e/2e
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