Do animal companions and eidolons get max hit points for their first HD like PCs do? What if they get more than one HD at first level (such is the case with animal companions)? Are they all maxed?
Or do you have to roll for ALL their HD, including the first level's worth?
Or do they get the average of their HD like so many monsters in the bestiary do?
I couldn't find a rule on it either way.
I don't believe they do.
Also my brain has started replacing 'eidolon' with 'pokemon' every time I see it. All those silly discussions about Summoner have taken their toll.
They would not get max HD. You use average HP like the bestiary
Creative Director
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Do animal companions and eidolons get max hit points for their first HD like PCs do? What if they get more than one HD at first level (such is the case with animal companions)? Are they all maxed?
Or do you have to roll for ALL their HD, including the first level's worth?
Or do they get the average of their HD like so many monsters in the bestiary do?
I couldn't find a rule on it either way.
Only player characters get max HP at first level. Animal companions and eidolons have racial HD, not class levels, and therefore do not gain max hit points at any time (unless the GM thinks they should).
Monsters in the Bestiary, by the way, get average hit points because we have to list SOME number there, and the average number makes the most sense. There's nothing wrong with varying a monster's hp by actually rolling up its hp according to HD. This will make some encounters tougher and easier, though.
Now I'm wondering.
As a primary combat feature of a class, how does the animal companion/eidolon compare for different levels of point buy? What point buy is it balanced for? Should it get a little adjustment up or down depending on the point buy of the game so it can stand with the rest of the party?
Do animal companions and eidolons get max hit points for their first HD like PCs do? What if they get more than one HD at first level (such is the case with animal companions)? Are they all maxed?
Or do you have to roll for ALL their HD, including the first level's worth?
Or do they get the average of their HD like so many monsters in the bestiary do?
I couldn't find a rule on it either way.
Only player characters get max HP at first level. Animal companions and eidolons have racial HD, not class levels, and therefore do not gain max hit points at any time (unless the GM thinks they should).
Monsters in the Bestiary, by the way, get average hit points because we have to list SOME number there, and the average number makes the most sense. There's nothing wrong with varying a monster's hp by actually rolling up its hp according to HD. This will make some encounters tougher and easier, though.
So the default assumption is that you roll for all HD for your companion creature?
So the default assumption is that you roll for all HD for your companion creature?Do animal companions and eidolons get max hit points for their first HD like PCs do? What if they get more than one HD at first level (such is the case with animal companions)? Are they all maxed?
Or do you have to roll for ALL their HD, including the first level's worth?
Or do they get the average of their HD like so many monsters in the bestiary do?
I couldn't find a rule on it either way.
Only player characters get max HP at first level. Animal companions and eidolons have racial HD, not class levels, and therefore do not gain max hit points at any time (unless the GM thinks they should).
Monsters in the Bestiary, by the way, get average hit points because we have to list SOME number there, and the average number makes the most sense. There's nothing wrong with varying a monster's hp by actually rolling up its hp according to HD. This will make some encounters tougher and easier, though.
I think Mr.Jacobs is implying it is up to the DM. We roll in our group.
I have rolled for both of mine...
And for PFS?
I see comments re: you don't get full dice on start up and others saying it works like an animal companion (which is a 2HD? as opposed to d10) and yet others saying it's 5.5 [the average, apparently].
Can anyone point me to the right place? even the FAQ's threads are a bit of effort (as occasionally they drift off topic which means pages of follow up).
There is no official rule but I hope they make one for the sake of PFS. For my own games I will continue to roll anyway.
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From what James said the standard is that you roll them at all levels.
He said that the only things that get max at 1st are PCs and that bestiary creatures get average because its easier to create than to say the GM rolls all of them.
But for a home game he said that a companion can use whatever method the GM wants to do its HP whether roll all, average all, max first and roll rest, max first and average rest, or max all. But I am pretty sure that for PFS it is roll all as that is what he said is the standard for all non PC creatures (excluding bestiary for sake of simplicity).
From what James said the standard is that you roll them at all levels.
He said that the only things that get max at 1st are PCs and that bestiary creatures get average because its easier to create than to say the GM rolls all of them.
But for a home game he said that a companion can use whatever method the GM wants to do its HP whether roll all, average all, max first and roll rest, max first and average rest, or max all. But I am pretty sure that for PFS it is roll all as that is what he said is the standard for all non PC creatures (excluding bestiary for sake of simplicity).
He never actually gave a specific answer to that question. He only explained PC classes and mosnters used straight out of the book without mentioning a direct answer for animal companions.
He never actually gave a specific answer to that question. He only explained PC classes and mosnters used straight out of the book without mentioning a direct answer for animal companions.
Seems pretty straight forward and direct to me. Just like it says in the hit point section of the core book. Racial HD are not class levels, so they do not get MAX at first level and roll for HP every level ( Unless DM houserules diff)
Only player characters get max HP at first level. Animal companions and eidolons have racial HD, not class levels, and therefore do not gain max hit points at any time (unless the GM thinks they should).
@lastblacknight As for PFS play, I thought I remember something about they give all companions 1/2 HP. I'll look again, not that I play PFS :P
Greg
EDIT: Found it in the PFS guide.
Animal companions receive average hit points per hit die. For d8, the average is 4.5. Multiply 4.5 times the number of hit dice your animal companion has and round down. Recalculate hit points for your companion each time it gains additional hit dice. After its hit points are calculated, add in appropriate bonuses from its Con modifer, feats, and so on.
Pretty straight forward then for PFS play.
Eidolons have less HP than wizards do at first level? Holy wow that's terrible.
Well, they do have the HP of their summoner as well. And the fact they can be summoned back after death, much easier than a first level wizzie can be :).
Greg
Thanks guys; bummer but thanks, who knew it would be in the instructions?
So following Wraithstrike's post
a first level animal companion has 2 HD (d8) which is 2 x 4.5 = 9 + Con etc..
a first level Eidolon has 1 HD (d10) 5.5 + Con + etc...
I have to make an adjustment...
This means HP is 5.5 = or 5 at first level and then 11 at second level (otherwise the eidolon is losing out on HP).
If you are going to go with the "average I would do 5 at one level and 6 at the next. Personally I like rolling though.
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Well, they do have the HP of their summoner as well.
Eidolon's start with a Con 13, and don't disappear until -Con, which means Life Link won't trigger until it's at -13. Your 1st level Summoner likely has 10 or less hit points, so if he spends all 10 of them on Life Link, to keep his Eidolon from dying, it's still gonna be at -3...
(And, since you'll have knocked yourself unconscious, he'll disappear instantly, making it an amazing 'I kill myself, and accomplish nothing doing so!' power.)
So, yeah, don't use that power until 2nd or 3rd level, at least! It seems to have been designed with the thought that Eidolons vanished at zero hit points, but, at some point in design, the Eidolon was improved to not vanish until negative hit points equal to it's Con score, making the wording of Life Link a trap to kill PCs who didn't read it closely.
And the fact they can be summoned back after death, much easier than a first level wizzie can be :).
That, on the other hand, is very true, and given how often they die, it's a nice advantage over the Druid, who has to spend an entire day replacing a lost companion.