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Tatya here is a Witch, a Halfling, and in a party with two Humans; a pack animal and mount was a must, simple as that. Enter Grom, her big, friendly, loyal Siberian Husky. The campaign just ended its fifth session and the party just leveled up from 2nd (our usual starting point) to 3rd, and Grom has gone from being a simple loot hauler and method by which Tatya can keep up with the rest of the party to a welcome and helpful member of the party - he tripped the boss opponent we'd been sent to deal with last session twice, was at the head of pursuit when the guy bolted, and with some encouragement managed to pin the guy down so the Gunslinger and Monk could surround him and pummel him into unconsciousness. (A fight in which Tatya, thanks to her slower running speed and needing to stop to cast, was having difficulty keeping up until the last couple of rounds; she had to dismount at the beginning of combat to douse the flames she'd caught, and thus couldn't remount and keep up.)
Sadly, Grom is - statistically - nothing more than your standard 50gp, 13 HP, 13 AC, CR1 riding dog. Meaning that he's got perhaps another level, maybe two, before he starts becoming significantly less helpful in combat... and maybe a level or two after that where his existence is under constant threat by being in our companionship. After completing this latest task, Tatya will probably be able to afford barding for him, which she has been considering purchasing for some time now; but that will only help him for so long.
Tatya has had Grom as a companion only slightly less time than her cat familiar, but Ksusha's survivability is significantly greater: as a familiar she advances with Tatya, plus her smaller size and Stealth score allow her to hide when danger arises, something Grom can't do as well. And out-of-character, I as a player have to admit to becoming attached to the big pup, and after the last session I estimate the party's thinking likewise.
Long story short: what are my options for helping my pet, mount, and companion get a bit of survivability beyond the first five levels? I'm the only caster in the party, but we now work for a rather influential NPC patron who might be able to get us in touch with someone using a spell list other than the Witch's if needed; beyond the obvious low-level solution of masterwork/enchanted barding and potions/oils of magic fang/GMF, I can't think of much. Awaken plus spending a feat on Leadership might be an option, Tatya has 18 CHA (yay rolling for stats + halfling bonus), but I don't know how feasible it would be nor whether or not the GM would allow it (I'll ask though). Any suggestions would be appreciated. =)
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Take a level of Cavalier and spend a feat on Boon companion. This will let you bump the puppy up to max out as a 4th level mount, significantly boosting his survivability. If not you someone else in the party can take the level, any class could definitely enjoy the boost in power that cavalier level brings.
Or you can wait 2 months for the new Companion book paizo is coming out with that lets ANY class pick up a familiar/animal companion and use that to boost the puppy.
I'm looking forward to that book.
I agree. Go with order of the Paw and ride the puppy.
As the only party caster I'm loathe to multiclass, so I am much more interested in this alternate book suggestion. Definitely sounds like a workable idea, and will thoroughly be looking forward to it now that I know it exists. I shouldn't gain more than one or two levels between now and then, so unless things go really south Grom should be alive and well by that time.
Thanks for the heads-up! Still open to other suggestions though =D
RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32
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Wait, what book is this? Can we have a title?
I too have a witch that rides a dog mount. Caleb is his name, and I am going feel horrible if he gets killed off. There are magical items, but you have to adapt most of them to mounts. That also gets expensive. There is also the Leadship feat, which does work with animals.
Edit: It is the one about animals with pre-order in December. That is a bit far away for my character.
Better. You can have a link.
Take a level of Cavalier and spend a feat on Boon companion. This will let you bump the puppy up to max out as a 4th level mount, significantly boosting his survivability. If not you someone else in the party can take the level, any class could definitely enjoy the boost in power that cavalier level brings.
Or you can wait 2 months for the new Companion book paizo is coming out with that lets ANY class pick up a familiar/animal companion and use that to boost the puppy.
I'm looking forward to that book.
Say What?!That's Awesome!My only hope is it doesn't marginalize classes that already get a mount/companion but if done right it could bring a ho hum class like fighter back on par with Rangers and Paladins for example.
I was referring to the new book by the way ;-)
Better. You can have a link.
WISHLISTED!
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Some sort of transformative ritual magic, to give him more HD and/or templating?
polymorph any object
A Scroll would cost 3000 gp; your gm will kill you because your mount is tougher than the fighter until level 8+...
There's an idea indeed. I'll look into it, see what the GM says =)
If I go the Leadership route I won't be grabbing it until level 9, as I need my level 7 feat for Improved Familiar - "evolving" my cat into a silvanshee (or rather, the silvanshee releasing the seals on itself and resuming its true form) was planned from day one, with GM approval. So I'm not in a huge rush, though December is indeed quite a ways off...
You could also take Leadership at 7th level and for your cohort have a magic beast. Blink Dog could be interesting.
That I could. The issue is I want to keep the companion I have, rather than upgrade to a new one... a transformative ritual to swap one for the other but ICly have them be the same entity is the only idea I can think that would provide the same mechanics as taking Leadership and snagging a Magical Beast cohort.
If you can give him a template, make it foo.
Some sort of transformative ritual magic, to give him more HD and/or templating?
Depending on how your GM rules polymorph any object, that might be an option (wouldn't work with me - I say PAO rewrites the brain, which would neatly erase your pet... but I'm not sure my ruling is typical).
Same Kingdom (animal), Same Class (Mammal), Same Size (Medium) = 9
Therefore, duration = permanent
Lets see - Aurumvorax with the Giant template?
A Scroll would cost 3000 gp; your gm will kill you because your mount is tougher than the fighter until level 8+...
GM's a total noob and open to trying most things. No killing will be happening. =)
This'll just give me an excuse to throw higher-CR encounters at them and see what happens.
She passes out mage armor/enlarge person potions to the monk like candy. =)
Ok, yeah, when the experienced player is telling the GM "Oh dear lord" I'm gonna say no.
I'll let a lot of stuff go just to see what happens, but not that much. =)