I have a 7th level Roc and I was wondering what feats to take...

My idea is toughness to boost hp and thus survivability then skill focus fly and then flyby attack. I'm unsure about the first two though. I am also considering ability focus grab and weapon focus talons/grab. I like ability focus but that would replace flyby which is a must. Any ideas?

Halp

I don't think Ability Focus is gonna be that useful as grab/grapple rules don't involve a saving throw DC.

does it have a 3+ int? if so look at feral combat training combined with the various 'style' feats (dragon, tiger etc) and see if those could help you do what you want.

I suppose ability focus is out then. But the question is more focused on the first two feats: toughness and skill focus fly. I can't get any feat with int 3+ requirements since I'm taking flyby attack but the first two are flexible.

well at level 4 you get to increase any stat of your animal companion by one, most people choose int so that you animal companion can A)learn a language and B)choose any feat and put points into any skill(including putting a point into linguistics to understand common)

I suppose ability focus is out then. But the question is more focused on the first two feats: toughness and skill focus fly. I can't get any feat with int 3+ requirements since I'm taking flyby attack but the first two are flexible.

Int 3 is a fantastic boon for your animal companion. you won't have to rely on tricks or "pushing" your companion you can just shout (or one of your allies) something to do and bam.

Int 3 is needed for Flyby attack anyways and soonest he could pick it up is level 5.

With a starting Con of 9, Toughness is a good choice for HD 1.

By second feat, Roc would have a BAB of 2, I'd suggest Weapon Focus (talons) as that's where most of your attacks are coming from if full-attacking, or Weapon Focus (bite) if ALL you ever intend to do is flyby attack, or better yet. Combat Reflexes, by level 7 will be getting you crazy amount of AoO's if you're smart about positioning thanks to its size+reach.

Int 3 is needed for Flyby attack anyways and soonest he could pick it up is level 5.

With a starting Con of 9, Toughness is a good choice for HD 1.

By second feat, Roc would have a BAB of 2, I'd suggest Weapon Focus (talons) as that's where most of your attacks are coming from if full-attacking, or Weapon Focus (bite) if ALL you ever intend to do is flyby attack, or better yet. Combat Reflexes, by level 7 will be getting you crazy amount of AoO's if you're smart about positioning thanks to its size+reach.

A Roc does not get reach when it increases size to large

lunge at BAB +6 is a must .. since no reach ...

Really? Ouch. Do any of the large sized animal companions get reach or does it have to specifically state it in their AC stats write-ups?

Reach is related to if the creature is of a tall stature or a long stature. Very roughly things with arms tend to be in the tall camp, and your other creatures that are beast/bird/bug shaped are in the long camp.

So off the top of my head, the ape familiar would have 10 feet of reach when it is large sized.

yes the ape/gorilla is the only animal companion with reach, since it is basically humanoid shaped.

Light armor proficiency wouldn't be a bad idea if you plan on equiping with barding...

I don't know why people think I'm not boosting int to 3. I can only take one feat after that which will be flyby attack. I don't think light armor proficiency is necessary since I can just get mithral and everything will be okay. I was thinking weapon focus talons or weapon focus grab instead of skill focus but the plan was to grab the opponent and fly up at 90 degrees so I want to make sure I make that fly check.

yes the ape/gorilla is the only animal companion with reach, since it is basically humanoid shaped.

That simply is untrue.

A lot of dinosaurs have reach.
axe beaks and the giant mantis also do.
I am sure there are others as well.

asthyril wrote:

yes the ape/gorilla is the only animal companion with reach, since it is basically humanoid shaped.

That simply is untrue.

http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2m2fc?Large-Animal-Companions-ReachAttack-Penal tyAC

A lot of dinosaurs have reach.
axe beaks and the giant mantis also do.
I am sure there are others as well.

yes, sorry you are correct. i was thinking of just the list from the core rulebook for ones with reach.

@gutnedawg ah i didn't understand that at first, so youare looking for the first 2 feats before you raise its int. i would suggest weapon focus:talons and power attack in general. don't think anything else would help out of the list available. i wish they would expand that in the book coming out in february (animal archive) that's all about familiars/animal companions/mounts/other companion-like things

For companions with pounce and Int 3, Unarmed Strike + Dragon Style cannot be underrated. The ability to charge through difficult terrain and inconveniently placed allies is very convenient.

I don't think light armor proficiency is necessary since I can just get mithral and everything will be okay.

Check the rules:

When worked like steel, it becomes a wonderful material from which to create armor, and is occasionally used for other items as well. Most mithral armors are one category lighter than normal for purposes of movement and other limitations. Heavy armors are treated as medium, and medium armors are treated as light, but light armors are still treated as light. This decrease does not apply to proficiency in wearing the armor. A character wearing mithral full plate must be proficient in wearing heavy armor to avoid adding the armor's check penalty to all his attack rolls and skill checks that involve moving. Spell failure chances for armors and shields made from mithral are decreased by 10%, maximum Dexterity bonuses are increased by 2, and armor check penalties are decreased by 3 (to a minimum of 0).

You still need the proficiency to avoid penalties.

Of course, if you have the funds and since you are undoubtedly going to equip your familiar a masterwork saddle, have it enchanted to provide a continuous Mage Armor effect. Check with your GM, he may require you to use the more expensive costs for Bracers of Armor, but the upside is that allows you to gradually increase it to +8.

gutnedawg wrote:

I don't think light armor proficiency is necessary since I can just get mithral and everything will be okay.

Check the rules:

Quote:

When worked like steel, it becomes a wonderful material from which to create armor, and is occasionally used for other items as well. Most mithral armors are one category lighter than normal for purposes of movement and other limitations. Heavy armors are treated as medium, and medium armors are treated as light, but light armors are still treated as light. This decrease does not apply to proficiency in wearing the armor. A character wearing mithral full plate must be proficient in wearing heavy armor to avoid adding the armor's check penalty to all his attack rolls and skill checks that involve moving. Spell failure chances for armors and shields made from mithral are decreased by 10%, maximum Dexterity bonuses are increased by 2, and armor check penalties are decreased by 3 (to a minimum of 0).

You still need the proficiency to avoid penalties.

Of course, if you have the funds and since you are undoubtedly going to equip your familiar a masterwork saddle, have it enchanted to provide a continuous Mage Armor effect. Check with your GM, he may require you to use the more expensive costs for Bracers of Armor, but the upside is that allows you to gradually increase it to +8.

i'm sure he was talking about a mithril chain shirt, which gives no penalties because of the ACP being 0. it is what most people use for animal companions instead of wasting feats to get better. plus a mithril chain shirt costs much less than a magic mage armor saddle.

Yea and it can't fly in anything more than light armor so anything besides a mithral chain shirt would be pointless.