Build-a-Animal Companion

[Falaal]

I have a sorcerer with the sylvan bloodline and have taken boon companion so that it levels with me.

I am considering giving it the bodyguard archetype (Source: Pathfinder Player Companion: Animal Archive). My biggest concern is that it replaces shared spells, which has a lot of nice applications for a sorcerer.

I'd like some feedback on this. I have chosen a megaloceros for the animal companion and the sorcerer is a gnome. I intend to build the gnome as a debuffer.

[Falaal]

Sorry, forgot to say that this is for pathfinder.

[Te'Shen]

I lean toward no. Keep shared spells. I don't see gaining a +2 to perception/sense motive being worth the trade off from shared spells. I also don't see a lot that prevents the animal companion from getting the bodyguard feats other than the other prerequisites they'd already have to meet.

PFSRD wrote:

. . . Animal companions with an Intelligence of 3 or higher can select any feat they are physically capable of using. GMs might expand this list to include feats from other sources. . . .

[Falaal]

Oh, good point! I didn't even think of that.