vermin companion

[Merm7th]

Playing a verminous hunter with a giant mantis companion. Am I correct that none of the target animal spells (reduce animal, animal growth...), affect the companion. If so is there any way to reduce the size of the giant mantis?

[Avoron]

"Share Spells: 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 may cast spells on her animal companion even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the companion's type (animal). Spells cast in this way must come from a class that grants an animal companion. This ability does not allow the animal to share abilities that are not spells, even if they function like spells."

[Murdock Mudeater]

Merm7th wrote:

Playing a verminous hunter with a giant mantis companion. Am I correct that none of the target animal spells (reduce animal, animal growth...), affect the companion. If so is there any way to reduce the size of the giant mantis?

Animal spells won't. This is both an advantage and disadvantage. The opponent won't be able to hold animal or similar spells on your companion, but you also can't cast them.

The big notable feature on the vermin companions is that until you increase their intelligence to 1, they are unable to learn any tricks. Furthermore, speak with animals and handle animal do not apply to vermin without the "vermin empathy" class ability.

[Avoron]

Actually, it's just the advantage. Your enemies cannot cast spells that target animals on your vermin companion. However, the line of bold text from that quote means that the hunter can cast any spells they get from their class on the companion, even if they don't normally affect creatures of the vermin type.

[Thormind]

Murdock Mudeater wrote:

The big notable feature on the vermin companions is that until you increase their intelligence to 1, they are unable to learn any tricks.

This is not true. They can learn tricks, they just do not get the one regular AC get from their Int (3 per point). From Ultimate magic, in the druid section where they 1st described vermin companions:

Mindless: Vermin companions have no Intelligence score and possess the mindless trait. In spite of this, vermin companions may learn one trick, plus additional bonus tricks.

[Murdock Mudeater]

Thormind wrote:

Murdock Mudeater wrote:

The big notable feature on the vermin companions is that until you increase their intelligence to 1, they are unable to learn any tricks.

This is not true. They can learn tricks, they just do not get the one regular AC get from their Int (3 per point). From Ultimate magic, in the druid section where they 1st described vermin companions:

Mindless: Vermin companions have no Intelligence score and possess the mindless trait. In spite of this, vermin companions may learn one trick, plus additional bonus tricks.

My bad. I'm tired. I was thinking about that the companion cannot learn feats or skills until Int:1. I was mixing this with the above. Too many rules swirling in my head...

[ShoulderPatch]

Avoron wrote:

However, the line of bold text from that quote means that the hunter can cast any spells they get from their class on the companion, even if they don't normally affect creatures of the vermin type.

Avoron wrote:

... on herself. A druid may cast spells on her animal companion even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the companion's type (animal). Spells cast ...

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Technically you ended the bold before the sentence was over, the / b came one word too early, it's actually...
A druid may cast spells on her animal companion even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the companion's type (animal) .

Balance and RAI I don't see a problem with it, just not sure RAW allows it. That part specifically notes type (animal).

If a spell were to not effect vermin, unless it's a "target: You" where the first line would allow it, I'm not sure it's allowed by RAW.

[Shinoskay]

*necro* well, since it says that you can use spells on it in this way even if the spells do not normally affect creatures of its type... I think that it can say abberations for all it matters... the text says you can affect it with spells that normally would not via the feature.