So I am adore bugs of all kinds. I love creepy crawlies. And now I really want to play a verminous hunter. Honestly most of them besides the giant mantis don't seem so great. I mean I am going to use them regardless from here on out to be honest. I like the flavor of have a large bug as a companion.
Some of them just don't seem very viable though. Especially the giant leech :( I would love having a giant leech if it didn't have 5ft. move speed :P I also am confused why the giant centipede has a 20ft. move and climb speed when a normal giant centipede has twice that...
I was looking at the Vermin companions and was wondering does anyone else ever use them?
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I also love bugs of all kinds, which is why I'm playing a druid with a scorpion companion in our Mummy's Mask campaign. The character is still only 3rd level, so her scorpion hasn't really come into her own just yet, but I think I can make it work. Next level the scorpion gets an Intelligence point, and I'm looking forward to it having feats and more tricks.
I also love bugs of all kinds, which is why I'm playing a druid with a scorpion companion in our Mummy's Mask campaign. The character is still only 3rd level, so her scorpion hasn't really come into her own just yet, but I think I can make it work. Next level the scorpion gets an Intelligence point, and I'm looking forward to it having feats and more tricks.
The giant scorpion is pretty awesome. I think the mantis and the scorpion are both super awesome companions.
If you are human can't you just have the eye for talent trait and give your vermin +2 Int to start with?
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I agree that the mantis is awesome. I would have probably chosen it instead, but scorpion fit the flavor SO much better.
I am playing a human and could have taken that racial trait (looking back I probably should have), but that wasn't even on my radar at the time I made the character. My human bonus feat went to Vermin Heart, but I haven't used my 1st-level feat that much yet (Spell Focus).
A giant scorpion makes a nasty mount, especially after the boost at 7th level.
A giant leech could work nicely in a fresh-water lake or swamp (blood drain is pretty powerful), but is a poor choice in just about any other terrain. It's better for NPCs who stay in one location than PCs that travel a lot (not all options are there primarily for PCs).
Re: giant centipede companion. Many companions are "underpowered" compared to the base animal (see Elephant, Mastadon). This is to reduce the potential for some of the abuses in 3.x (and earlier editions), where the druid's animal companion could be more powerful than a PC.
I understand that they have to tone down a lot of animals for companion stats but I do feel like a lot of animal companions get the short end of the stick. I mean compare a scorpion or mantis to the centipede and the centipede just looks sad. And I can tell you from experience that a large centipede is much more terrifying than a mantis(Seriously do not let a large centipede nip you).
I do have to say that I really like giant slugs and the giant wasp makes a bad ass flying mount.
I hope one day we get the stats on some more vermin companions like the assassin bug, Walking stick, mosquito, solifugid, eurypterid, cave fisher, dragonfly, locust, and... giant sea anemone.
It would be nice if it was possible to get a ridable spider, honestly. Without being Small.
Yeah, it's really not optimal. Costs a feat, and barding, already crazy expensive, just won't be possible with that strength score. We have a Big Cat and a Small Cat, why not a Big Spider to match the Small Spider?
Considering that the whole shtick of a mite is giant vermin control, and drow have a kinda strong vermin theme as well, it's a bit weird.
I've said it elsewhere, but the real bonus of verminous companions is how disposable they are. Less tricks means less time retaining. And because of aspects, a hunter can still be competent without his companion.
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I'm looking forward to the day when this gets resolved so I can have a seriously disturbed Druid whose Giant Slug Companion gradually metamorphoses into a gelatinous cube!
I think i am going to have a leech mount next chance i get...
I'm still thinking over a swarm druid.