First Time Ranger With Animal Companion


Advice


I will be playing a Ranger in a Pathfinder game. I have done some research into Ranger and have learned about the Archer, Drazzt (sp?), and Switch-Hitter builds for Ranger. However, I haven't found very much in regards to how Animal Companions work in general. I was hoping to get some help in that aspect.

Being a first time Ranger, I believe that a wolf would be a good start as a first timer. Here are a few questions I have.

Here is some background into the game. I will be attempting the Switch-Hitter Build as stated by TreantMonk. We will be starting at 10th level. Only Core, APG, and Ultimate Books are allowed. Animal companion will be level 7 (Ranger 10 - 3 = Companion 7).

For the Wolves level 4 (Ranger level 7) ability increase I will be choosing to increase Intelligence to 3.

1.) Animal Companion Feats - The rules state that an animal companion with an intelligence of 3 or higher can select any feat they are physically capable of using. Does this mean that they an forgo all other pre-reqs (Improved Trip as an example), or do they still have to go through the 13 Intelligence and Combat Expertise?

2.) Ways To Increase The Level Of The Companion - I have read up on Boon Companion, however it is not a part of the books allowed. Is there any other way to increase the Ranger's Companion?

3.) Animal Tricks - There rules state that a creature with an Intelligence of 2 can learn up to 6 tricks. With the bonus tricks that goes up to 9 tricks. With the increase to 3 for the wolf's intelligence, does the number of tricks go up to 12?

4.) Any additional advice to a new Ranger that would be of help as well. Thanks.


1. The wolf still needs to have prereqs.
2. I don't think so.
3. Yes, 3 trcks per int point, plus bonus.
4. The treantmonk guide is a great start, but only covers core. You might want to look at some newer guides and do a bit of reading on the other books available to you.


So, since TreantMonk wrote his guide a lot of stuff has happened and changed with additional resources.

The TreantMonk guide is outdated, not that it is wrong it's just no longer as accurate in terms of building an optimal character.

Unless you really want to go for switch-hitter for thematic reasons you are much better off just being a archery focused build. The main issues that TreantMonk saw was that:
1) You had to move to the enemy wasting a round in which you could otherwise attack
2) Two-handed fighting only requires 1 feat (Power Attack) to be good at
3) Ranged Attacks provoke, so it was optimal to be able to be a front line fighter after the enemy closed in

However, a lot of this changed when the feat Point Blank Master arrived and prevented you from provoking when you made ranged attacks.

I recommend Lastoth's Guide to archer rangers instead of making a switch hitter.

Personally I also recommend using an animal companion that will be large sized (wolf does qualify), so you can use it as a mount. Which means it will primarily not be involved in combat. Mounted archery is one of the best combat styles because your mount can move up to it's full speed without giving you any penalties to your attacks and you can make a full attack. You get to move and full attack, it's the best thing in the world. Also, I would highly recommend getting your animal companion to pick up the feats Combat Reflex, Bodyguard, and In Harm's Way to enable it to tank attacks for you.


Claxon wrote:

So, since TreantMonk wrote his guide a lot of stuff has happened and changed with additional resources.

The TreantMonk guide is outdated, not that it is wrong it's just no longer as accurate in terms of building an optimal character.

Unless you really want to go for switch-hitter for thematic reasons you are much better off just being a archery focused build. The main issues that TreantMonk saw was that:
1) You had to move to the enemy wasting a round in which you could otherwise attack
2) Two-handed fighting only requires 1 feat (Power Attack) to be good at
3) Ranged Attacks provoke, so it was optimal to be able to be a front line fighter after the enemy closed in

However, a lot of this changed when the feat Point Blank Master arrived and prevented you from provoking when you made ranged attacks.

I recommend Lastoth's Guide to archer rangers instead of making a switch hitter.

Personally I also recommend using an animal companion that will be large sized (wolf does qualify), so you can use it as a mount. Which means it will primarily not be involved in combat. Mounted archery is one of the best combat styles because your mount can move up to it's full speed without giving you any penalties to your attacks and you can make a full attack. You get to move and full attack, it's the best thing in the world. Also, I would highly recommend getting your animal companion to pick up the feats Combat Reflex, Bodyguard, and In Harm's Way to enable it to tank attacks for you.

So I don't know off hand, but some of that might not be as true because of the sources allowed. I don't know where all the material comes from. But the OP would want to make sure his options are legal for his situation when reading the guide.


Important Feats:
Point Blank Shot - CRB
Precise Shot - CRB
Rapid Shot - CRB
Deadly Aim - CRB
Improved Precise Shot - CRB
Many Shot - CRB
Weapon Focus - CRB
Point Blank Master - Advanced Players Guide

Almost everything he could want as an archery ranger comes from sources he is allowed to use. Boon Companion is probably the only feat he can't pickup. Because of that, the animal companion is never going to be useful offensively, they don't scale quickly enough at full progression to maintain usefulness by level 10 or so. Being 3 levels of progression behind they are basically not useful offensively in combat.

But, that's why you build them to protect you and be a mobile transport system. Increase the mount's int, and get it to take Bodyguard and In Harm's Way. If you can afford it buy your mount some Benevolent barding.


I didn't see a book list, but I asume the Advanced Class Guide is off the table.


Never mind. Reread and found it.


A very important thing to note since your starting at 10th level. Instant Enemy. Use it a lot.

Pearls of power. A wand of it if you can. Prepare it in all the available slots you have.

Instant Enemy is your bread and butter. It allows you to count any target as your best favored enemy.

So, when choosing favored enemy choose 1 type and always increase that one. You'll have some extra Favored Enemy types because you always get them for free, but every time you get a new type you can increase an existing FE by 2. I normally go FE human, and at level 10 you should have +6 to attack and damage against all humans. And then you can use FE to make any other target count as human for your FE class feature.


I've had a lot of fun with my switch-hitting tengu ranger. Deadly at all ranges! I took boon companion at L7 for a wolf and it's also pretty strong. Check out the Dire Collar item from ACG.


Boon Companion is from a book he does not have access to. The dire collar will not be enough to keep the animal companion relevant in combat (offensively).

As stated, with Point Blank Master available (and already taken at level 10) there is absolutely zero reason to be a switch hitter. The switch hitter existed because once an enemy closed into melee range an archer was in a very bad position. Point Blank Master means that you never need to switch from your bow. You just keep firing away while in melee range of the enemy without it being a problem. There is absolutely no reason to be a switch hitter unless you want it to be thematic. Even then, just carry a greatsword and you can switch to melee if you feel like it.


Oops! Yeah, with Boon Companion the AC won't be great. In that case, the Ranger's alternate 'bond with his companions' might be more useful. Or maybe a flying companion making use of the "bombard" trick, if you can access it.


Keep in mind that Ranger Companions benefit from their master's favored enemy and favored terrain bonuses.
These are CLUTCH.
A hawk attacking at +5/+5/+5 for 1d4+1 is much less scary than the same hawk attacking at +9/+9/+9 for 1d4+5.

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