Druid - Animal Campanion help

[Der-Nar]

Hey

I am playing a Druid and have experienced issues with my pet being allowed to enter buildings etc. My Druid build is Animal Companion focussed and hence this hinders my characters effectiveness a lot.

In non core there are spells that allow me to change my pet to a statue to help bypass this situation but in this case these are not available.

Does anyone have any ideas that could assist?

[andreww]

Reduce animal might turn the giant killer wolf into something which loos a little more like a smaller cuddly pet.

[Murdock Mudeater]

Really, sad but true, this is why you'd want one of the smaller animal companion options. And remember, you don't have to take the size increase at 4th/7th level. You can instead keep the size and just increase +2 dex and +2 con. This is CRB, but very hidden in the description for "animal choices". I know, not really the answer you are looking for. For CORE, I'd make a point of not becoming too companion dependent if you plan to take one of the large companion options.

I will note that you can change your companion pretty much whenever you want, don't have to wait for it to die. You do have to pay to replace it, but it's so much cheaper than retraining costs for characters in pathfinder.

One of my characters has a Camel companion (starts Large), but I use it more for carry capacity, and less for combat. 4 legs and 18 base strength makes for a pretty solid carry capacity. Good to ensure the party has something for every situation, plus the option to haul dead pathfinders back to a city for raising or burial.

[andreww]

Murdock Mudeater wrote:

I will note that you can change your companion pretty much whenever you want, don't have to wait for it to die. You do have to pay to replace it, but it's so much cheaper than retraining costs for characters in pathfinder.

There is no GP cost to summon a new animal companion. However, new companions only arrive with their bonus tricks and you can only train them in a number of extra tricks equal to your handle animal ranks per session.

[Murdock Mudeater]

andreww wrote:

Murdock Mudeater wrote:

I will note that you can change your companion pretty much whenever you want, don't have to wait for it to die. You do have to pay to replace it, but it's so much cheaper than retraining costs for characters in pathfinder.

There is no GP cost to summon a new animal companion. However, new companions only arrive with their bonus tricks and you can only train them in a number of extra tricks equal to your handle animal ranks per session.

Huh, yeah, looks like your right. I think I was remembering the familar replacement rules. Thanks.

Anyway, to the OP, yeah, totally replace your companion if it's current size is impairing you. That would be the easiest solution and since I was wrong about the cost, it's actually really really cheap to replace your companion (costs previously learned tricks).

[pauljathome]

One thing that may help to alleviate (NOT eliminate) the problem is to make sure that the animal has the Perform trick trained and/or just "looks" less deadly (ribbons in the hair, for example).

Guard : You can't bring that dangerous lion in
PC: Fluffy? Dangerous? Don't be silly. He is very well trained :
Roll Over
Beg
Allow nice man to belly rub you

Works better if you have some social skills, of course. But even in Core a Druid can afford some social skills and still be very viable (yes, I have the characters to prove it)

[Der-Nar]

Thanks guys I shall look into this. Worst case as he has yet to hit level 2 changing to a summoner with eidalon is still a possibility lol

[LoPan666]

Der-Nar wrote:

Thanks guys I shall look into this. Worst case as he has yet to hit level 2 changing to a summoner with eidalon is still a possibility lol

Since this post was made in the Core campaign thread, I thought I should point out that summoners are not part of the Core rules. Sorry.