I'm playing Rise of the Runelords and trying to figure out which feat to give my Trex animal companion. I'm trying to choose between Iron Will and Toughness, any suggestions? For players who have played the campaign are Will Checks common enough to pick it over Toughness? Thank you.
Some thoughts without spoilers. If you need toughness and don't have it, you could get ko'ed or killed. If you need iron will but don't have it you could eat a party member. The consequences of failure for a will save are higher than the consequences of a lack of hp. But how likely are the two to come up? In any AP you can assume you will face hard hitting enemies, but how many will targetting casters will you face? How many of those casters have the right spells to target an animal? And how good are your will save and hp/ac before taking either?
What do you know about opposition you will face, from the player companion , or in game experience or knowledge checks?
I generally don't give my animal companions either of those 2 feats. Power attack first for a trex, then probably improved natural attack.
Hes level 1 Trex right now with 9 hp, hes the squishiest member of our group. and he gains 4 hp per level which is next to nothing.
Some thoughts without spoilers. If you need toughness and don't have it, you could get ko'ed or killed. If you need iron will but don't have it you could eat a party member. The consequences of failure for a will save are higher than the consequences of a lack of hp. But how likely are the two to come up? In any AP you can assume you will face hard hitting enemies, but how many will targetting casters will you face? How many of those casters have the right spells to target an animal? And how good are your will save and hp/ac before taking either?
What do you know about opposition you will face, from the player companion , or in game experience or knowledge checks?
We just started that's why I'm not sure if we will be encountering many Will save casters, that's why I'm asking on these forums lol anyone have any experience with this campaign?
We just started that's why I'm not sure if we will be encountering many Will save casters, that's why I'm asking on these forums lol anyone have any experience with this campaign?Some thoughts without spoilers. If you need toughness and don't have it, you could get ko'ed or killed. If you need iron will but don't have it you could eat a party member. The consequences of failure for a will save are higher than the consequences of a lack of hp. But how likely are the two to come up? In any AP you can assume you will face hard hitting enemies, but how many will targetting casters will you face? How many of those casters have the right spells to target an animal? And how good are your will save and hp/ac before taking either?
What do you know about opposition you will face, from the player companion , or in game experience or knowledge checks?
I do not know of many Save or Die/Kill your team mates saving throws. I can remember one decent suggestion trap but it is to flee (not slaughter your party). Most the saves this campaign seemed to be Fortitude or Reflex. There are a small hand full in book 2 but they are Haunts and not much you can do verses those but take it when it happens.
As far as enemies...this AP is known to be brutal in Combat. From mid book 3+ you will be facing like 80% large or Larger critters. So the feat Big Game hunter is fantastic in this campaign from level 8+
Toughness should be your first feat since Power attack can not be taken at level 1. You would do fine with Toughness, Power attack, and Iron will as your first 3 feats on your companion.
I wouldn't expect awful will save situations to come up at lower levels, toughness sounds better early on.
I wouldn't expect awful will save situations to come up at lower levels, toughness sounds better early on.
They are not that bad...Only 1 haunt that targets a specific person in book 2. The AC will most likely NOT be targeted. The rest of the saves are not that bad at all.
9HP is not that bad. First order of priority should be getting your dino masterwork studded leather.
And he should be getting 4.5hp per level (4,5,4,5,etc). At 7th level his con goes up to 14). It's up to you on what you want to do with your animal companion.
I played a druid that started with a velociraptor. Along the way he used a trex, but ended up using an anklyosaurus. The reason for that is the anklyosaurus can get to a decent AC without spending a lot of cash on it.
Thank you all for the replies. In the dungeons or elsewhere, is the feat Narrowframe for my dinosaur worth it? I am feat starved so I would rather not take this feat unless it is necessary in certain places.
Most of the dungeons are pretty big.
Maybe get a scroll of reduce animal or whatever it's called for emergencies?
For "1 Big Bite" animal companions, it might be worth getting Dodge/Mobility/Spring Attack or Vital Strike & Improved Vital Strike.
We just started that's why I'm not sure if we will be encountering many Will save casters, that's why I'm asking on these forums lol anyone have any experience with this campaign?Some thoughts without spoilers. If you need toughness and don't have it, you could get ko'ed or killed. If you need iron will but don't have it you could eat a party member. The consequences of failure for a will save are higher than the consequences of a lack of hp. But how likely are the two to come up? In any AP you can assume you will face hard hitting enemies, but how many will targetting casters will you face? How many of those casters have the right spells to target an animal? And how good are your will save and hp/ac before taking either?
What do you know about opposition you will face, from the player companion , or in game experience or knowledge checks?
I do not know of many Save or Die/Kill your team mates saving throws. I can remember one decent suggestion trap but it is to flee (not slaughter your party). Most the saves this campaign seemed to be Fortitude or Reflex. There are a small hand full in book 2 but they are Haunts and not much you can do verses those but take it when it happens.
As far as enemies...this AP is known to be brutal in Combat. From mid book 3+ you will be facing like 80% large or Larger critters. So the feat Big Game hunter is fantastic in this campaign from level 8+
Toughness should be your first feat since Power attack can not be taken at level 1. You would do fine with Toughness, Power attack, and Iron will as your first 3 feats on your companion.
My issue with Power Attack is that it hurts my to hit chance and as an AC his to hit is already lacking. Not sure what to do. Is it worth it to take it still?
Have it not use power attack unless it Has initiated Grab, Charging or Flanking.
Also hope is you can be Buffed up.
Is this the Trex you have been asking about on all the other threads?
"We just started that's why I'm not sure if we will be encountering many Will save casters, that's why I'm asking on these forums lol anyone have any experience with this campaign?"
Um, yes, Rise of the Runelords is the oldest and most iconic Pathfinder campaign, and there's a lot of us who are familiar with it. The reason the early posters were keeping things general is that it's often seen as not cool to bypass your GM and come to the boards asking for adventure path spoilers. Instead, ask your GM for advice on how often Will save casters will appear in the campaign, but understand it's perfectly reasonable for them to say "You'll just have to wait and see!" It's part of the fun of adventure paths--you have the Player's Guide to get started, but the rest you just have to figure out as you go . . .
Have it not use power attack unless it Has initiated Grab, Charging or Flanking.
Also hope is you can be Buffed up.
Is this the Trex you have been asking about on all the other threads?
Indeed my friend, indeed. Good point on the PA, could I get furious focus or do natural weapons not count for that feat?
Indeed my friend, indeed. Good point on the PA, could I get furious focus or do natural weapons not count for that feat?Have it not use power attack unless it Has initiated Grab, Charging or Flanking.
Also hope is you can be Buffed up.
Is this the Trex you have been asking about on all the other threads?
As I read it I would say he does not qualify.
What feats did you end up grabbing?
I believe everyone sold you on Dirty Fighting and Improved Grapple for boosting the Grab and adding other options as they come up.
Improved Natural attack and Vital Strike?
What are the Feats your looking at? The thing with ACs is they do not get a whole lot of feats so its best to focus on some synergy.
I got dirty fighting for my druid because he's a grappling specialist who will have a higher CMB than the Rex can ever get. I got Toughness and Weapon focus. Power attack might be next for level 5 or quite possibly combat reflexes because with that Large it could prove very valuable.
Indeed my friend, indeed. Good point on the PA, could I get furious focus or do natural weapons not count for that feat?Have it not use power attack unless it Has initiated Grab, Charging or Flanking.
Also hope is you can be Buffed up.
Is this the Trex you have been asking about on all the other threads?
As I read it I would say he does not qualify.
What feats did you end up grabbing?
I believe everyone sold you on Dirty Fighting and Improved Grapple for boosting the Grab and adding other options as they come up.
Improved Natural attack and Vital Strike?
What are the Feats your looking at? The thing with ACs is they do not get a whole lot of feats so its best to focus on some synergy.
Ya I like the feats that synergize too, I think I.N.A is an absolute must at lvl 8, I may get lunge or something at lvl 10 instead of vital strike? Is that a good idea or is VS too good on the Rex to pass up?
INA is good unless you're a druid, in which case strongjaw becomes your go to solution for DR and they won't stack.