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Quick question,

Max skill ranks = character level

However, if you have an ability which grants "bonus skill ranks", would this allow you to go above your character level?

For example, the Totem Spiritualist, get's bonus skill ranks to Knowledge (Nature) equal to their animal companions HD. At lvl 1, this would be 2 HD, so... 2 bonus skill ranks.

Would you have 2 ranks in Knowledge Nature, at lvl 1? Or would it still be capped at 1, until you level up to lvl 2, at which point the bonus would move up to the full +2 bonus ranks.

Hello! I have a couple rules clarification questions regarding animal companions.

I've done some searching and either not found an answer, or not found one clear enough for the specific questions i'm asking.

Regarding these questions, we will use my lvl 2 halfling (barb-1/cav-1(gendarme) with boon companion + mounted combat feats)

With a Wolf companion straight from the bestiary book. (Dodge feat taken at lvl 1)

Question #1 - Animal Companion Feats. Specifically, the feats listed as "Animal Feats" and to be even more specific, Spring Attack. Can he take this feat now at lvl 2?

I suppose the heart of the question lies in... do you need to meet the prerequisites for the feats specifically listed in "Animal Feats".

or would I have to save my feat from lvl 5 and wait until lvl 6 (for the +4 BAB)

Question #2 - Charging and attacking. My wolf has a bite attack, which includes trip. When I charge with my little buddy, we can both attack. The question comes with the order of this. Is there a rule written stating any order of these attacks? or if they occur "simultaneously"?

Can my wolf make his bite attack, cause the enemy to fall prone, THEN I make my own charge attack with bonuses vs prone?

Question #3 - Charging and attacking pt.2. Charging with a lance while mounted. My lil wolf buddy doesn't have reach, my lance does. So going further with the above question, would I make my charge attack BEFORE getting right next to the enemy, with my lance? or does my attack not occur until the charge movement is complete, thus resulting in me being adjacent to the enemy, no longer able to use my lance?

I am aware I can use the lance 1-h while mounted, which would solve this issue. Maybe I should have used a different weapon as an example, one with reach that isn't a lance.

Question #4 - Natural Armor. This is more of a question of (what happens when i gain another lvl and wolfy gets the "+2 Natural Armor Bonus".
So I've read the rule that says the animal companion natural armor bonus is an "improvement" to his natural armor bonus. Which I would interpret as my wolf which has 14 AC (10+2(dex)+2(Natural)), would become 16 AC (10+2(Dex)+4(Natural)).

The real question is then with the "Improved Natural Armor" Feat. Does this work the same way? It is worded slightly different.

If wolfy at lvl 3 took improved natural armor, would his AC become 17 (2+5) or does the improved natural armor bonus count as a new bonus, thus not stacking per natural armor rules.

Thank you for reading, and appreciate any clarification anyone can give.