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I am getting an animal companion, via the Sorcerer bloodline “Sylvan.” I am level 7, but effective level for this is 6 (did a 1 level dip).

#1 - Is a Dire Ape a legal animal companion? I don’t believe it is, but I think the DM will allow it anyway (this is a completely homebrew campaign, with lots of rules adjustments). If not, I’m looking at the Ape or Chimpanzee (prefer the larger ones, because I expect it to be a grappler).

#2 - Are my planned roles appropriate/prudent choices for an animal companion?
Primary role: stop enemy casters via grapple
Secondary role: support casting via magic wands (now, before some of you lose your ever-lovin minds, the DM has already said that he will allow it. So sayeth the DM, so be it ... now get over it)

There are enough melee damage dealers in the party that I don’t think the Ape needs to be yet another one. I can summon meat shields if need be. We have a fantastic thief for locks, traps, etc. The biggest weakness I think our party has right now is enemy casters. Am I going about that problem in an effective manner? Besides, grappling is at least moderately effective against non-casters if there are no casters about, right?

#3 - Is a Dire Ape the best choice for that role? Aside from the Dire Ape/Ape/Chimpanzee family tree, is there another animal that might serve better for the roles I have chosen?

I’m not concerned about flying (I can cast fly on him in a pinch) or swim, but I do want him to be able to go anywhere I am going (so elephant, T-rex, rhinoceros, etc, are not an option - gotta be able to climb up and down dungeons with me). I went with the Dire Ape because he is size Large (bonus to grapple) and also the strongest (bonus to grapple).

#4 - I’m assuming I need to take the Boon Companion feat to eliminate his -4 level penalty (-3 for being a Sylvan animal companion, and -1 for a 1 level dip I took). Are there any other feats that are ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL to make this animal companion work? (keeping in mind that a Sorcerer is a feat-starved build)

#5 - How do I build a Dire Ape animal companion? I’ve never built one before, but my best guess so far is: start with Dire Ape stats, and then apply the info on line 6 (because my Sorcerer level is 6) of the Animal Companion table: 6d8 hit dice + CON, +4 BAB, + saves, 6 skill points, 3 feats, +4 natural armor bonus, +2 STR/DEX bonus, 3 bonus tricks. Plus, he will have acquired Link, Share Spells, Evasion, one ability score increase, and Devotion.

Ability score increase: INT (to make INT 3) so that he can learn any feat or skill.
Skills: 2 points in Language (Common, Drow sign language) <yes, I am a Drow Sorcerer>
Bonus tricks (starts with 3):
-----Heel DC 15
-----Attack DC 20
-----Maneuver (Grapple) DC 20
Feats (start with 3):
-----Improved Unarmed Strike (pre-req for Improved Grapple)
-----Improved Grapple (+2 to grapple, no AoO when grapple, +2 CMD vs grapples)
-----Scorpion’s Grasp (hit with an unarmed strike, can attempt a grapple as a free action)

The Dire Ape will only get 8 feats total, so I’m thinking (in order):
Improved Unarmed Strike
Improved Grapple
Scorpion’s Grasp
Chokehold (grapple check at -5; if successful, target can breath, speak, or cast spells with V component)
Greater Grapple (+2 to grapples <stacks>, make 2 grapple actions per round)
Body Shield (use grappled creature to block an attack at him)
???
???

And .... that’s about what I’ve figured out so far. As I said, I’ve never built/played an animal companion before, so which are the parts I’ve messed up? What can I do better?

Thanks for helping!

I'm starting a home brew campaign, and we start play Dec 3. I'm looking for all the help I can get to make sure I don't unnecessarily hamper my character ... and the party!

So far the DM has agreed to let me start with:

Level 4 Drow with levels in Sorcerer (x2), Oracle, and Mystic Theurge (we all start at level 4). My plan is to take the next 9 levels in Mystic Theurge, then the remaining 7 levels in Sorcerer. I expect to be Neutral Good alignment. I think he will be all talk and spells, and completely non-physical (for violence, anyways). We expect to have a Bard and a Cleric, so buffing/healing will be an emergency task for me, not main duty. I might play this guy as a social-setting genius (high CHA, Diplomacy, Sense Motive, and even control spells like Charm, etc), but I could also see him as a complete offensive spell-casting battle mage ... still haven't decided yet.

For traits, I'm going to ask for Magical Knack (+2 caster level to Oracle), and I was looking at possibly Reactionary (+2 Initiative, on top of my current +6), or possibly Strength of Sun (especially if I go Lore Oracle with the Sidestep mystery). If Magical Knack is not allowed, I'll probably take Desperate Focus (+2 concentration checks) instead.

Feats: I get 3 to start, and I'll have 11 at level 20. I've never played a magic-user in Pathfinder, so what are the feats I absolutely MUST take, and the ones I should try to get?

Finally, the big ones: my bloodline and mystery. Because of Mystic Theurge, I'll be level 14 before I get my second bloodline power and my first bloodline spell ... and my Oracle's mystery will never progress beyond first level. Because of that, I'm looking for experienced advice on both bloodline and mystery.

I'm still getting to know this guy; I'll post more as I learn it. Advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

I've read a ton of posts about this, but I'm new enough that I'm not grasping the answers. Please help. And in doing so, please try to use small words for me (and no unexplained acronyms). I'm still learning the PFS system.

1) You need 5 levels of BR (Bloodrager) before you can take any levels of DD (Dragon Disciple) due to the requirement of Knowledge (arcana): 5 rank. Unless there is a way around the "1 rank per hit die" rule?

2) How exactly do the two classes "stack" (for lack of a better term)? Example:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Level 1 (BR) gives Bloodline (Draconic); Bloodline power #1 (Claws); Bloodrage; Fast Movement
Level 2 (BR) gives Uncanny Dodge
Level 3 (BR) gives Blood Sanctuary
Level 4 (BR) gives Spell Casting; Blood Casting; Bloodline power #2 (Draconic Resistance, which Draconic bloodline says is gained at level 4 .... so far, so good); Eschew Materials
Level 5 (BR) gives Improved Uncanny Dodge
Level 6 (DD) gives .... confusion. It reads "If the dragon disciple does not have levels of sorcerer, he instead gains bloodline powers of the draconic bloodline, using his dragon disciple level as his sorcerer level to determine the bonuses gained." My DD level is now 1, so does this mean:
Option 1: RAW (Read As Written) I gain Bloodline (Draconic) level 1 power (Claws) again, (because my DD level = sorcerer level = 1) which does not stack, so I gain nothing.
Option 2: RAI (Read As Intended) I gain Bloodline (Draconic) level 6 power (because DD level is 1 + BR level is 5 = bloodline level 6), but there is no bloodline power at level 6, so I gain nothing.

If Option 2 is the "approved" method, then 1 more level or either BR or DD gives me access to the spell Shield, and the next level of BR or DD gives me Breath Weapon, and increases my Claws and Draconic Resistance powers.

P.S. - I've seen people advise against going the BR/DD route. I have made no decisions. I am just trying to understand how things work together in PFS.

Thanks in advance for your most sympathetic helpfulness!

Is Totem Spear a "reach" weapon?

Thanks

While perusing Warpriest (I'm still fairly new to Pathfinder), I stumbled across this line in the Warpreist's 'Bonus Feats' section:

... for the purposes of these feats, the warpriest can select feats that have a minimum number of fighter levels as a prerequisite, treating his warpriest level as his fighter level.

Does this mean a Warpriest can take the "Weapon Training" feat at level 5, just like a Fighter, and automatically gain an additional +1 at levels 9, 13, and 17?

If so, I'm assuming that also means that the Warpriest can take any of the Advanced Weapon Training feats, just like a Fighter?

Finally, if I'm reading it correctly, you can ONLY use the Warpriest bonus feats in this manner?

Just want to make sure that I'm planning correctly as I plan my character.
Thanks in advance!