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Wild Shape is the supernatural ability of Druids to polymorph into one of myriad forms, mimicking the spell effects of either Beast Shape, Elemental Body or Plant Shape. Change Shape is the supernatural ability of creatures to polymorph into just one, or a small number of forms, usually mimicking just a single spell effect (Beast Shape). The two abilities are different in name, and different enough in function, to not be equivalent. Tell your player about Quick Wild Shape, instead ^_^
Half are still at strength 10 or less. Strength isn't the only important stat for an Animal Companion. The weaker options often make up for it in other ways, such as having a high Dex, Con or AC. Spinosaurus and Allosaurus used to be legal in PFS. There's a Boon apparently that grants Spinosaurus now. But if Strength is your priority, just go with whatever has the highest Strength after advancement.
The Core Rulebook, Bestiaries and several splatbooks all have the statblocks and advancements you're looking for. You probably just missed them. Some Bestiaries list them separately in the back, and at least one lists them on the same page as the main entry. Or you can look HERE for a compiled list of everything. Just be sure to double check your findings. Archivesofnethys is usually very accurate but not 100%. My Saurian Shaman used a Spinosaurus for most of his career. Scarily effective. Allosaurus is a good damage dealer with Pounce, but Spinosaurus is stronger and will hit more often.
There is also Brontomerus, whose unusual adaption for a powerful kick from its hind... Unusual is an understatement. "Unique" is more appropriate. And just because it had large muscles does not mean it used them to kick with. It's a novel idea, but has no support that I'm aware of. I don't mean any disrespect, but I feel you are wrong in your assessment that they could not kick at their predators. What websites do you get your information from? I admit I'm more of a hobbyist than a specialist, but I read about dinosaur discoveries and news on an almost daily basis, from blogs and news sites all over the world.
An Elf gets +2 Dex during character creation. If playing a Frost Giant was possible, it'd presumably get +X to a physical stat as well. So if the argument is that an Elf loses its +2 Dex when polymorphed, how much of [stat] does a Frost Giant lose when it's polymorphed? The fact that there's no answer to that should clue you in to the Elf not losing its +2 Dex.
Oh. Hmm. Good catch. I guess that invalidates my claim (EDIT: because rereading my post, it makes it seem I was arguing that the Hag's greater bonus would be used in place of the spell's bonus; I was not). Carry on.
Huh. I was unaware this was up for debate.
Indeed. But let's take a closer look at what's happening. I'll use myself, a Nagaji Druid, as an example: Armored Scales: Nagaji have a +1 natural armor bonus from their scaly flesh. Medium animal: If the form you take is that of a Medium animal, you gain a +2 size bonus to your Strength and a +2 natural armor bonus. Each of these grant a "+X natural armor bonus". Neither the Polymorph effect nor the Racial Trait is granting a bonus "to" your existing natural armor. They are each granting their own similarly typed bonus. And we know that most bonuses of the same type ("natural armor bonus", in this case) do not stack. Ergo, you go with the higher of the two.
That's not stated in any book I'm aware of. It's actually a frequently asked question. Using Character Level is a common practice, but if you search through the forums you'll find different answers by different Developers over the years. And there are ways for your Animal Companion to gain SR as well. They have the same problem.
There are two problems with that logic. First, Paragon Surge doesn't specify subtype anywhere. The range is "Personal (half-elf only)". Half-elf is not a subtype. Elf and Human are subtypes of Humanoid. Second, look again at clause #2 above. Paragon Surge normally does not affect creatures of the animal type. Therefore, it qualifies for Share Spells. Of course, if this is for PFS, the Druid would still have to be an actual Half-elf to have access to the spell in the first place, so it's not like it's available to any Druid out there.
i know how to read, i wouldn't ask if just quoting the 2 things in question at me would answer it How does what I quoted not answer your question?
Boon Companion: "to a maximum effective druid level equal to your character level" Pack Lord: "The pack lord may have more than one animal companion, but she must divide up her effective druid level between her companions to determine the abilities of each companion. For example, a 4th-level pack lord can have one 4th-level companion, two 2nd-level companions, or one 1st-level and one 3rd-level companion"
Yup. There are two different clauses to keep in mind.
The druid may cast a spell with a target of “You” on her animal companion (as a spell with a range of touch) instead of on herself. A druid may cast spells on her animal companion even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the companion's type (animal). Divine Favor will be a popular one, and it legally falls under the scope of the first clause (spell with a target of "you"). If the Cleric has access to a Domain that grants Enlarge Person, that would legally fall under the scope of the second clause (spell that normally only affects humanoids).
Sir Duskpaw Snufflefluffers the Third THAT THING IS TERRIFYING!!!
Hostelling armor and scrolls of Carry Companion or Reduce Animal are great options as well. During one underground adventure the GM said I had to leave my Spinosaurus outside (even though it had Narrow Frame and ranks in Escape Artist). I knew he didn't like Animal Companions anyways, so I obliged him. His plan backfired when the heavily wounded BBEG tried to flee, only to find a very hungry dinosaur blocking his escape route.
While Jeraa is correct, I can see one sensible caveat (for home games, at least). Many magical beasts (and some polymorphed creatures, like Wildshaped Druids) are capable of communicating with animals similar to their kind. If you're effectively speaking the same language as they'd be speaking, I don't see why cross communication wouldn't be possible. Otherwise it'd be super easy to use a 1st level spell to effectively detect whether an animal was natural or not. But, technically, as magical beasts and polymorphed creatures aren't "animals", the spell would not work on them.
Yes. I found that. But still it begs the question of exactly when it happened and why there wasn't an official post about it and what to do with existing companions that are now illegal (which is more than just the Spinosaurus)The existing companions are illegal, so you must replace them with a legal option immediately. I just RPed it as the Society complaining that my Spinosaurus was eating more Aspis than they could interrogate, so they asked that I leave it at home. Besides, a more accurate, recent construction of Spinosaurus replaces the "Jurassic Park" image we all have in mind, and I just couldn't continue to bring along what is now essentially a crocodile with a fin on its back.
Flavor-wise, grab a copy of the Pathfinder Society Field Guide. You can spend Prestige to acquire the "island" and "temple" vanities. My Saurian Shaman used his Prestige upon retirement to acquire an island he could populate with reptilian megafauna (which, of course, he named "Jurassic Park").
Having played a Saurian Shaman to level 13.2 (this profile), I can relate that it didn't set me back one bit. I relied on Totem Transformation at low levels, and standard-action summons plus my Animal Companion at higher levels. I did end up taking Vital Strike, which coupled with Strong Jaw meant wildshaping into a Stegosaurus with a 16d6 tail slap, but I think I only ever got into a high-level melee maybe once.
If you can't find a reason why Class X or Race Y would join the Society, then you're thinking is too one dimensional. Where did your character grow up?
My Druid's backstory, for example:
My Nagaji was sold as an egg to a Chelish slaver. He never knew where he came from. Raised in a world dominated by mammals and humanoids he relished what little interaction he had with the natural world. But he also desired answers to his origins, and the origins of the Nagaji race. The Osirian Faction seemed best suited to answer those questions, with their interest in the ancient. When they transitioned to having a Dragon as their leader, it was all the more perfect of a decision. After adventuring twice in the Fangwood, and realizing the war between Nirmathas and Molthune was allowing a supernatural blight to reign unchecked, Sithis saw it imperative to take over a keep there as his base of operations. With those funds he traveled to Tian Xia and encountered a feuding pair of Nagas in an attempt at understanding what his purpose in life may be. Disgusted with seeing his people as a servitor race, after having lived as a slave himself, he returned to his keep with an even bigger desire to make an impact on the world. Later, when he acquired his own personal island, he passed control of his keep to a trusted pupil. Retired, Sithis now spends his time populating his "Jurassic Park" with reptilian megafauna in an attempt to bring back a glorious age of reptiles. Even after you've figured out all of the above, allow the adventures you undertake to further mold your character. Hopefully by the time you retire them they've noticeably changed and evolved from whence they began.
I know my druid (in a home game) invested in charisma to avoid missing handle animal on low rolls. She'd be much more powerful with charisma as a dump stat.The druids with double digit charisma support group will be held monthly at the absolom tea cozy. Ive reserved a table for two in the back. I would also wishhh to accompany you. Sssave me a ssseat near the warmthhh of the fire.
it might be cool to include sample builds in here of characters that people are actually doing Kaiju, my Spinosaurus, has 1) Armor Proficiency, Light 2) Armor Proficiency, Medium 3) Power Attack 4) Toughness 5) Narrow Frame 6) Undecided (but thinking Extra Item Slot - Ring) I cast an Extended Greater Magic Fang on her every morning, and she's outfitted with a Corrosive Amulet of Mighty Fists, a Beast Bond Brand, a +2 Green Dragonhide Breastplate Barding, and a Training Harness (she's still young!) Her Int is still just 2, but I'll bump it to 3 next level. Ever since 11th level I've been letting her nap in my Hostelling armor. It's safer in there, and she's my 3rd Spinosaurus. Plus, the look on the GM's face when I tell him I'm summoning, and I instead activate my armor, is priceless ^^.
"My name is Sithisss. I do not know my true originsss, for I was sssold as an egg by a Chelish slaver looking to make a few coinsss in Osirion. Perhaps it was best, for the hissstory archives contained within that great nation fueled my desire for knowledge from a young age, which lead to me joining the Pathfinder Society. I havvve once been to Nagajor , and traveled there with high hopesss of discovering more about my passst. What I found instead left a foul tassste on my tongue, and I no longer care to learn more about thossse that created my race. I have chosen instead to further my own ambitionsss. I have been tender to the Fangwood for the lassst decade . The humansss that lay claim to that region war and bicker while a blight goes unchecked, so I left the pyramids of Osssirion and made it my home. I am now retired from the Society, though I obtained the rank of Venture Captain before I left. Rather than accept a Lodge of my own, and since the Decemvirate owed me a substantial favor, they gifted me instead with a sssmall island off the coast of Mediogalti. I find the climate much more sssuitable than that of Nirmathas, and I have begun introducing various ssspecies of Dinosaur to populate its interior. They will serve as a rude awakening to any pirates seeking to bury their treasure on its shoresss. I have since left the responsibilities of the Fangwood to a protégé of mine. Although he is a mammal, and perhapsss a bit too aloof for my tastes, he is at least of a long-lived race, and will be able to protect the forest for many centuriesss after my passing. I wish that your tenure with the Society, Amani, proves to be as adventurous, and fruitful, as mine has been. Even if you are a mammal...
Tomorrow my Saurian Shaman will be retiring from the Pathfinder Society, and afterwards (assuming I survive the scenario) I want to purchase the "Coastal Island" vanity from the Pathfinder Society Field Guide. A manor in the country isn't isolated enough for you, and you have instead procured a small island a short distance off the coast of your choice. Too small and insignificant to show up on most maps, this island is nevertheless your haven of solitude, or serves as an out-of-the-way location where you can throw scandalous parties, conduct dangerous research, or simply meditate in silence without raising any eyebrows. Owning a coastal island increases the number of followers you can retain at any one time by +2. Think of it as his own personal "Jurassic Park". I want it to be somewhere warm and humid, although it doesn't have to necessarily be anywhere near the Mwangi Expanse (known dinosaur haven already). I own the Inner Sea World Guide and have been researching pretty much everything on the map, and nothing really calls out to me. I think the closest I've settled on thus far is somewhere in the Steaming Sea, possibly near Hermea, but if I understand the region correctly it's actually a cold climate, and the "Steaming" name only comes from the perpetual fog that envelops the islands. I'm open to Tian-Xia, possibly, since he's a Nagaji, but I'm less familiar with that region (his backstory is that he was sold as an egg to a Chelish slaver and grew up in the Inner Sea region). Any advice?
I have gotten much use out of my Polymorphic Pouch and Beast Bond Brand.
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