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In a recent RPGA game I played in, I noticed something unbalanced. A veteran player had chosen for his druid's animal companion, a panther. Now normally I think this is fine. The DM also approved. The problem came in our first combat. The player, who won initiative in the surprise round, declared that his panther was using its pounce ability. It proceeded to advance 40 feet to the enemy and then use all five of its attacks.
I asked the GM about it later, and he didn't seem to understand my issue. What do you think? Because Pounce allows a creature to make two claw attacks and two rakes, shouldn't it be only allowed in place of a full attack action? That seems a bit much in the surprise round for a character's companion creature at 1st level.
Because Pounce allows a creature to make two claw attacks and two rakes, shouldn't it be only allowed in place of a full attack action? That seems a bit much in the surprise round for a character's companion creature at 1st level.
I don't see a problem with the Panther's Pounce ability per se - but I think the key issue is that a Panther is an animal companion for a 1st level druid.
I am blissfully unaware of the Panther's stats or what book it comes from, but am fully aware of the Lion and Tiger from MMI. Both the Lion and Tiger are quite a bit down the road for a druid level-wise; compare the Panther to other animal companions a druid could get at level one - most of them are CR1 or less - it seems like the Panther may be unbalanced as an animal companion at Level 1.
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That seems a bit much in the surprise round for a character's companion creature at 1st level.It is too much for 1st level. A panther, or leopard isn't available to a druid as an animal companion until 4th level.
Yup, this is true. Pounce is a very handy and powerful ability, however, and it allows the creature to make a full attack action on the end of a charge.
That seems a bit much in the surprise round for a character's companion creature at 1st level.It is too much for 1st level. A panther, or leopard isn't available to a druid as an animal companion until 4th level.
I dissagree that it is too much, but maybe that's because i'm playing Age of the worms? I am a druid and do not believe that pounce is unfair. I see how much damage the barbarian can inflict. Even if it seems unfair right now at higher levels the unfair feeling will diminish. My earlier pet(changed to a dire bear) had pounce and when he got the full thing it did as much as the barbarian on an average full attack.
Though I would like to know how he is using a panther at lvl 1? That is probably why it seems too tough.