From the looks of it, yes. But in order to aqcuire those other extra abilities, the ritual has to be performed and you have to wait for the listed amount of levels for the ability to kick in.
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I went through and compared it to the animal companions available to the druid, and it falls short in the damage category in the higher level animals.
All right, then. There you go everyone, someone went through and did the math and found it wasn't overpowered. So yeah, feel free to use as written. I'm glad to see my development tweaks weren't completely broken. ;D
I just wanted to drop in a quick note to say how pleased I was by this article. I've been playing - or trying to play - a plant-themed Druid for a few weeks in an Eberron game, and my DM & I have been having great difficulty trying to figure out just what a plant companion would be like. And now we have something playtested by people who know far more that us! Cheers to everyone involved in the article.
Can anyone suggest a fair way to adapt the listed plant to being Small, rather than Medium? We've always described my character as carrying the plant in the folds of his robes, with vines reachings out from his collar, sleeves, etc. and I'd like to keep this image if I can. Previously we were trying to adapt a small Assassin Vine to the job, which he would thrown at people.
Thanks,
Filch
Update: Having now read the article, I have another few queries.
Can the Plant Companion make grapple attacks? I don't see anything in the rules one way or another on this.
How exactly does the system of adding new abilities every few levels work? I'm possibly being dim, but I see a few possible interpretations.
Say I'm a lvl 1 Druid, and I choose Sticky Sap. My Companion is going to develop that ability when I hit lvl 6. Can I choose another power to start developing concurrently when I hit lvl 2?
If so, can multiple powers all activate at the same level? For example, if I choose Blindsight (requiring 2 lvls) at lvl 1, and then Bonus Feat (requiring 1 lvl) at level 2, do both powers manifest when I hit lvl 3?
Also, am I correct in assuming that you can't work the ritual to start a new ability if you're on a level where an ability has manifested? By that I mean, if I'm lvl 1, and choose an Abilty which will manifest at lvl 2, do I have to wait until I hit lvl 3 before I can work the ritual again? The article seems to suggest this.
Finally, what happens if you multiclass out of Druid or Ranger after working the ritual, but before it comes into effect?
Sorry about all the questions,
Filch
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Update: Having now read the article, I have another few queries.
Hit me!
Can the Plant Companion make grapple attacks? I don't see anything in the rules one way or another on this.
Yes. If it's missing a Grp number in its stat block, I made a grievous error.
How exactly does the system of adding new abilities every few levels work? I'm possibly being dim, but I see a few possible interpretations.
Say I'm a lvl 1 Druid, and I choose Sticky Sap. My Companion is going to develop that ability when I hit lvl 6. Can I choose another power to start developing concurrently when I hit lvl 2?
Yes.
If so, can multiple powers all activate at the same level? For example, if I choose Blindsight (requiring 2 lvls) at lvl 1, and then Bonus Feat (requiring 1 lvl) at level 2, do both powers manifest when I hit lvl 3?
Yes.
Also, am I correct in assuming that you can't work the ritual to start a new ability if you're on a level where an ability has manifested? By that I mean, if I'm lvl 1, and choose an Abilty which will manifest at lvl 2, do I have to wait until I hit lvl 3 before I can work the ritual again? The article seems to suggest this.
Yes.
Finally, what happens if you multiclass out of Druid or Ranger after working the ritual, but before it comes into effect?
Uh... that's such an excellent question. I would play it that you're out of luck on the ability developing until you take enough druid or ranger levels...
Sorry about all the questions,
No worries, mate. :)
Hit me!
Thanks for the quick response!
Yes. If it's missing a Grp number in its stat block, I made a grievous error.
On a second look, it does indeed have a Grp number. I was looking under attacks. I'm going to put this down to a long day at work on my part, and sit here looking embarassed.
Uh... that's such an excellent question. I would play it that you're out of luck on the ability developing until you take enough druid or ranger levels...
Something to bring up with my GM then. I'm planning to multiclass into the (somewhat) plant-based Thrall of Zugtmoy. Whether or not that counts as plant-based enough will be up to him.
No worries, mate. :)
Thanks again for the answers. Articles like this remind me why I'm going to miss Dragon so much.
Edit: Yet another thought. If your Plant Companion dies, does the new one you grow come complete with all the benefits the previous one had? Initially I'd say no, but that seems to be a major drawback when compared with regular animal companions, who are generally tougher by default.
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Edit: Yet another thought. If your Plant Companion dies, does the new one you grow come complete with all the benefits the previous one had? Initially I'd say no, but that seems to be a major drawback when compared with regular animal companions, who are generally tougher by default.
For the sake of game balance I'd have to say yes. How you justify that in your campaign is a matter up to you, of course.
I just wanted to drop in a quick note to say how pleased I was by this article.
Filch
I'm glad you liked it :) Wish my issue of 357 had made its way to my door already so I could check out the final version and answer the many questions it has sparked. Good thing Mike was here to step in and clear the air.
That is just one of the many, many, things I am going to miss about working with him and the rest of the Paizo crew on a regular basis.
For the sake of game balance I'd have to say yes. How you justify that in your campaign is a matter up to you, of course.
Hmm. Perhaps the period of levels could be said to represent the Druid researching & experimenting the changes they're calling forth in their plant companion, and once it's complete they could be said to have mastered it? So any follow plants "uplifted" to be companions can benefit from the research conducted on their predecessors - getting the net result without the months of trial?
I'm glad you liked it :) Wish my issue of 357 had made its way to my door already so I could check out the final version and answer the many questions it has sparked. Good thing Mike was here to step in and clear the air.
I've love to hear your thoughts on the issues raised as well, whenever the magazine turns up. Not that I'm not fully satisfied by Mike's answers, but I'm really interested in all the thought that went into the article. As I said, I spent a while trying to figure out something like this myself, but didn't get very far.