This weekend I played a game where a druid's 2 HD animal companion took the feat Power Attack. I didn't think anything about it at the time, but now I wonder: is this legal?
PCs get feats at levels 1, 3, 5, etc., so a level 2 bard (say) can't take Power Attack -- he doesn't have enough BAB at level 1. Does a creature with racial HD work the same way (i.e. 1 feat at 1 HD, 1 feat at 3 HD, etc.)?
The animal companion rules spell out when animal companions get feats.
EDIT: And yes, 2 HD is a feat HD for animal companions. They get an extra feat at 2 HD and then every 3 HD thereafter.
The animal companion rules spell out when animal companions get feats.
EDIT: And yes, 2 HD is a feat HD for animal companions. They get an extra feat at 2 HD and then every 3 HD thereafter.
Well, specifically it says a 2 HD animal has one feat, but likewise a 2 HD bard has one feat. It doesn't actually say that an animal companion gets a feat when it reaches 2 HD, so it's not clear to me.
EDIT: Whoops, misread the chart.
You're right.
Yes, it does. The animal companion chart has column for "Feats" which tells you how many feats the AC has. That column starts out at "1" at 1st HD and then proceeds to "2" at the 2nd HD, "3" at the 5th HD, and +1 for every 3 thereafter.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
A druid's animal companion starts out with 2 HD and one feat.
When it reaches 3 HD, it gets another feat, and likewise it gets another feat at 5 HD, 7 HD, 9 HD, etc. -- just like a PC does.
What does "1st HD" mean in your above comment?
EDIT: Ah! No worries.
Read my edit. Which, I'll note, was done about 2 minutes before your post.
Read my edit. Which, I'll note, was done about 2 minutes before your post.
Actually, I think we were both editing our posts simultaneously, which confused me a tad...
Definitely not. When I was done with my edit there were no other posts after mine.
Anyway, back on topic ... yes, non-class HD work the same as class HD for determining feats, so you get one at 1st HD, one at 3rd HD, etc. I had thought ACs were an exception but that was because I was misreading the chart.
That being said, I don't see what the big deal is with allowing Power Attack for a first level druid's AC.
It specifically states that you can't take a feat with a prerequisite of a BAB of +1 for your first feat in the text about the animal companion.
"Feats: This is the total number of feats possessed by an animal companion. Animal companions should select their feats from those listed under Animal Feats. Animal companions can select other feats, although they are unable to utilize some feats (such as Martial Weapon Proficiency). Note that animal companions cannot select a feat with a requirement of base attack bonus +1 until they gain their second feat at 3 Hit Dice."
It specifically states that you can't take a feat with a prerequisite of a BAB of +1 for your first feat in the text about the animal companion.
"Feats: This is the total number of feats possessed by an animal companion. Animal companions should select their feats from those listed under Animal Feats. Animal companions can select other feats, although they are unable to utilize some feats (such as Martial Weapon Proficiency). Note that animal companions cannot select a feat with a requirement of base attack bonus +1 until they gain their second feat at 3 Hit Dice."
*Bonk*
Thanks for sorting it out!
Zurai:
It specifically states that you can't take a feat with a prerequisite of a BAB of +1 for your first feat in the text about the animal companion.
"Feats: This is the total number of feats possessed by an animal companion. Animal companions should select their feats from those listed under Animal Feats. Animal companions can select other feats, although they are unable to utilize some feats (such as Martial Weapon Proficiency). Note that animal companions cannot select a feat with a requirement of base attack bonus +1 until they gain their second feat at 3 Hit Dice."
*Bonk*
Thanks for sorting it out!
Zurai:
** spoiler omitted **
In response to the spoiler:
I always wandered why I could see that someone posted, but could not see the actual post until over 15 minutes later at times.
In response to the spoiler:
I always wandered why I could see that someone posted, but could not see the actual post until over 15 minutes later at times.
Actually, that's because it registers someone as posting to the thread as soon as they hit the "reply" or "add post" button, even though they havn't finished typing up the post yet. I figured that out when I noticed once that I was listed as having the most recent response to a thread when I was still typing up my response (I had opened another tab to the forum so I could go searching for a reference for the post I was making).
Not sure if it is RAW or not but I have no problem with anyone (or thing) taking feats that you can't use yet. It was more of an issue with 3.5 as it wasn't uncommon to be one level away from meeting the prereqs and having to wait a whole two more levels after that for another chance to take it. I personally allow it but the feat is no good and can't be used until you eventually do meet the prereqs just as you can lose the use of a feat if something happens to you that makes you not meet them anymore.
The reason Power Attack has a prereq of BAB +1 is because you can't use it if you have no BAB. It does add a little cheese when you start out at a higher level and take a bunch of feats that you wouldn't be able to use but never had to play without. This situation isn't quite that bad though.
Shouldn't an animal companion have four feats regardless of HD? Unless it is a snake, than it has no feats.
Sorry.....
Shouldn't an animal companion have four feats regardless of HD? Unless it is a snake, than it has no feats.
Sorry.....
HA!
On a related note, can they not opt to delay taking their feats? Is there not verbiage that says you don't have to fill a feat right when it becomes available?
In our campaign we incorporatet a new feat;
"Delay feat" :p
Effect: None, but you gain a bonus feat at your next level up.
I would say, "No".
I would also say no because the rules explicitly say so (as pointed out above):
"Note that animal companions cannot select a feat with a requirement of base attack bonus +1 until they gain their second feat at 3 Hit Dice."
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Well sure, when you put it like that. . .
But what if this totally hypothetical player, is like a really cool guy and totally rocks the game table. And what if he actually took a feat called Zower Azzack which is just like Power Attack except it can be taken with +0 BAB and it only applies to burly over-sized yaks.
I mean then it would be totally OK, I would think. I mean it’s pretty obvious.
Ah #$^#&, I’ll sub something else.
