OK, so the Ranger companion list IS OFFICIALLY restricted to what is under the entry in the core book. The PF team position on this is that since the ranger has good combat abilities he doesn't need a good fighter as a companion. That sounds like a restriction to the class, like metal armor for the druid, and a couple of other restrictions for classes.
The question is druid and ranger (-3) multi class levels stack to determine level of the effective level of the companion, but are you restricted to Ranger only companions to get all the levels to count?
Examples would be for a Ranger 4 / druid 1 character.
1. Tiger would be effective level 1, since not on Ranger list.
2. Wolf would be effective level 2, on both lists.
3. Tiger would be effective level 2, Druid level trumps Ranger for selection and still counts level of ranger for effective level.
This needs to be officially ruled on, so PLEASE give us a clear rule to use. This is not society play related but may need to carry over there as well. This question has come up in several threads with no answer, so please let us know soon.
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According to the description of Class Level in the Animal Companion part of the Druid class (page 51, end of the right column), "The
druid’s class levels stack with levels of any other classes that are entitled to an animal companion for the purpose of determining the companion’s statistics."
Since this part of the RAW mentions being entitled to an animal companion, not being entitled to the specific animal companion you are dealing with, it is clear to me that the levels stack even if the animal companion is not in the other class's list (for example, a bear for a ranger).
So 3 is the official stance, as described in this part of the RAW.
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Hmm, how about the Paladin? Can a Paladin get a Rhino as a mount? I've always wanted one. I even named it Aleksei :P
You could get a Rhino as your druid animal companion, but it would not also be your Paladin mount. At least not through the part of the RAW I quoted above. A Paladin's mount is definitely not an Animal companion and thus does not qualify.
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Hmm, how about the Paladin? Can a Paladin get a Rhino as a mount? I've always wanted one. I even named it Aleksei :PYou could get a Rhino as your druid animal companion, but it would not also be your Paladin mount. At least not through the part of the RAW I quoted above. A Paladin's mount is definitely not an Animal companion and thus does not qualify.
I have to disagree here, TBR. Here is the reason from the Divine Bond section under the Paladin class description, emphasis mine:
The second type of bond allows a paladin to gain the service of an unusually intelligent, strong, and loyal steed to serve her in her crusade against evil. This mount is usually a heavy horse (for a Medium paladin) or a pony (for a Small paladin), although more exotic mounts, such as a boar, camel, or dog are also suitable. This mount functions as a druid's animal companion, using the paladin's level as her effective druid level...
Hmm, how about the Paladin? Can a Paladin get a Rhino as a mount? I've always wanted one. I even named it Aleksei :P
That be up to your GM. I myself would allow it if it fit your god or culture of your paladin.