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OK, this is a quick check to see if I have the rules straight here. if a druid has an animal companion with wear lt armor, they can wear barding. Barding is simply armor modified to be worn by an animal or mount. You should be able to give a companion's barding armor spikes according to the rules.
My question is, would they merit the extra attack with the spikes in a grapple? What about the separate attack that counts as offhand (although no hand need be used)?
Finally does the question of humanoid or non-humanoid factor into the equation?
FWIW, my reading of the rules suggests that if the animal can grapple, they could use the spikes that way (ape or cat come to mind as grapplers) and the offhand attack should be usable by all.
Yes. You have it right. A couple things to keep in mind though. Your companion is going to have to become proficient in the level of armor/barding you wish it to wear (light/medium/heavy) or take the armor check penalty on attacks and all strength and dexterity based rolls. Also, armor spikes are a martial weapon, so your AnCO is going to have to become proficient in using them as well, or soak the -4 penalty for not being proficient (on top of the ACP from the armor and the -5 for being a secondary attack).
This means that you are going to have to either start investing the AnCo's ability increases into intelligence (to gain the Martial Weapon Proficiency feat) or drop some cash on a headband of intellect for it to qualify.
It's a pretty heavy investment for such a small gain, in my opinion. Pick an animal companion with the Rake ability for basically the same effect for free.
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Yes. You have it right. A couple things to keep in mind though. Your companion is going to have to become proficient in the level of armor/barding you wish it to wear (light/medium/heavy) or take the armor check penalty on attacks and all strength and dexterity based rolls. Also, armor spikes are a martial weapon, so your AnCO is going to have to become proficient in using them as well, or soak the -4 penalty for not being proficient (on top of the ACP from the armor and the -5 for being a secondary attack).
This means that you are going to have to either start investing the AnCo's ability increases into intelligence (to gain the Martial Weapon Proficiency feat) or drop some cash on a headband of intellect for it to qualify.
It's a pretty heavy investment for such a small gain, in my opinion. Pick an animal companion with the Rake ability for basically the same effect for free.
Thanks. I hadn't thought about the Martial Weapon proficiency requirement. I'm looking to use the boar for stylistic reasons. The armor spikes were an attempt to think a little outside the box. As for the penalties, it looks to me like after 9th level, with multiattack, you're at a -2 for a secondary attack. That would be -6 w/o prof or just -2 if you spring for the 3 int and the martial prof. perhaps at higher level it wouldn't be impractical. I'll have to plan out an advancement and see what I get.