Using Boon Companion Feat + 1 level Druid dip = insta-pet fun!

[Mok]

In the Pathfinder Chronicles: Seekers of Secrets - A Guide to the Pathfinder Society book there is a feat called the Boon Companion. It allows a character that has an animal companion class feature to allow the companion to gain +4 levels to its development, up to your class level.

Basically, it was a patch for the Ranger, allowing the player to spend a feat so that the Ranger's companion could be equal in power to the Ranger levels the character has.

Still, you can use it in other ways. Take any class, say a Rogue, who'd love to have a pet as a flank buddy. At fifth level just take Druid as a class, and as your 5th level character feat take the Boon Companion feat and suddenly you've got a 5th level animal companion ready to help the rogue sneak attack all day.

This 5th level Druid dip has a lot of potential and does require some planning on your part for the animal companion.

Intelligence

First, because the animal companion is 5th level it gets a +1 to an attribute. Quite often there are odd numbered physical stats, particularly Con, which with just that one point you can boost up the companion's hit points by another 5 points.

However, you might want to consider putting it into Intelligence. Getting an animal to a 3 intelligence provides many benefits. The companion is no longer restricted to a specific list of skills and feats that it can select from. Further it it no longer is required to use animal tricks and handle animal checks. Lastly, you can put a point into linguistics for the companion, and then select common as a language. The companion will not be able to speak, but the character can talk to it and it will understand. A 3 intelligence isn't going to allow for a lot of deep conversations, but it's a leap above the very specific actions allowed by animal tricks.

The other major consideration is that one feat is going to come after the animal gains a 3 intelligence. This means any feat that the companion meets the normal feat prerequisites for can be taken. Looking over the list of core feats this is not an exhaustive list, but there are several that might work for the specific companion that are not on the companion feat list.

I've put together a sheet that goes over many animal companions to consider for a 5th level Druid dip. You can find the pdf here.

Not all of the companions are on there. I didn't go into sea based creatures, nor did I bother with creatures that have an upgrade at 7th level. This idea is more about simply going into a one level dip to get the pet, not about taking several levels in Druid, which if you've already taken four levels of something else, is about as suboptimal as it gets.

There might be reasons to pick a creature that upgrades at 7th level due to unique abilities, like flying with the Dire Bat or Roc, but for the most part if you are doing a 1 level dip then you might as well get the upgrade.

The Downside

The one problem with this dip is that the animal companion's abilities remain static. At 5th level you'll get a real power boost to your character, but as levels increase the animal companion's stats are going to stay the same.

Whether this is really an issue can really depend on the campaign. If you are only going to stick to the low or mid levels then this is still going to be a viable dip. If however you plan to play in the upper levels then over time the companion is going to be left behind by the types of challenges the party is going to face.

The Cavalier

You can also do this dip with the Cavalier out of the Advanced Player's Guide, there are restrictions though. The Cavalier's mount uses the same rules as the Druid animal companion, but you have to pick something that can be a viable mount. Further the RAW list of choices is very limited, unlike the Druid's list which has many more options.

Still, along with the mount you'll get a BAB point and some martial class features.

Examples

A rogue is looking for a flanking buddy. There is the small cat, which allows for trips and has a good move speed. For feats take things like Agile Maneuvers and Weapon Finesse to boost the chance of tripping, along with Nimble Moves to ensure it can keep rotating around for a flank regardless of terrain. Invest skill points into acrobatics so it can tumble through opponents.

Worth considering for any class is the constrictor snake. With a nasty bite that has a good chance of grabbing, grappling and constricting in just one round, it might just outright kill whatever it attacks, but if not then the poor opponent is grappled by a large creature and you can have at it while your pet keeps squeezing the life out of it. The big drawback with snakes and reptiles though is the 1 intelligence to start. You won't be able to get the Int to 3 and so you're still going to have to make handle animal checks.

One obnoxious option is to take the Ape. Give this guy light armor proficiency, power attack and martial or exotic weapon proficiency. Now pay out the gold to equip your pet with large size light armor and hand him a large size greatsword or spiked chain. All of a sudden you've got a large body guard, with 10 foot reach and a really nasty attack. This is a bit cheesy, but it is legal.

[Xpltvdeleted]

You don't happen to have the exact wording for that feat do you? Would be interested in taking this on my rogue, but want something tangible to present to my GM.

[Mok]

Xpltvdeleted wrote:

You don't happen to have the exact wording for that feat do you? Would be interested in taking this on my rogue, but want something tangible to present to my GM.

You can look it up on the pfSRD website.

[Xpltvdeleted]

Mok wrote:

Xpltvdeleted wrote:

You don't happen to have the exact wording for that feat do you? Would be interested in taking this on my rogue, but want something tangible to present to my GM.

You can look it up on the pfSRD website.

cool thanks

[Karui Kage]

While your analysis in the usefulness of a single level dip in Druid with this feat is correct, I feel the need to point out that it does not really do anything for a full level Ranger.

The Feat wrote:

The abilities of your animal companion or familiar are calculated as though your class were four levels higher, to a maximum bonus equal to your character level. If you have more than one animal companion or familiar, choose one to receive this benefit. If you lose or dismiss an animal companion or familiar, you may apply this feat to the replacement creature.

Let's assume a 5th level Ranger takes the feat. He may calculate the abilities of his animal companion as if his class (Ranger) was four levels higher to a maximum bonus equal to his character level. In short, he may calculate the abilities of his animal companion as if he were a 5th level Ranger.

Which he already is.

In calculating the bonuses as a 5th level Ranger, he still is treated as 3 levels lower for the purposes of the animal companion. If he calculated the bonuses as a 5th level *Druid* then yes, his animal companion would be treated as '5th level'. As it is, he calculates them as a 5th level Ranger regardless, and so his animal companion remains at '2nd level'.

[Mok]

They probably need to errata or clarify the feat in a FAQ, but one of the author's of the book responded to this issue in another thread.

[Xpltvdeleted]

Mok wrote:

They probably need to errata or clarify the feat in a FAQ, but one of the author's of the book responded to this issue in another thread.

So according to the authors, the feat basically lets your companion track at your level, regardless of the levels you have in the class that grants the companion? That's the way it sounded like the author meant it...which means it's pretty damn sick...1 level in druid + 1 feat = 20th level animal companion or animal domain + full-level companion for a full-fledged drood.

[Dorje Sylas]

You forgot that it caps at +4. Get a bonus equal to your character level up to +4. Much like the old Paracticed feats.

A Druid 1/Fighter 19 would still only get a Animal as if level 5, not 20.

[Karui Kage]

I posted in that other thread... but while I respect Russ I have to say I don't like the way he wrote the feat then. Ignoring the wording, it just seems too good. A feat like that which 'gives a bonus to a max of your character level' shouldn't help any single classed character since said bonus can't go any higher. Ignoring that, I don't know a single Ranger that wouldn't drop one feat just to get a maxed out Druid-like companion.

Just seems silly. I could see a feat like this specifically for multi-classing, and ANOTHER feat that increased the Ranger's effective druid level by 2 for their companion, but I don't think they should ever be able to have as good a companion as the Druid without being a full Druid themselves.

Meh. Humbug!

[Damien_DM]

I suppose you could get around the Ranger restriction by taking that one-level dip into druid, to be a Druid 1/Ranger X. Have the feat modify your druid level, and you've effectively offset the ranger penalty, even at Druid 1/Ranger 19. It fits thematically too.

[Xpltvdeleted]

Dorje Sylas wrote:

You forgot that it caps at +4. Get a bonus equal to your character level up to +4. Much like the old Paracticed feats.

A Druid 1/Fighter 19 would still only get a Animal as if level 5, not 20.

touché

[Karui Kage]

Damien_DM wrote:

I suppose you could get around the Ranger restriction by taking that one-level dip into druid, to be a Druid 1/Ranger X. Have the feat modify your druid level, and you've effectively offset the ranger penalty, even at Druid 1/Ranger 19. It fits thematically too.

See, that I'd actually be ok with. I think the benefit is worth a level and a feat, but just a feat for a Druid version Animal Companion for a pure Ranger? Eh, too much for me. But I'm probably in the minority on this one. At the bare minimum the feat needs to be re-written though, without seeing Russ's commentary there would be no way I'd agree that the feat implied a Ranger should get what he said they should get.

[Mok]

Yeah, this feat is basically like the Practiced Spellcaster type feats in 3.5 splatbooks. You get four levels of multiclassing to mess around with but still get a class feature to keep on advancing.

I have no problem with the Ranger getting a boost. The Druid still outclasses the Ranger at high levels and even having a full 20 levels of animal companion isn't going to balance the two out.

But I'm glad that they made the feat because a lot of people want pets, but don't necessarily want to stick to just one track of class progression to have it.

[Selgard]

Mechanically- I don't see the issue with a feat that lets the ranger have his companion catch-up to him. Powerwise, the Ranger should have the at-level comp anyway with the druid having the slackwit.

Making the ranger blow a feat to get what he should have anyway doesn't come anywhere near to making him overpowered.

Just my .02

-S

[Karui Kage]

I don't know, the Ranger is actually a pretty darn good fighter now, as the one in my game proves. Deadly Aim, favored enemies... With his +3 Dex he has 1d8+3(Dex)+6(Deadly Aim, 8th level now)+1(magic)+4(favored enemy) for 1d8+14 damage per arrow. With Multi-shot, that's 2d8+28 if he just hits with the first shot on a full attack. I let him take the old feat to boost his animal companion, but just by two levels so it's one below him. He took the Constricter Snake and that thing tears everything up.

I have only seen the Druid once so far, but I really don't think it's more powerful than the Ranger anymore. The wild shape was fixed, spells are so so, one of the best features they have is that full animal companion. For the Ranger to get access to it... I don't know, it just rubs me the wrong way. The Ranger has enough good things going for it now.

[Elyza]

This feat really shines for the little people. A halfling or gnome taking the one level dip in druid get a pretty awesome riding dog. With the dog bumping his Int to 3, taking Combat Reflexes, Toughness, and Light Armor proficiency, you have a 42 HP mount that understands verbal orders, 21 AC with chain barding before adding magic, evasion and combat reflexes. Because they present another combat target, one can dismount and allow the dog to perform well as a meat shield/blocker for the casters, or flanker for the melee types. Probably more useful is that the mount is still small enough to enter dungeons, and doubles the movement rate of a riding halfling or gnome so they can keep up with the running battles. The mount's effectiveness will wane around 10th level.

Another thought: This also works for taking a one level dip into Summoner and having a 5th level eidolon pet. Let's see. A wingless flying, quadruped, medium mount with pounce and perfect maneuverability, and three more evolution points to spend. This sounds like fun. And if your mount dies, you can summon it back again tomorrow.

[Quintin Crusher]

Karui Kage wrote:

While your analysis in the usefulness of a single level dip in Druid with this feat is correct, I feel the need to point out that it does not really do anything for a full level Ranger.

The Feat wrote:

The abilities of your animal companion or familiar are calculated as though your class were four levels higher, to a maximum bonus equal to your character level. If you have more than one animal companion or familiar, choose one to receive this benefit. If you lose or dismiss an animal companion or familiar, you may apply this feat to the replacement creature.

Let's assume a 5th level Ranger takes the feat. He may calculate the abilities of his animal companion as if his class (Ranger) was four levels higher to a maximum bonus equal to his character level. In short, he may calculate the abilities of his animal companion as if he were a 5th level Ranger.

Which he already is.

In calculating the bonuses as a 5th level Ranger, he still is treated as 3 levels lower for the purposes of the animal companion. If he calculated the bonuses as a 5th level *Druid* then yes, his animal companion would be treated as '5th level'. As it is, he calculates them as a 5th level Ranger regardless, and so his animal companion remains at '2nd level'.

The abilities of your animal companion or familiar are calculated as though your class were four levels higher, to a maximum bonus equal to your character level. If you have more than one animal companion or familiar, choose one to receive this benefit. If you lose or dismiss an animal companion or familiar, you may apply this feat to the replacement creature.

The purpose of the feat is to bypass class restrictions, regardless of the handicap on rangers. It ups your companion as if your class was for levels higher, so a level 7 ranger/Level 2 Fighter, which normally would have a level four pet, would have a level 8 pet. However, the guideline says it can't go over your CHARACTER level, not class level. So for the ability, your class level is druid minus three, this is ignored. Your character level is Still Level 7 Ranger/Level 2 Fighter. When you add the two together your character is a level 9 character, (number of total hit die is Character level.) So now you have a level 8 Pet and a level 9 Character, despite only seven levels in ranger.

I hope this wording helps, that's what i read it to mean anyways.

[Hunterofthedusk]

There was a feat back in 3.5 called "Wild Cohort" or something like that, that allowed any character, for the cost of one feat, to get a reduced-progression animal companion. It was basically like the ranger's animal companion, but a little weaker. I was going to get it with a ninja-themed rogue so I could have a ninja-dog, both for flanking and for out-of-combat mobility (I was a halfling, of course). I think it's in some web article by WotC.

[Karui Kage]

Quintin wrote:

Karui Kage wrote:

While your analysis in the usefulness of a single level dip in Druid with this feat is correct, I feel the need to point out that it does not really do anything for a full level Ranger.

The Feat wrote:

The abilities of your animal companion or familiar are calculated as though your class were four levels higher, to a maximum bonus equal to your character level. If you have more than one animal companion or familiar, choose one to receive this benefit. If you lose or dismiss an animal companion or familiar, you may apply this feat to the replacement creature.

Let's assume a 5th level Ranger takes the feat. He may calculate the abilities of his animal companion as if his class (Ranger) was four levels higher to a maximum bonus equal to his character level. In short, he may calculate the abilities of his animal companion as if he were a 5th level Ranger.

Which he already is.

In calculating the bonuses as a 5th level Ranger, he still is treated as 3 levels lower for the purposes of the animal companion. If he calculated the bonuses as a 5th level *Druid* then yes, his animal companion would be treated as '5th level'. As it is, he calculates them as a 5th level Ranger regardless, and so his animal companion remains at '2nd level'.

The abilities of your animal companion or familiar are calculated as though your class were four levels higher, to a maximum bonus equal to your character level. If you have more than one animal companion or familiar, choose one to receive this benefit. If you lose or dismiss an animal companion or familiar, you may apply this feat to the replacement creature.

The purpose of the feat is to bypass class restrictions, regardless of the handicap on rangers. It ups your companion as if your class was for levels higher, so a level 7 ranger/Level 2 Fighter, which normally would have a level four pet, would have a level 8 pet. However, the guideline says it can't go over your CHARACTER level, not class level. So for the ability, your class...

I've seen the author's reply, but still argue the wording is bad. In your example, you have a level 7 ranger/level 2 fighter, level 9 character. So you treat your companion as if your class (Ranger) was 4 levels higher (7+4=11) to a max of your character level (9). So you'd treat your companion as if you were a 9th level Ranger. Which would mean the companion was still effectively level 6, since it's Ranger level - 3.

Until they change it to say 'effective druid level' being higher, I don't see how it can be read otherwise. If your Ranger level is treated as if it's 9 when it's actually 7/fighter 2, that's fine. But the effective druid level doesn't stop being Ranger level - 3. :)

[mdt]

I actually added this feat to my own game. For both animal companions and familiars (two different feats). Basically, it adds 3 to your effective druid level (or wizard level) when calculating the level of your animal companion/familiar.

[Set]

Hunterofthedusk wrote:

There was a feat back in 3.5 called "Wild Cohort" or something like that,

Still available online.

[Swiftbrook]

Damien_DM wrote:

I suppose you could get around the Ranger restriction by taking that one-level dip into druid, to be a Druid 1/Ranger X. Have the feat modify your druid level, and you've effectively offset the ranger penalty, even at Druid 1/Ranger 19. It fits thematically too.

If you're going for the best animal companion, this is the most powerful solution. The one level of Druid dip opens up all the druids animal companions, rangers only have access to a few of them.

Mok wrote:

Yeah, this feat is basically like the Practiced Spellcaster type feats in 3.5 splatbooks. You get four levels of multiclassing to mess around with but still get a class feature to keep on advancing.

I think it's like the Natural Bond feat from Complete Adventurer. "You add three to your effective druid level (for your animal companion)".

[Ernest Mueller]

Ooo I was playing with a Druid/Wizard/Mystic Theurge build and pretty much punted on the animal companion, but this might just bring it back!

[Set]

Ernest Mueller wrote:

Ooo I was playing with a Druid/Wizard/Mystic Theurge build and pretty much punted on the animal companion, but this might just bring it back!

There totally needs to be a feat that allows someone with both Familiar and Animal Companion progression to stack the two, but only for the case of a single creature that counts as both Familar and Companion (basically, Animal Companion with Int and special abilities as a Familiar, for the most part).

There was some PrC with that sort of thing, but making it a feat would open it up for Ranger / Adepts or whatever.

[Ernest Mueller]

Set wrote:

Ernest Mueller wrote:

Ooo I was playing with a Druid/Wizard/Mystic Theurge build and pretty much punted on the animal companion, but this might just bring it back!

There totally needs to be a feat that allows someone with both Familiar and Animal Companion progression to stack the two, but only for the case of a single creature that counts as both Familar and Companion (basically, Animal Companion with Int and special abilities as a Familiar, for the most part).

There was some PrC with that sort of thing, but making it a feat would open it up for Ranger / Adepts or whatever.

I agree, I was also like "I don't want to keep up with both an animal companion and a familiar, that's annoying." Though spending a feat on it is kinda rough especially since you'll be split classing by definition... I'd be tempted to tell someone "Sure, merge them and just take best of whichever." Basically the AC stats, with a higher int and the familiar specials. Maybe without the whole "master's saves and half his HP" thing.

[Set]

Ernest Mueller wrote:

I agree, I was also like "I don't want to keep up with both an animal companion and a familiar, that's annoying." Though spending a feat on it is kinda rough especially since you'll be split classing by definition... I'd be tempted to tell someone "Sure, merge them and just take best of whichever." Basically the AC stats, with a higher int and the familiar specials. Maybe without the whole "master's saves and half his HP" thing.

Yeah, definitely skip the wonkier bits of the Familiar progression. Just basically, Animal Companion, plus the Intelligence and special stuff of the Familiar (speak w/ master, speak w/ animals of own kind, master can scry on critter, etc). Even stacking the natural armor bonuses of the two would be over-the-top, IMO, and I'd stick to the best NA progression.

[Quintin Crusher]

I still don't think I understand your confusion.

The wording uses Class Level, and Character Level. Character Level equals number of hit die. (Beastiary races have modifiers that make this important so they can reach prestige classes realistically.)

So if you Have a rolled 7 d10's for being a ranger and 2 d10's for being a fighter you are CHARACTER LEVEL 10. However You are class Level 7 for being a Ranger.

So when it says:
"The abilities of your animal companion or familiar are calculated as though your class were four levels higher"

Your class level is 7. Your druid level would be 7-3. Your new Companion level with the feat is
7(class level)-3(Companion modifier)+4(Boon Companion)= 8

If you had 9 Hit dice, your companion would be level 8, which works because it's one level below your CHARACTER level. This is below your CHARACTER Level, so the feat works. If you were only a level 7 Ranger, you would only have 7 Hit die meaning your character level is level 7, and you would have to deduct 1 level from your Companion to match your level.

Great for Rangers, although they don't get full use out of it unless they multiclass one level.