Rangers and Kingmaker

[Goblich]

So the Ranger Animal Companion list seems pretty Strict. My question is this: Can a Ranger select a Thylacine or an Elk as a companion?

[James Jacobs]

Goblich wrote:

So the Ranger Animal Companion list seems pretty Strict. My question is this: Can a Ranger select a Thylacine or an Elk as a companion?

The theory behind the Ranger's limited animal companion list is that rangers are combat classes first and foremost. Unlike druids (who often rely on animal companions to aid them in combat), a ranger's animal companion is intended to be used more often as a scout, messenger, or mount.

But neither of these new animals are particularly huge. An elk is pretty comparable to a horse, and a thylacine to a leopard/cheetah (both of which are on the ranger's list). So I'd say that both of these choices should be available to a ranger as a companion.

[F33b]

Goblich wrote:

So the Ranger Animal Companion list seems pretty Strict. My question is this: Can a Ranger select a Thylacine or an Elk as a companion?

Why not, they're available to Druids (see pg 7, Kingmaker Player's guide). IIRC, the ranger companion list is just the 1st level Druid list. Since both are available to 1st level Druids, I can't see why they would not be available to 4th level Rangers.

[Goblich]

Thanks, thats exactly What I needed. Intel from inside ;)

[JaceDK]

F33b wrote:

IIRC, the ranger companion list is just the 1st level Druid list. Since both are available to 1st level Druids, I can't see why they would not be available to 4th level Rangers.

Sorry, but you don't recall correctly. The ranger list is restricted to a specific selection of animals.

The d20pfsrd wrote:

A ranger who selects an animal companion can choose from the following list: badger, bird, camel, cat (small), dire rat, dog, horse, pony, snake (viper or constrictor), or wolf. If the campaign takes place wholly or partly in an aquatic environment, the ranger may choose a shark instead.

A druid can also choose ape, bear, boar, lion/tiger, crocodile, dinosaur and a number of creatures from the Bestiary.

But, since James himself says ok to the thylacine and elk, they can be added to the list.