First off i see that animal companions get bigger after a set level. For my char its a wolf. So it went from medium to large. I was a one square mob. Now my DM is telling me its a 4 square mob and that just doesn't sound or look right to me. So i was hoping some of you could tell me if It really should be 4 squares or less please?
My second question is on the Share spell ability or what ever you might like to call it. In 3.5 if i cast a spell that works on me and my wolf is with in 5 feet he would get that spells effect as well. The way Pathfinder has it worded i really cant tell if it still works that why or not. So if someone would be willing to explain to me how it works in Pathfinder i would be grateful. Thank you.
Your DM is right, if you increase your wolf's size (he grows up? :), then he would be 4-square, as all large creatures are. Don't think of it as "he's 10'x10'", he just whirls around a lot, sniffing the air, and anyone who stays next to him would get knocked down a lot. He can also squeeze (-4 attack/AC) through a 5' wide space anytime.
If you really don't want him to be large, there is another option when the companion advances. I think it gives +2 Dex, +2 Con. However the wolf is usually a good one to make large (unlike the viper for instance).
Share Spells does indeed only give one of you the spell now. You simply have the option of casting any spell on your companion including self only spells, and spells that don't normally affect animals.
I thought only "large - Tall" was the 4-square space thing?
wouldn't a wolf be "large - long" and be like 2-squares long or something?
Did PF mess with the space occupation stuff as well?
*confuddled*
I thought only "large - Tall" was the 4-square space thing?
wouldn't a wolf be "large - long" and be like 2-squares long or something?
Did PF mess with the space occupation stuff as well?
*confuddled*
There hasnt been a long/tall distinction since 3.5 I am pretty sure. The made everything square shaped.
I thought only "large - Tall" was the 4-square space thing?
wouldn't a wolf be "large - long" and be like 2-squares long or something?
Did PF mess with the space occupation stuff as well?
*confuddled*
Yeah, that sounds like 3.0 stuff. Large has been 4 squares for every large sized creature, no matter the shape for a while now. In other words, PF didn't mess with it to my knowledge.
Being large(long) or large(tall) only affects reach now. As someone said they still use the same amount of squares on the map.
Why would a fully grown wolf not still be a medium creature? They are still smaller than a lot of the biggest dog breeds and nowhere the size of a lion or tiger. Even a Worg, which is described as an unusually large wolf in the Bestiary, is still only medium size. So what the rules are saying is that when a Druid's pet wolf grows up, it will be as large as either a Dire Wolf (horse size) or a Winter Wolf (bear size), which are both large creatures?
Creative Director
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Why would a fully grown wolf not still be a medium creature? They are still smaller than a lot of the biggest dog breeds and nowhere the size of a lion or tiger. Even a Worg, which is described as an unusually large wolf in the Bestiary, is still only medium size. So what the rules are saying is that when a Druid's pet wolf grows up, it will be as large as either a Dire Wolf (horse size) or a Winter Wolf (bear size), which are both large creatures?
Correct. Although "growing up" is not the actual official flavor for explaining why an animal companion gains power as its master gains levels. It could just as easily be gaining power by simply growing more primeval or more whatever.
That said, I do see the concern that someone who wants to have a wolf companion remain normal size would have. I suspect that most GMs would be cool with an animal NOT growing in size (but keeping all its other increases) since from a strictly rules standpoint, being bigger is usually a benefit in combat.
Keep in mind, being large size doesn't mean you take up four squares purely because of size. After all, medium creatures aren't all so fat that they're a horrifying 5'-5' blob. The 10'-'10 square is, if you will, their "combat space" - how much room they take up altogether, including their various dodges or puff ups or what have you.
My favorite way to describe large creatures that aren't usually large is the Spinning Whirlwind of Horse Syndrome.
H = Horse w/ Rider, X = Stand-in Mook, 123 = Goblin, Q = large Bear
----1
-XHH3
-2HH
-XQQ
--QQ
The horse can make a bite attack versus 1, then hoof 2 and then hoof 3. At the same time, the rider (let's assume a level 18 fighter with the full TWF tree) can make a single attack each on 1, Q, 2, 3, X and X.
The only way to truly be able to describe what's going on in that combat round is that the fighter is standing on the horse fighting while the horse is just jumping and spinning in circles.
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If you don't want the wolf to grow to Large size, then don't have him grow to Large. It's covered in the rules. :)
As you gain levels, your animal companion improves as well, usually at 4th or 7th level, in addition to the standard bonuses noted on Table: Animal Companion Base Statistics. Instead of taking the listed benefit at 4th or 7th level, you can instead choose to increase the companion's Dexterity and Constitution by 2.