I'm not a fan of how the Small Cat Companion is basically hard-wired as a Cheetah. Despite the description of the companion choice as (Cheetah, Leopard), the only thing it has in common with a Leopard is the base stats at 4th level (though don't ask me why a Cheetah is stronger). The Ranger in my group has a companion that he's described as a panther, and was shocked to discover that it couldn't even climb a tree.
So, I'd like to propose to the DM the following changes:
Speed: 30', Climb 20'
Attack: Bite (1d4) (Trip removed)
Special Qualities: None (Sprint removed)
Special Attacks: Grab, Pounce, Rake (1d3)
What does everyone think? Keep in mind that Grab only works on targets 1 size smaller than the creature. So most of the time the only time the Rake will come into effect is on a charge, with the Pounce ability. Plus it's only 1d3. Thoughts? Alternatives?
I'm not a fan of how the Small Cat Companion is basically hard-wired as a Cheetah. Despite the description of the companion choice as (Cheetah, Leopard), the only thing it has in common with a Leopard is the base stats at 4th level (though don't ask me why a Cheetah is stronger). The Ranger in my group has a companion that he's described as a panther, and was shocked to discover that it couldn't even climb a tree.
So, I'd like to propose to the DM the following changes:
Speed: 30', Climb 20'
Attack: Bite (1d4) (Trip removed)
Special Qualities: None (Sprint removed)
Special Attacks: Grab, Pounce, Rake (1d3)What does everyone think? Keep in mind that Grab only works on targets 1 size smaller than the creature. So most of the time the only time the Rake will come into effect is on a charge, with the Pounce ability. Plus it's only 1d3. Thoughts? Alternatives?
Anyone? Bueller?
Actually if you look up black panther (part of the leopard species) on Wiki or Google pretty much every article describing them basically says they are the Olympic athletes of cats, stronger and more muscular than any cats of comparable size and capable of taking down much larger prey single-handedly because of it.
This is also something, at least IMHO, that should be addressed.
HH
Actually, Black Panther is a misnomer, as black cats in the wild are just an unusual fur variant (melanistic) of the predominant species (Jaguars in South American, Leopards in Africa/Asia). There is no such species as a 'Black Panther'. Having said that, I agree completely with everything else. While cheetahs rarely take down anything larger than themselves, leopards and jaguars go for much larger prey. Jaguars in particular are extraordinarily strong for their size, and their bite is actually more powerful than a lion or tiger.
All that said, I don't have an issue with Jaguars, Leopards, Panthers, etc, all being lumped into the same 'small cat' category. The Cheetah is such a unique animal that it doesn't really go with anything else though. The fact that this unique animal was apparently chosen as the base 'Small Cat' companion instead of the far more ubiquitous 'Panther' baffles me.