Combat with Druid Companions

[avgbountyhunter]

How exactly does this work? Do the druid and the companion function as one, and share the same round of combat? For example, the druid can move and the companion can attack. OR, do they each get a full round of combat? If so do they share initiative or do they each make an initiative roll?

[StabbittyDoom]

Separate initiative with separate modifiers. Each gets their own (full) turn.
Basically, pretend they don't know each-other.

[avgbountyhunter]

StabbittyDoom wrote:

Separate initiative with separate modifiers. Each gets their own (full) turn.

Basically, pretend they don't know each-other.

Great! Thanks for the help!

[james maissen]

avgbountyhunter wrote:

How exactly does this work? Do the druid and the companion function as one, and share the same round of combat? For example, the druid can move and the companion can attack. OR, do they each get a full round of combat? If so do they share initiative or do they each make an initiative roll?

Most people have the druid's animal act on the druid's initiative.

Mind you if you've raised the companion's INT to 3 or higher it should likely act on it's own roll.

Now summons will act at the start of the turn that summoned them (normally the start of the summoner's subsequent turns unless they delay or ready actions).

-James

[Carpy DM]

According to the rules, the animal companion gets its own initiative and acts of its own accord. It is indeed common to have it go on the druid's turn, however, for sake of ease of play; in my games, animal companions who beat their druids in initiative will act on the first turn according to their nature (aggressive predators will attack, herd animals will stick close to the druid and defend, etc.), and the druid can then use Handle Animal to give it commands once her turn comes around, which the animal will (presumably, if she rolled well enough) follow on its next action.