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I've done some searching and there have been a few threads about this. Everyone talks about waiting for the bestiary to solve this. Well the bestiary came and went and there was no rules for large bear animal companions.
Is there still no RAW way to have a large bear as an animal companion?
Large Bear is a Must!
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I've done some searching and there have been a few threads about this. Everyone talks about waiting for the bestiary to solve this. Well the bestiary came and went and there was no rules for large bear animal companions.
Is there still no RAW way to have a large bear as an animal companion?
If I were you I'd just ask the DM to houserule all the 3e animal companion rules back as well as 3e animals stat blocks. At the moment both for animals (which is important for the SNA list) and animal companions the only credible threat remaining is the tiger/big cat. Everything else is nerfed.
Or get a big cat and pretend it's a bear.
Unfortunately I mostly play PFS so house ruling and homebrewing are not an option.
That leaves you with taking the big cat and pretending it's a bear :/
Or an ape; you could say it's an AD&D "gorilla bear".
That leaves you with taking the big cat and pretending it's a bear :/
Or an ape; you could claim it's an AD&D "gorilla bear".
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Or an ape; you could claim it's an AD&D "gorilla bear".The only way an Ape is competitive with a big cat is if you give him a weapon and weapon proficiency feats, which is not really bear like. Also the big cat has grab, which is bear like.
With natural weapons nothing can compare to the pouncing awesomeness of tiger animal companions ...
Probably from a DPR point, you are correct. I do like the versatility that 3 INT, and a couple of ranks in Linguistics (Common, Pathfinder Gestures) can give.
That and with the weapon prof feats, giving him a reach weapon (20 ft. reach!!!) and combat reflexes, he makes a great party-protector, spellcaster-disrupter.
Or an ape; you could claim it's an AD&D "gorilla bear".The only way an Ape is competitive with a big cat is if you give him a weapon and weapon proficiency feats, which is not really bear like. Also the big cat has grab, which is bear like.
From levels 1-3, the difference is minimal. From levels 4-6, the ape is better. From levels 7+, the big cat has pounce (which is awesome), but most of my games fall apart before then...
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From levels 1-3, the difference is minimal. From levels 4-6, the ape is better. From levels 7+, the big cat has pounce (which is awesome), but most of my games fall apart before then...Or an ape; you could claim it's an AD&D "gorilla bear".The only way an Ape is competitive with a big cat is if you give him a weapon and weapon proficiency feats, which is not really bear like. Also the big cat has grab, which is bear like.
I don't know where people keep getting the idea that apes can wield weapons from. The feats section for Animal Companions spells it out pretty clearly.
Feats
This is the total number of feats possessed by an animal companion. Animal companions should select their feats from those listed under Animal Feats. Animal companions can select other feats, although they are unable to utilize some feats (such as Martial Weapon Proficiency). Note that animal companions cannot select a feat with a requirement of base attack bonus +1 until they gain their second feat at 3 Hit Dice.
In the past those in charge have also made it clear that they are opposed to any sort of 'reflavoring'. Thanks for the suggestions but it looks like there is no solution for now.
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From levels 1-3, the difference is minimal. From levels 4-6, the ape is better. From levels 7+, the big cat has pounce (which is awesome), but most of my games fall apart before then...Or an ape; you could claim it's an AD&D "gorilla bear".The only way an Ape is competitive with a big cat is if you give him a weapon and weapon proficiency feats, which is not really bear like. Also the big cat has grab, which is bear like.I don't know where people keep getting the idea that apes can wield weapons from. The feats section for Animal Companions spells it out pretty clearly.
In the past those in charge have also made it clear that they are opposed to any sort of 'reflavoring'. Thanks for the suggestions but it looks like there is no solution for now.Feats
This is the total number of feats possessed by an animal companion. Animal companions should select their feats from those listed under Animal Feats. Animal companions can select other feats, although they are unable to utilize some feats (such as Martial Weapon Proficiency). Note that animal companions cannot select a feat with a requirement of base attack bonus +1 until they gain their second feat at 3 Hit Dice.
Pathfinder Society Guide to Organized Play
"Can I improve my companion's Intelligence to 3 or higher and give it weapon feats? Yes. Following the guidelines for animal companions as established on page 52 of the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook, this is legal. Your companion must be physically capable of wielding the weapon (no tigers with longswords, for example). Bear in mind however that an animal's natural attacks nearly always yield better results than spending feat slots and gold pieces to equip your companion."
Apes are physically capable of wielding weapons (one of the distinguishing characteristics of all primates (humans and apes are both primates) is that they have opposable thumbs. If humans are able to wield a weapon, an ape is able to wield it as well.
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So, since some apes arguably have 4 hands, can I have my ape wield a 3-handed sword while standing on 1 "foot"? Or dual-wield Greatswords while lying down? ;)
Pathfinder Society Guide to Organized Play"Can I improve my companion's Intelligence to 3 or higher and give it weapon feats? Yes. Following the guidelines for animal companions as established on page 52 of the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook, this is legal. Your companion must be physically capable of wielding the weapon (no tigers with longswords, for example). Bear in mind however that an animal's natural attacks nearly always yield better results than spending feat slots and gold pieces to equip your companion."
Apes are physically capable of wielding weapons (one of the distinguishing characteristics of all primates (humans and apes are both primates) is that they have opposable...
I personally would argue against this. While the ape has a hand with an opposable thumb, it could well be argued that the prehensile toes might be different enough, or lack sufficient grip to effectively wield such. Plus, that slides close to the cheese wheel even for me.
I can thoroughly accept that the ape can wield weapons in hand. (Studies of apes in the wild have documented apes using sticks as clubs. No mention of them wielding them with feet.) The rules in place support this. I try not to push rules to their breaking point, but the quote in PSGOP seems clear enough and on-point enough for me to have built my PFS character accordingly.
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In the past those in charge have also made it clear that they are opposed to any sort of 'reflavoring'.
That's not a rule. Look, this is a game of imagination. Get the Large Cat companion and call it a bear. You're following allowed rules and what you imagine while you're playing is not up to Paizo.
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That's not a rule. Look, this is a game of imagination. Get the Large Cat companion and call it a bear. You're following allowed rules and what you imagine while you're playing is not up to Paizo.
In the past those in charge have also made it clear that they are opposed to any sort of 'reflavoring'.
Simply name your cat "My Bear".
I'll have My Bear go attack that goblin.
My Bear is going to pounce.
My Bear does pounce, claw, claw, bite, rake, trip, swallow whole.
Find a nice bear mini to represent it. If anyone notices, say that you don't have a cat mini, and you prefer to use this one. (Declining the use of any cat mini Gwynafyr mini etc that might be near the table.) (Remark on how your last girlfriend/wife/mom gave it to you just before she died/moved away/left you for another guy [not necessarily in that order])
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That's not a rule. Look, this is a game of imagination. Get the Large Cat companion and call it a bear. You're following allowed rules and what you imagine while you're playing is not up to Paizo.
In the past those in charge have also made it clear that they are opposed to any sort of 'reflavoring'.Simply name your cat "My Bear".
I'll have My Bear go attack that goblin.
My Bear is going to pounce.
My Bear does pounce, claw, claw, bite, rake, trip, swallow whole.
Find a nice bear mini to represent it. If anyone notices, say that you don't have a cat mini, and you prefer to use this one. (Declining the use of any cat mini Gwynafyr mini etc that might be near the table.) (Remark on how your last girlfriend/wife/mom gave it to you just before she died/moved away/left you for another guy [not necessarily in that order])
I'd rather play within the guidelines as given and live with a medium bear.
Hopefully some time in the near future Paizo will release a bear, large animal companion.