Druid animal companions and advancement

[BigNorseWolf]

When you advance an animal companion , do you go from the table, to the starting package, and then apply the 4th/7th level advancement ON TOP OF or INSTEAD OF the original stats?

For example:

Dinosaur (Deinonychus, Velociraptor)

Starting Statistics: Size Small; Speed 60 ft.; AC +1 natural armor; Attack 2 talons (1d6), bite (1d4); Ability Scores Str 11, Dex 17, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 14; Special Qualities low-light vision, scent.

7th-Level Advancement: Size Medium; AC +2 natural armor; Attack 2 talons (1d8), bite (1d6), 2 claws (1d4) Ability Scores Str +4, Dex –2, Con +2; Special Attacks pounce.

Would a 7th level version have +2 natural armor over the base animal companion stats, or +3 natural armor over the base animal companion stats?

[Bertious]

Not sure of this but in most cases the +2 natural armor is due to size increase to large which is +2 so i assume it's the same for the Raptor

[bigkilla]

You go by the starting package of the animal and add the advancement chart bonuses at level 1.

Then just apply the advancement table adjustments as they level up.

Then when they hit 4 or 7 take the new scheme of the animal and re adjust the new scheme by the chart for the appropriate level.

[Shar Tahl]

You stack the 4/7 bonus on top of the original.

Lets take a snake, constrictor as an example...

Level 1:

Size Medium; Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.; AC +2 natural armor; Attack bite (1d3); Ability Scores Str 15, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2; Special Attacks grab; Special Qualities low-light vision, scent.

Level 4:

Druid level adds +2 natural Armor and +1 Str/Dex
Table for type adds:Size up to Large, +1 Natural Armor, +8 Str, -2 Dex, +4 Con, and adds a constrict attack. Bide damage also increases to 1d4.

End Product for a level 4 druid animal companion is

Size Large; Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.; AC +5 natural armor; Attack bite (1d4); Ability Scores Str 24, Dex 16, Con 17, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2; Special Attacks grab, Constrict(1d4); Special Qualities low-light vision, scent. He also gets an extra +1 to any score at level 4

It sounds like some are suggesting that you use the new NA listed at 4/7. You do not replace what is listed in the initial with what is listed in the 4/7 advancement. The constrictor's NA does not get weaker(+2 start, +1 listed at 4)

Your raptor would be:

Starting Statistics: Size Small; Speed 60 ft.; AC +1 natural armor; Attack 2 talons (1d6), bite (1d4); Ability Scores Str 11, Dex 17, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 14; Special Qualities low-light vision, scent.

7th-Level Total would be (Base Companion + druid table):

Size Medium; Speed 60 ft.; AC +5 natural armor; Attack 2 talons (1d8), bite (1d6) 2 claws (1d4); Ability Scores Str 16, Dex 16, Con 19, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 14, ; Special Attacks pounce; Special Qualities low-light vision, scent.

There would also be the +1, which would be good in Con or Int (3 Int companions can take any feat they can physically do and can take linguistics to understand language)

[Shar Tahl]

Also, if you like dinosaurs, the T-Rex is awesome! Once he hits 7, he is a single attack damage beast. My druid is level 9 now, and with his strength of 25 and improved natural attack and power attack, his damage is 3d6+20( +7 str, double str bonus for powerful bite quality, +6 for power attack). Also gave him light armor prof so he can wear his +2 chain shirt