Ranger Animal Companion

[Retech]

So it's my understanding that Rangers only get a small list of animal companion choices, especially compared to the druid.

1. Is there any way to obtain the animal companion choices of the druid as a ranger, aside from dipping druid?

2. From a balance perspective, do you think that it would be reasonable to allow the ranger access to the entire druidic list of animal companions? How much would this change its power level?

[Azoun The Sage]

I don't think it changes things much if you allow the Ranger the full druid list. Though others may disagree.

In the end just go over it with your DM and see if he is willing to alter it and house rule it. I've done that; as the DM and as the player.

[Shar Tahl]

It would add a lot of power to add the full list. All the ranger companions are better at utility and not the best for pure combat. A ranger companion that changes to large and does large amounts of damage would make the Ranger truly dangerous. To see it from a balance perspective for melee combat, a druid + druid companion is roughly equal to Ranger + Ranger Companion in their overall prowess.

[leo1925]

First of all the animal domain gives you the full list also.
Now if you want to give rangers the full list.... my suggest is that if you want to do that you don't give them big cat and allosaurus, everything else shouldn't be (if memory serves) that more powerful than a wolf or the small cat.

[DeathMetal4tw]

No one ever knows this but

Ranger Archetype: Beast Master

There you go. Get advanced player's guide and there's a ranger build with the option of taking ANY companion.

[Toadkiller Dog]

Also, Orcs (and Half-Orcs) can take Rhinoceroses as animal companions, as per Orcs of Golarion.

[leo1925]

And any ranger can take the Roc as per the Bestiary.