Unarchetyped standard druid with animal companion extinct due to boon companion?

[carn]

A standard druid taking animal domain, gets animal companion at level 4 with level-3 and can spend next feat upon boon companion to get animal companion to full level.

So at level 5 he spent 1 feat compared to the standard druid with companion and had to survive level 1 to 3 without companion.

In return he gets (most likely i think feather animal is best domain choice) + 3 on fly, +1 maneuverability when casting a fly spell, + 1/2 level on perception, +2 ini when peception roll at start of combat is sucessful and useful bonus spells for 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 8th spell level at least - sounds like a good deal for only 1 feat in the long run.

Or is this somehow outside the rules or their intention?

[Cheapy]

If you ask about something, can you please provide the exact text?

[karkon]

Boon companion is a cool feat. In my groups Druids are just not played a lot in any case.

In my games you must have the book to use a feat (or whatever). So you can't just see it on D20PFSRD and say cool I am gonna take that. No you or another player must own that expansion. On top of that any feats that are not core or APG must be approved by me. I could see myself approving this one due to the feat cost.

[Thalin]

To an extent, but for instance in PFS taking this route means being without an animal companion for the first 4 levels of existence (well, 3 levels with none, 1 level with one that is ineffective). This is 1/3rd your character's life. Also, if you are building a combat Druid the terribly mediocre spell list from the animal domain + a bonus on perception and flight may not actually be worth the feat you are giving up; combat casters are pretty feat-starved.

In a home setting where low levels go by faster than higher levels, you are probably right that the domain is the better route. But do remember those first 4 levels where you are companionless are the best 4 levels to have a companion.

[Trikk]

karkon wrote:

Boon companion is a cool feat. In my groups Druids are just not played a lot in any case.

In my games you must have the book to use a feat (or whatever). So you can't just see it on D20PFSRD and say cool I am gonna take that. No you or another player must own that expansion. On top of that any feats that are not core or APG must be approved by me. I could see myself approving this one due to the feat cost.

I use the same principle and I think it works well. I doubt someone will go out and buy Seekers of Secrets just to use one feat from it.

It's not that you can't access the feat at all times, because these days you can, but it helps to limit the scope of the game as to not overwhelm the GM.

Both Magical Knack and Boon Companion seem too strong for their cost. Magical Knack shouldn't be a trait at all and Boon Companion shouldn't give more than +2 at best.

[Thalin]

Magical Knack is fine; multi-classing is so hard that even with it playing a Mage/X is a bad idea, but it's one of the few ways an eldrich knight can exist. I actually think that is one of the better feats.

[Trikk]

Thalin wrote:

Magical Knack is fine; multi-classing is so hard that even with it playing a Mage/X is a bad idea, but it's one of the few ways an eldrich knight can exist. I actually think that is one of the better feats.

As a feat I would agree, but it's a trait.

[Astralplaydoh]

Correct me if I am wrong but....

Wouldn't the feat be useless? For instance. If a level 5 ranger takes boon companion it doesn't give him a 5th level animal companion. Because of the stipulation that your perceived class level does not go above your character level. So his perceived class level is still just 5th level ranger. And the class ability itself states that he treats his level as -3. I would think it works the same for a druid using the animal domain.

I think the intention of the feat is that it ONLY benefits a multiclass character.

[Gwyrdallan]

Astralplaydoh wrote:

Correct me if I am wrong but....

Wouldn't the feat be useless? For instance. If a level 5 ranger takes boon companion it doesn't give him a 5th level animal companion. Because of the stipulation that your perceived class level does not go above your character level. So his perceived class level is still just 5th level ranger. And the class ability itself states that he treats his level as -3. I would think it works the same for a druid using the animal domain.

I think the intention of the feat is that it ONLY benefits a multiclass character.

Nope, the wording may be a bit confusing, but the intent has been clearly stated by the author of the feat several times. It is intended to raise your effective druid level for Animal Companion by 4 to a maximum of your character level. He specifically mentioned Rangers as being able to go up to full level with it.

[Mistwalker]

Gwyrdallan wrote:

It is intended to raise your effective druid level for Animal Companion by 4 to a maximum of your character level. He specifically mentioned Rangers as being able to go up to full level with it.

This has been stated a few times by the writer and developers.

[Lazurin Arborlon]

Gwyrdallan is correct, I have heavily researched this feat. Although there is no offical errata, it has be stated by the Dev's that it raises your effective level as though you are a druid. The wording is just poor.

[Thalin]

Even as a trait; again, multi-classing is so bad that even with the trait, it is awful. With it as an option at least it makes things slightly better for part of the mystic Theurge and the eldrich knights that are almost playable.

[ShadowcatX]

Also, keep in mind, that's pushing natural spell back to level 7. Who wants to do that?

[Trikk]

Thalin wrote:

Even as a trait; again, multi-classing is so bad that even with the trait, it is awful. With it as an option at least it makes things slightly better for part of the mystic Theurge and the eldrich knights that are almost playable.

You are only looking at it from the point of view of a "pure" spell caster. Magical Knack is a given choice for anyone dabbling into spell casting or anyone who has -3 on their caster level.