Right, I've found that there are two Animal companions for Elks. Mechanically, they are almost exactly the same. Same stats, same increase in size. The only difference is in their natural armor bonuses and natural attacks. One is just clearly better then the other mechanically, even if only by a small margin.
Here they are.
paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/additionalMonsters/megafauna.html
from bestiary 2
and
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/animals/herd-animals/elk/ elk-river
from the adventure's path Kingmaker
So, which one is real? Is there any official word on this?
Depends what you mean by "real".
Both are official Paizo material, both are legal options for a druid's animal companion. Both exist in real life (though Megaloceros have been extinct for a good long while)
Not really sure what you're asking here.
Not really sure what you're asking here.
Both say they are for (or can be) megaloceros companions, but have different stats.
Both are official and correct.
However, Bestiary 2 came out after the Pathfinder Adventure Path #31: Stolen Land (part of the Kingmaker path). So it should be "more official", and should supersede whatever came before.
Its, not really rocket science. One is a modern living animal. The other is a prehistoric elk like animal. Basically some dms might lace restrictions and prefer the elk for a starting char. With no such restrictions then choose themarically whether the modern animal or the prehistoric one is best for you.
We've been calling them "great elk" in KM, occasionally "dire elk".
Stats started in KM, but now that Bestary III is out, we're using the KM one as the Golarion variant.
The one in the More recent monster rulebook and published on Paizo's own web page would be logically the more official one. But if your GM has kingmaker but not the Bestiary II, or just prefers your companion to have the Kingmaker Stats, you'd have to use Kingmaker's version.
http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/additionalMonsters/megafauna.html
Megaloceros Companions
Starting Statistics: Size Medium; Speed 50 ft.; AC +3 natural armor, Attack gore (1d8); Ability Scores Str 12, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 5; Special Abilities low-light vision, scent.
7th-Level Adv.: Size Large; AC +2 natural armor; Attack gore (2d6), 2 hooves (1d4); Ability Scores Str +8, Dex –2, Con +4; Special Qualities powerful charge (2d6).
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ;>>>>>>>>>>>
d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/animals/herd-animals/elk/ elk-river
Elk/Megaloceros Companions
Starting Statistics: Size Medium; Speed 50 ft; AC +1 natural armor; Attack gore (1d6); Ability Scores Str 12, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 5; Special Qualities low-light vision.
7th-Level Advancement: Size Large; AC +2 natural armor; Attack gore (1d8) or 2 hooves (1d6); Ability Scores Str +8, Dex –2, Con +4; Special Qualities powerful charge
Also, bear in mind that the different designers don't necessarily talk to each other or read each other's stuff, which is why you can find a lot of feats and archetype abilities that overlap or outright contradict each other. For that reason, everything outside the Core Rulebook comes with a strong "with DM approval" tag.
I have a question regarding the PRD entry for Megaloceros: Why is the animal companion's Stats listed as having 2d6 Gore AND 2d6 Powerful Charge damage? it seems to be exactly half of what it should be. is this Errata'd somewhere I missed or is it just a useless ability that is purposefully nerfed?