Animal comp not growing to large?

[Thefurmonger]

Hey all.

So I have been working on a character (small) with a med companion, the issue I had was that at 7th it grows to large, I don't want it to...

Anyway I assumed I was SOL till I read this thread

In short the player says

Quote:

Since there is the alternate dex con boost written in the core book, and it does not say in the guide that you have to take the size bump.

Now i am not here to call someone out, but if this is true that would be great for me.

Can someone that knows a bit more shed some light?

Thanks to all.

[Azten]

Yep, it's at the end of the first paragraph of Animal Choices in the Core Book.

"As you gain levels, your animal companion improves as well, usually at 4th or 7th level, in addition to the standard bonuses noted on Table: Animal Companion Base Statistics. Instead of taking the listed benefit at 4th or 7th level, you can instead choose to increase the companion's Dexterity and Constitution by 2."

[Eric Clingenpeel]

Thefurmonger wrote:

Hey all.

So I have been working on a character (small) with a med companion, the issue I had was that at 7th it grows to large, I don't want it to...

Anyway I assumed I was SOL till I read this thread

In short the player says

Quote:

Since there is the alternate dex con boost written in the core book, and it does not say in the guide that you have to take the size bump.

Now i am not here to call someone out, but if this is true that would be great for me.

Can someone that knows a bit more shed some light?

Thanks to all.

CRB:

Animal Choices

Each animal companion has different starting sizes,
speed, attacks, ability scores, and special qualities. All
animal attacks are made using the creature’s full base
attack bonus unless otherwise noted. Animal attacks
add the animal’s Strength modif ier to the damage roll,
unless it is its only attack, in which case it adds 1-1/2
its Strength modif ier. Some have special abilities, such
as scent. See Appendix 1 for more information on these
abilities. As you gain levels, your animal companion
improves as well, usually at 4th or 7th level, in addition
to the standard bonuses noted on Table 3–8. Instead
of taking the listed benef it at 4th or 7th level, you can
instead choose to increase the companion’s Dexterity
and Constitution by 2.
The animal companions listed here are by no means
the only ones available—additional animal companion
types can be found in the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary. Some
of the special attacks and qualities possessed by animals
are covered in more detail there as well.

Generally it tends I believe to make the AC weaker than the normal upgrade, since you usually get a big str and con bump when AC's increase size, not to mention damage dice increase and it usually gets a good ability or two. By taking the +2 Dex +2 Con you lose out on all of those things.

What Animal are you currently using?

[Fredrik]

What Eric said. You might be better off finding another legal animal companion that gets just big enough at 4th or 7th -- such as the deinonychus/velociraptor from the CRB -- and doing a release and replace. (I don't know how that works in the PFS.)

[Thefurmonger]

Thanks guys, not sure how I missed that.

Honestly its for flavor more then power.

I was looking at a character form Osirion that rides a Scorpion.

As it would focus on mounted stuff I did not want the headache of it going large at 7th.

The whole point of a small rider is the Med mount.

*****Second Idea******
Yes its a tad "out there" but I really love the idea of a mounted character on a snapping turtle.

The 20' move to me is funny as hell.

Also the swim speed might actually help in some mods.

Again, thanks guys.