Human Druid and Eye for Talent


Rules Questions


Hey guys.

I have two questions: (and i hope this isn't redundant, but i hadn't seen anything on it)

1) If I am reading "Eye for Talent" correctly, a human druid could sacrifice their human bonus feat at lvl 1 to provide their animal companion with +2 intelligence (thus creating an animal companion with 4 int from lvl 1). Is there any reason to believe this is possible?

Language of the trait: "when the human gains an animal companion it gains a +2 to any ability score" (paraphrased). It says gains, this does not appear to refer to the human's ability to find an animal that already had such a bonus (thus preventing int boost, as the animal would cease to be one)....though the name of the trait suggests otherwise.

2) I know I personally love getting the animal companion to at least 3 int, since I like them taking on a real personality of their own, but I wonder, what do you all think the give and take amounts to in this case? Is the loss of the feat worth getting such a bonus? I honestly don't think the bonus to any other ability score is worth it, but Int offers the most to the animal.

Thanks guys.

Liberty's Edge

1: Absolutely. That is a good way to have a companion that has more options for feats right off. It applies to the companion gained right off, or one gained later to replace a fallen companion.

Full Wording:
Eye for Talent: Humans have great intuition for hidden potential. They gain a +2 bonus on Sense Motive checks. In addition, when they acquire an animal companion, bonded mount, cohort, or familiar, that creature gains a +2 bonus to one ability score of the character's choice. This racial trait replaces the bonus feat racial trait.

2: It depends on the build I am aiming for as to whether I would want to give up the feat. At level 1, there are a more limited selection of combat based feats to choose since the druid has a BAB of +0, so that pretty much leaves Improved Initiative and Toughness as good bonus feats. Also, it would depend on the feat setup you want for your companion. The boosted INT would only effect the first 2 feats, with the 3rd being gained at 5th level, after a normal INT boost.

Build up how you envision your druid's companion up to around 10th level and see what kind of feats you would need. Then see if this would be accelerated by having more feat options at 1st and 2nd level(first 2 feats gained).

EDIT: Also, it is good to give a single rank in Linguistics (Common), so they can be given more complex commands and tactics. Note that this does not give them literacy or the ability to talk.

The Exchange

I do it all the time.
Recent clarification that boosting the AC intelligence does not obviate a handle animal check will dampen my enthusiasm a bit.

I'm also particularly fond of it on a T-rex with its 2x strength bonus.
It can also be useful if you go with Eldritch Heritage: Arcane for for your familiars, or if you are setting up an Eidolon.


Ok thanks. I wanted to make sure I was reading it rationally.

As for my build idea, I don't really have a real one yet. This is for a game that is conditionally related to how our current long-running game concludes.

The companion will be a bear cub at 1st level (based on proposed background story) and really its based on the idea that having a smart bear that can understand language and manipulate stuff, could be interesting.

We'll see.

Anyway thanks again

Liberty's Edge

cp wrote:

I do it all the time.

Recent clarification that boosting the AC intelligence does not obviate a handle animal check will dampen my enthusiasm a bit.

I'm also particularly fond of it on a T-rex with its 2x strength bonus.

I got a 12th level PFS druid with a T-Rex. Damage is insane. (I think he was 3d6+24 on bite)

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