Animal Companions & Leveling

[redpanda]

I'd love to role-play a ranger with a child-hood friend who slowly evolves and turns into a very talented creature.

Basically...

When I hit level 4, and I get my Ape, can I take Boon Companion and he immediately turns 4?

If so, then, I must ask:

1) Do I go through his individual levels like I do a normal PC?

2) Once he is level 4, can I put his attribute into intelligence, giving him 3 intelligence?

3) If I do number 3, can I give the Ape classes as a fighter? (Jason specifically said in a Q&A that they still remain companions but he didn't say anything about them not getting classes)

4) If I CAN give him the fighter class, would he be an Animal 3/Fighter 1, or would I make him a fighter 4?

5) If none of the above is possible....Any other thoughts?

[bookrat]

A ranger doesn't get any feats at level 4, but you could do it at level 5. :)

The Animal Companion doesn't ever get PC levels. You could up his Int to 3, but that won't allow it to have PC levels. Instead, it will open up all the skills and feats to the animal companion.

[qutoes]

INT 3 also lets it understand a language so you don't have to use Handle Animal to get it to do things

[redpanda]

qutoes wrote:

INT 3 also lets it understand a language so you don't have to use Handle Animal to get it to do things

Oh...well darn! So I could still do Simple -> Martial weapon proficiencies?

I was hoping to get the proficiency for free but oh well :(

[Gauss]

qutoes, do you have a citation for your statement?

Handle Animal is not used to 'get animals to do things' in lieu of a language.
It IS used to 'get animals to do things they are not trained for or that they do not want to do'.
Now, while a higher intelligence and a language may help the communication and may circumvent some of the 'not trained for' issues, it still wont help to get them to do things they do not want to do. For that it still takes handle animal.

FAQ on intelligent animals wrote:

The Handle Animal skill functions similarly no matter how intelligent an animal becomes. A character must still make Handle Animal checks to train his animal and get him to perform the appropriate tasks. A GM should, however, make exceptions in the case of how such an intelligent animal might react in absence of instructions. It might not know to unlock a door to escape a burning building—as that's a fact that's learned over time and experience—but a smart animal might have a better chance of finding a way out.

FAQ on intelligent animals

- Gauss