AC, level 7 stats, and prereqs...

[DirkSJ]

So an AC Stegosaurus has a base STR of 10 and then grows large and gets +8 STR at level 7. So at level 1 if you choose a Stego you can't take the Power Attack feat as you do not meet the STR req.

At level 7 can you send your favorite long time Stego AC away and call a new one and then give it Power Attack at level 1 since this new Stego has 18 STR?

Rather inconvenient for PFS play as you then lose most of your traits if the above works. I assume you still have to apply the feats/ability increases in order at least so your first two feats must be monster feats.

[DirkSJ]

Anyone?

Is a freshly bonded level 7 Animal Companion built at medium for the first 6 levels? Or is it an animal that always was large from level 1 since the base creature was huge in the wild?

[GeneticDrift]

You can't take PA until 3 HD

This is the total number of feats possessed by an animal companion. Animal companions should select their feats from those listed under Animal Feats. Animal companions can select other feats, although they are unable to utilize some feats (such as Martial Weapon Proficiency). Note that animal companions cannot select a feat with a requirement of base attack bonus +1 until they gain their second feat at 3 Hit Dice.

[DirkSJ]

GeneticDrift wrote:

You can't take PA until 3 HD

This is the total number of feats possessed by an animal companion. Animal companions should select their feats from those listed under Animal Feats. Animal companions can select other feats, although they are unable to utilize some feats (such as Martial Weapon Proficiency). Note that animal companions cannot select a feat with a requirement of base attack bonus +1 until they gain their second feat at 3 Hit Dice.

The issue isnt hd, the issue is str. The AC I am running has a 10 str at medium and does not qualify for pwer atk (req 13 str).

If I dismiss my AC at level 7 and summon a new one is that one assumed to be large for all its life (as it was huge when wild) and thus I can take power attack early on (when it gets 3hd) or is it assumed to progress like one I got at lvl 1 and be medium size and 10 str for the first 6 lvls?

[+5 Toaster]

DirkSJ wrote:

Anyone?

Is a freshly bonded level 7 Animal Companion built at medium for the first 6 levels? Or is it an animal that always was large from level 1 since the base creature was huge in the wild?

either way really, one thing to point out is that when your your animal companion's level is always equal to your effective druid level. The size increase is not a level adjustment.

[DirkSJ]

+5 Toaster wrote:

DirkSJ wrote:

Anyone?

Is a freshly bonded level 7 Animal Companion built at medium for the first 6 levels? Or is it an animal that always was large from level 1 since the base creature was huge in the wild?

either way really, one thing to point out is that when your your animal companion's level is always equal to your effective druid level. The size increase is not a level adjustment.

It can't be either way as it makes a huge difference. The trouble comes in when you dismiss and summon a new one at level 7 and you are trying to spend it's feats.

The one I had since level 1 cannot take power attack until after level 7 because it never had the str for it. So at lvl 7 I dismiss my old one and a new one shows up. If it works just like my old one then nothing changes. I cant take power attack until after level 7. If it was always large then I can take Power Attack early on when it get 1 BAB.

[Chemlak]

Ah, took me a while to understand the question actually being asked.

What the OP wants to know is, if at L7 you summon a new (large) animal companion, is it treated as always having been large? If it was always large, the new companion can have Power Attack selected when he first gets it (at level 7). If it wasn't, then it can't pick up Power Attack until it has 7HD, which won't be until the Druid is 8th level.

My answer is a fairly simple and straightforward yes, it was always large. One of the key features of Pathfinder is simplifying deconstruction of characters/monsters. When creating higher-HD characters, you don't need to do it level by level. If you were creating a brand new 7th level Druid, with a Stegosaurus companion, you would just be creating a Large Stegosaurus, which meets the prerequisites for Power Attack, and thus can have it. I see no reason to penalise an existing character for organically growing compared to a brand new one.

[BigNorseWolf]

Steggy still had to grow up, and didn't have that massive strength at 5 hd.

You could drop 8 grand on a +2 strength ioun stone if the critter has a three int. That and the +1 strength/dex bonus it gets at level 4 will let you qualify.

[DirkSJ]

BigNorseWolf wrote:

Steggy still had to grow up, and didn't have that massive strength at 5 hd.

You could drop 8 grand on a +2 strength ioun stone if the critter has a three int. That and the +1 strength/dex bonus it gets at level 4 will let you qualify.

That's the part that's hard to understand. The Stego I call from the wild has never been medium in it's entire life (Young template would only drop it to large). And wild Stegos do have power attack.

RAW I don't think really discusses it at all. The "get a new companion" rules are very short.

[Shar Tahl]

Each feat slot has a set prerequisite attached to it for when it was attained. If a new companion is gained later, like level 7, it still cannot select power attack with any feat slot from below 7, as all of them do not meed the requirement. To ensure all the perquisite rules are followed, it is best to build the companion from the ground up, starting at level 1 and adding levels and feats until you get to your current level. This is purely for RAW.