Owlbear Animal Companion


Pathfinder Society

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Grand Lodge 2/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

I... didn't expect this topic to come back up.

I love the owlbear boon. Please please PLEASE don't stop making awesome boons like that.

Shadow Lodge 3/5

John Compton wrote:
Mike and I had actually discussed issuing a clarification about this ruling later this week, noting that it did apply to PFS and would lead to a modification of the Additional Resources page; however, in light of Name Violation's observations, perhaps we should reconsider.

Hmmm, given that Aasimar and Elves already have this I don't know if opening it up to Half-Elves is going to break the game. lol I like that they clarified the rule and it makes sense, both thematically and mechanically. IMHO anyway. :-P

Grand Lodge

Revisiting the favored class options isn't the answer. A single clause in the druid Animal companion feature culled from the Boon Companion feat would fix this.

Quote:
Your maximum effective druid level can never exceed your character level.

Dark Archive

Finlanderboy wrote:

One man's cheese is another man's pizza topping.

I had someone critize me for making a blaster sorcerer at level that did 4d4+8 damage with burning hands at level 1.

That persons logic was. Arcane casters NEED to be week a level 1. It is cheese to make them powerfull.

When I played at Gen Con I saw several games where new people playing pregens were left watching the game while others did everything.

After I saw this I made an effort to have my character supprot theirs in future games. Either through role playing or in combat.

Building power characters is often like evolution. When you play in a game with pwoerful characters those people feel they need to step it up, oR even go overboard. Look at thistledown's post. I think this proves it.

My FIRST PFS games afterwards the GMs would brag about killing players. One told the others that they would kill two of the other players characters and did so in a month. Now I feel I need to build power characters to protect from that.

Aww thisteldown I wanna play wityh those guys too =(

you should come to one of the 3 places we frequent.

#thisisntevenmyfinalform

Dark Archive

Christopher Donnangelo wrote:

Revisiting the favored class options isn't the answer. A single clause in the druid Animal companion feature culled from the Boon Companion feat would fix this.

Quote:
Your maximum effective druid level can never exceed your character level.

except there are things that let you do that intentionally (huntmaster feat).

that wouldn't help as much as cause more problems

Shadow Lodge 3/5

Heh, I'm not sure if having a higher level AC than you is really a huge deal. Compare that to a Zen Archer and yeah....not really a big deal. :-P There are plenty of things in the game that are OP, and honestly I'm not overly concerned by them since they'll always be there and people will always find new ones. I personally like the updated FAQ ruling because it adds flavor and options, not because I'm envisioning having a Half-Elf (instead of say an Elf or Aasimar) Oracle. lol

Liberty's Edge

Jiggy wrote:
I'm disappointed to learn that it doesn't become large. I was seriously considering a druid/musket master multiclass for owlbear cavalry. But apparently I'd have to be a halfling or gnome for that. Laaaaaame.

As a beast rider cavalier you can make your animal companion/mount large at level 7 so it's rideable. As a druid though you're out of luck. Which makes my bear shaman druid very sad.

Grand Lodge 4/5

Adam Mogyorodi wrote:
Matthew Morris wrote:
Adam Mogyorodi wrote:
Of course the easy interpretation here is that when you paragon surge Improved Eldritch Heritage for the Arcane Bloodline, you get the same spells that you always get. Write them down on your character sheet, and that's what you will get every time you cast it. Barring retraining, of course.
That skirts close to 'screwing with the player' to some, Adam. (Me included). He's using resources and a corner case (must be half elf) to pull the trick off.

So you believe then that one of the intents of paragon surge is to be able to freely cast any spell on the wizard/sorcerer spell list as an oracle? Or is it more reasonable to assume that a choice that is made stays made.

I would use the same interpretation for an arcane sorcerer who uses a robe of arcane heritage. If a level 8 arcane sorcerer puts one on, he can choose a spell to learn from the level 9 arcane ability. Do you think it is reasonable to assume that he could take off the robe, put it back on, and make use of a different spell?

So, does that mean that you also do the same when Resist Energy or Protection from Energy are cast? Whatever energy type you choose the first time is the only energy type you can ever choose?

Dark Archive 4/5

kinevon wrote:
Adam Mogyorodi wrote:
I would use the same interpretation for an arcane sorcerer who uses a robe of arcane heritage. If a level 8 arcane sorcerer puts one on, he can choose a spell to learn from the level 9 arcane ability. Do you think it is reasonable to assume that he could take off the robe, put it back on, and make use of a different spell?
So, does that mean that you also do the same when Resist Energy or Protection from Energy are cast? Whatever energy type you choose the first time is the only energy type you can ever choose?

Wow. You've really opened my eyes with that. That's a completely valid and totally not hyperbolic comparison of two completely analogous spells.

Sovereign Court 5/5 RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

Adam Mogyorodi wrote:
Name Violation wrote:
I've seen plenty of furious finishing barbarian fighters, slumber hex witches, and smart wizards one shot boss battles. should those things get banned?
I think at least one of these is an eligible candidate.

I must be the worst witch player in the world. Ksenia's had slumber since first level and I've never 'broke' an encounter with it. Now if there's ever a mythic boon (please, no.) I can see it being broken...

2/5

Name Violation wrote:
also ring of revelation (and the armor that does the same thing) add +1 if you have the revelation (BOTH make this a 19th level companion at 8)

I can't actually find any support for this in the rules. Do you have a quote from a rulebook or faq?

If Name Violation is just sitting back and letting folks do their thing and stepping up if it's called for, good on him. We've folks out my way that tend to do the same thing.

We also have folks out my way that brag about completing a scenario while the rest of the party didn't do anything, so I'm growing wary of folks that bend the rules a bit too far.

Liberty's Edge 2/5

Matthew Morris wrote:
Adam Mogyorodi wrote:
Name Violation wrote:
I've seen plenty of furious finishing barbarian fighters, slumber hex witches, and smart wizards one shot boss battles. should those things get banned?
I think at least one of these is an eligible candidate.
I must be the worst witch player in the world. Ksenia's had slumber since first level and I've never 'broke' an encounter with it. Now if there's ever a mythic boon (please, no.) I can see it being broken...

Yea, Slumber hexes are good for about the first 4-5 levels. Or until you fight an elf, half-elf, ooze, plant, construct, caster, undead, or any other multitudes of enemies you face after tier 1-5.

But back to the topic. I really do hope to see more boons introducing exotic and unique animal companion boons, or more intelligent item boons, Gamin the Misforged is a fun and unique weapon.

5/5 *

Skaldi the Tallest wrote:
Name Violation wrote:
also ring of revelation (and the armor that does the same thing) add +1 if you have the revelation (BOTH make this a 19th level companion at 8)
I can't actually find any support for this in the rules. Do you have a quote from a rulebook or faq?

Rings of revelation only add uses/day, and say nothing about increasing effective oracle level.

Grand Lodge 2/5 RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

John Compton wrote:
Jiggy wrote:

If your goal is to disallow the higher-than-your-level AniComp, then I wonder if it might be better to ban that specific alternate FCB altogether and then still go ahead and let half-elves get the rest of the elf and human stuff (and open up Racial Heritage to the ARG, as well, if that was the plan). That'd open more doors than it closes, I think.

That is, if shutting down the boosted animal companion is the goal.

Finding workarounds to acquire extraordinarily powerful effects is a tradition in roleplaying games, but there are certainly times when it seems more distasteful than laudable. The proposed animal companion combo is distasteful in this way. Opening up more avenues to enable that distastefulness is likewise distasteful, even though most of the options made available through such a decision would actually be healthy, productive, and rewarding.

That's why I was suggesting you could ban the thing(s) that allow the boosted AC but still open up other stuff. Doesn't that give the best of both worlds? Or am I misunderstanding you?

Dark Archive

Skaldi the Tallest wrote:
Name Violation wrote:
also ring of revelation (and the armor that does the same thing) add +1 if you have the revelation (BOTH make this a 19th level companion at 8)

I can't actually find any support for this in the rules. Do you have a quote from a rulebook or faq?

If Name Violation is just sitting back and letting folks do their thing and stepping up if it's called for, good on him. We've folks out my way that tend to do the same thing.

misread that item. doesnt work like i thought. sorry.

i tend to play flagbearer bards or healers of some sort (oracle of life), cover skill checks, utility and protection buffs. if i need to attack things, we're doomed.

The Exchange 2/5

Skaldi the Tallest wrote:
Name Violation wrote:
also ring of revelation (and the armor that does the same thing) add +1 if you have the revelation (BOTH make this a 19th level companion at 8)

I can't actually find any support for this in the rules. Do you have a quote from a rulebook or faq?

If Name Violation is just sitting back and letting folks do their thing and stepping up if it's called for, good on him. We've folks out my way that tend to do the same thing.

We also have folks out my way that brag about completing a scenario while the rest of the party didn't do anything, so I'm growing wary of folks that bend the rules a bit too far.

It doesn't. It adds one additional use per day, not levels.

Grand Lodge

Name Violation wrote:


except there are things that let you do that intentionally (huntmaster feat).

that wouldn't help as much as cause more problems

You are forgetting the "specific trumps general" rule.

EXAMPLE: The rules in the combat section say you add your Strength modifier to your BAB and d20 roll. The feat Weapon Finesse says you add your Dexterity modifier with a set of weapons. The specific text of the feat allows you to break a general rule. By capping effective druid level at character level, designers will have to include text that makes the Huntmaster (for example) explicitly breaking that general rule. Animal Companions would follow the default power curve unless specifically allowed.

Silver Crusade 4/5 5/55/55/5 RPG Superstar 2013 Top 8

Christopher Donnangelo wrote:
By capping effective druid level at character level, designers will have to include text that makes the Huntmaster (for example) explicitly breaking that general rule. Animal Companions would follow the default power curve unless specifically allowed.

Which means that any rules item in a softcover book would never function that way (even if that was the original intent) because books only receive errata when they are reprinted, and to date only one softcover book has ever been reprinted (Adventurer's Armory).

Dark Archive 4/5

Luckily Huntmaster is in the ARG, which is a hardcover. I would love to see some reprinting that removes the threat of a jacked up animal companion.


Hey. Spoiler alerts I suppose.

But which AP lets you get this Owlbear-companion-boon? It sounds fun, and I might think of running my group through it if I can.

5/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Zombie Boots wrote:

Hey. Spoiler alerts I suppose.

But which AP lets you get this Owlbear-companion-boon? It sounds fun, and I might think of running my group through it if I can.

Spoiler:
None of them :]
The Exchange 5/5 RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

Generally speaking, Zombie-boots, the campaign discourages that sort of question ("What scenario opens early access to a wand of lightning before the Fame score necessary to just buy it?") Sorry.


Chris Mortika wrote:
Generally speaking, Zombie-boots, the campaign discourages that sort of question ("What scenario opens early access to a wand of lightning before the Fame score necessary to just buy it?") Sorry.

Oh alright.

But I think you misunderstand where I'm coming from. I wasn't looking for items for myself, or for "epic-loots", if that is how I came off. I'm the DM and my player's would snap up neat opportunities like that- And that's pretty much all there is to it.
I thought it sounded "neat."

Liberty's Edge 2/5

Zombie Boots wrote:

Hey. Spoiler alerts I suppose.

But which AP lets you get this Owlbear-companion-boon? It sounds fun, and I might think of running my group through it if I can.

An owlbear is a Vanity item pretty much in my opinion. Have fun!

Spoiler:
We Be Goblins Too!

Dark Archive 4/5

The module that includes the boon is mentioned in this thread.

EDIT: In fact, it's mentioned in the post by the ninja right above me.

5/5

Bunthazar wrote:

I... didn't expect this topic to come back up.

I love the owlbear boon. Please please PLEASE don't stop making awesome boons like that.

K :-)

Paizo Employee 4/5 Developer

Kyle Baird wrote:
Bunthazar wrote:

I... didn't expect this topic to come back up.

I love the owlbear boon. Please please PLEASE don't stop making awesome boons like that.

K :-)

Aw, now you've done it. Now Kyle's going to start sending me emails asking me a) if he can help design another Chronicle sheet and b) if he can include a boon for a hippocampus, manticore, and/or sabertooth pegasus.

UPDATE: No, Kyle. We're not putting a sabertooth pegasus boon on #5–08.

4/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.
John Compton wrote:
Kyle Baird wrote:
Bunthazar wrote:

I... didn't expect this topic to come back up.

I love the owlbear boon. Please please PLEASE don't stop making awesome boons like that.

K :-)

Aw, now you've done it. Now Kyle's going to start sending me emails asking me a) if he can help design another Chronicle sheet and b) if he can include a boon for a hippocampus, manticore, and/or sabertooth pegasus.

UPDATE: No, Kyle. We're not putting a sabertooth pegasus boon on #5–08.

You've only seen phase one of his plan. Firat he lulls you in with the awesome companions. Then, his next scenario will have a special hazard "Dirge of the Darklands" that automatically transforms all Animal Companion owlbears, hippocampi, manticores, and sabertooth pegasi into monstrous gugs intent on the party's death. Even if you win, you've still killed your lovable closest companion and cannot get another special companion from the boon, so the tears will flow (the tears must flow!).

Grand Lodge 4/5

Now I really, really want a sabertooth pegasus. How's the weight distribution on that thing?

Grand Lodge 4/5

Andrei Buters wrote:
Now I really, really want a sabertooth pegasus. How's the weight distribution on that thing?

It can't fly, those saberteeth weight too much.

What I really want for an AC would be a

Spoiler:
pugwampi

Shadow Lodge 4/5

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens Subscriber

The issue here is not favored class bonuses. The issue is that Animal Ally is worded insanely. It scales with class levels and it stacks with class levels? Seriously?

I would rule in 100% of circumstances that it does not let you double-dip the advancement whatsoever. You can be a 5th level fighter, 5th level druid, and your pet will be a 7th level Animal Companion - 10th level with Boon Companion, 11th if you're a Huntmaster. It's not a 12th level Animal Companion, no matter how you slice it.

4/5 *

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Lost Omens Subscriber
Mark Seifter wrote:
John Compton wrote:
Kyle Baird wrote:
Bunthazar wrote:

I... didn't expect this topic to come back up.

I love the owlbear boon. Please please PLEASE don't stop making awesome boons like that.

K :-)

Aw, now you've done it. Now Kyle's going to start sending me emails asking me a) if he can help design another Chronicle sheet and b) if he can include a boon for a hippocampus, manticore, and/or sabertooth pegasus.

UPDATE: No, Kyle. We're not putting a sabertooth pegasus boon on #5–08.

You've only seen phase one of his plan. Firat he lulls you in with the awesome companions. Then, his next scenario will have a special hazard "Dirge of the Darklands" that automatically transforms all Animal Companion owlbears, hippocampi, manticores, and sabertooth pegasi into monstrous gugs intent on the party's death. Even if you win, you've still killed your lovable closest companion and cannot get another special companion from the boon, so the tears will flow (the tears must flow!).

Bah, no worries.

Baird can be thwarted by hiring a piper who'll get all his ratfolk minions to follow.

Sovereign Court 5/5 RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

4 people marked this as a favorite.
Chris Rathunde wrote:


Bah, no worries.

Baird can be thwarted by hiring a piper who'll get all his ratfolk minions to follow.

Doesn't that require the piper to have Bairdic performance to work?

Dark Archive

kinevon wrote:
Andrei Buters wrote:
Now I really, really want a sabertooth pegasus. How's the weight distribution on that thing?

It can't fly, those saberteeth weight too much.

What I really want for an AC would be a ** spoiler omitted **

IF ANIMAL ALLY worked like the cavalier feat horse master (OR HAD A SPECIAL SAYING SOMETHING), it would still be worth taking, and not "supernerfed". change the prereqs AND VOILA

just saying...

Horse Master (Combat)
You blend horsemanship skills from disparate traditions into a seamless mounted combat technique.
Prerequisite: Expert trainer class feature, Ride 6 ranks.

Benefit: Use your character level to determine your effective druid level for determining the powers and abilities of your mount.

Normal: You use your cavalier level to determine your effective druid level for determining the powers and abilities of your mount.

The Exchange

Okay, so just to confirm how the boon would work specifically with a Beastmaster, check this situation out:

I have a Ranger Beastmaster that plays the module and obtains the owlbear boon. When the ranger played the module, he wasn't level 4 yet, he was level 2. Since the module is intended for characters between level 2 to 4, he was able to play it. So does he have the chronicle sheet applied to his character at level 2 and then when level 4 rolls around, the level where he can obtain an animal companion, the boon activates, granting him access to the owlbear.

Is this the correct thought process on how this would work for a character, such as a Ranger Beastmaster, who doesn't get their animal companion right away?

Paizo Employee 4/5 Developer

foolishpete wrote:

Okay, so just to confirm how the boon would work specifically with a Beastmaster, check this situation out:

I have a Ranger Beastmaster that plays the module and obtains the owlbear boon. When the ranger played the module, he wasn't level 4 yet, he was level 2. Since the module is intended for characters between level 2 to 4, he was able to play it. So does he have the chronicle sheet applied to his character at level 2 and then when level 4 rolls around, the level where he can obtain an animal companion, the boon activates, granting him access to the owlbear.

Is this the correct thought process on how this would work for a character, such as a Ranger Beastmaster, who doesn't get their animal companion right away?

That sounds correct.

Grand Lodge 5/5

Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Society Subscriber

You're actually at an advantage that way.

Compare it to a druid or heavens oracle who get a companion at level 1, they can change theirs at level 2/3/4, except they have to train it fully because they are getting a new companion.

For the ranger it's simply one of the options at level 4 so it comes fully trained because that's the first time you get an animal companion.

Scarab Sages 1/5 5/5 ** Contributor

Small update: for those of you who like your owlbears fun-sized you may want to check out this Kickstarter!

Druidism =/= necromancy I swear

4/5

I'll admit, I went from "Huh, thread necro much?" to "Heh, shameless promotion, though kind of off topic" to, "OMG, I need that mini for GNAAAR!"

Thank you, you're forgiven in my book ;)

Sovereign Court 5/5 RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

can't afford kickstarters right now, but I like that baby Owlbear.

Oh and for nostalgia sake my Owlbear equiped inquisitor turned out to be a dwarf. His owlbear is "Mister Beaky." :-)

Sczarni 5/5 5/55/5 ***

I named mine "Waffles".

The plan is to use her primarily as a mount, and not as a second combatant. Her AC is terrible, and I don't have the gold to spend on appropriate gear for her. Hopefully she won't be targeted much.

But if someone's really getting on my nerves, I have a fragile flask of maple syrup readied as a splash weapon ;-)

5/5 5/55/55/5

Nefreet wrote:


But if someone's really getting on my nerves, I have a fragile flask of maple syrup readied as a splash weapon ;-)

Pheremone arrow

+

Make any piercing ammo an alchemical weapon

+ Sharpstones

= Maple syrup flask.

Scarab Sages

I named mine after my childhood dog....Doc

Spoiler:
5gp to the person to make a Doctor Who reference

Scarab Sages 5/5 5/5 *** Venture-Captain, Netherlands

Matthew Morris wrote:

can't afford kickstarters right now, but I like that baby Owlbear.

Oh and for nostalgia sake my Owlbear equiped inquisitor turned out to be a dwarf. His owlbear is "Mister Beaky." :-)

I am still going to steal your marriage counselor idea :)

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