Could someone review this animal companion for PFS please? I am confused with a few things, this is for a gunslinger 4/cavalier1 with the boon companion feat, making Paps a level 5 mount. Yes horse is not the most min-maxed animal but it is for the flavor of the character.
Here are my questions
- HP does it get a full HD at level 1? Or the PFS ½ +1
- skills, is it 5 ranks total?
- The attacks, bite vs hooves, the hooves are secondary so they are at a -5 to hit?
- Have I done anything horrible wrong?
- Any advice?
“Paps”
Size: Large
Speed: 50ft (40 in barding)
HP 45 (or 48?)
AC 24 (5 armor, 3 dex, 6 natural)
STR 19, DEX 14, CON 17, INT 3, WIS 12, CHA 6
FORT +7, REF +6, WILL +2
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Attack
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BITE +7 (1D4+4)
2 HOOVES +2 (1D6+4)
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Special Abilities
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LINK
LOWLIGHT VISION
SCENT
EVASION
COMBAT TRAINED
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TRICKS
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-ATTACK
-COME
-DEFEND
-DOWN
-FETCH
-STAY
-TRACK
-WORK
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Skills (5)
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Acrobatics (2 rank)
Perception (2 ranks)
Survival (1 rank)
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Feats
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-STABLE GALLOP
-VALIANT STEED
-TOUGHNESS
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Gear
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MW scalemail armor +4/+4 -2
Military Saddle
Bit and Bridal
Saddle Bags
STR 18, DEX 13, CON 17, INT 2, WIS 12, CHA 6
BAB +3
5 HD (d8)
FORT 4, REF 4, WILL 1,
Natural AC +6 =(Natural Armor +4 Base)+(Natural AC +2 Cavalier)
Str/Dex +1 BONUS
Bonus tricks 2
ABILITY SCORE INCREASE +1
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An Animal Companion gets 4.5hp per HD (round down).
Yes, 5 ranks total.
Yes, hooves are secondary, and as such, they get only half of the Str bonus to damage, so they will hit for 1d6+2.
Dont forget that as a Large creature, a horse will have a -1 Attack and AC due to its size.
Also, you may want to re-read the Handle Animal section on how the Attack trick works. Because you have only taken it one time (it can be taken twice), the horse will have to be pushed if you command it to attack anything other than humanoids, animals, and monstrous humanoids. (There may be one more thing on that list).
I think it should have 42 HP total (4.5x5HD=22 +5 Toughness +15 Con)
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HP is 42 (4.5*5+3*5+5-0.5)
You get 4.5 HP per hit die for companions.
You get 3 HP per hit die for CON.
You get 1 HP per hit die for Toughness.
You round down the remaining 0.5 HP at odd number of hit dice.
As Howie mentioned, it doesn't appear you're taking into account the penalty for wearing armor untrained.
Outside of those, not really seeing anything that jumps out...
Thanks so much everyone will update the sheet
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minor: I see 8 tricks, 3 INT should have 9 tricks min. so you should pick up Attack again like Snig mentioned.
As for the armor, the options are to burn the feats on the med armor prof (you should already have light armor prof from cavalier). But it may just be better (and more economical) to get MWK chain shirt barding instead.
I actually have the beast rider archetype that gives med armor, forgot to mention it.
Thanks for the catch will put that missing skill rank up.
And look into chain shirt ;-)
If you're combat trained the hooves are no longer secondary.
Awesome
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A trick to consider with critter barding.
If The ACP is 0 and you're not caster, there's no attack penalty to the barding even if you're not proficient.
MW studded leather or mithral chain barding, and mithral Kiko barding can be worn without penalty. If you want to go balistic you can get mithril breastplate with the comfort ability
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If you're combat trained the hooves are no longer secondary.This is not true. What you are thinking of is the Beastiary entry for Horse. Animal companion horses only use the rules for animal companion horses only. They don't use any of the Beastiary Horse entry rules.
So the horse you buy off the lot is a better combatant than an animal companion? No. The animal companion specifically references combat training, so its on the animal companion as well as the bestiary version.
It definitely has it from its level, if not its training
Horse
Starting Statistics: Size Large; Speed 50 ft.; AC +4 natural armor; Attack bite (1d4), 2 hooves* (1d6); Ability Scores Str 16, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6; Special Qualities low-light vision, scent. *This is a secondary natural attack, see Combat for more information on how secondary attacks work.
4th-Level Advancement: Ability Scores Str +2, Con +2; Special Qualities combat trained (see the Handle Animal skill).
Combat Training (DC 20): An animal trained to bear a rider into combat knows the tricks attack, come, defend, down, guard, and heel. Training an animal for combat riding takes 6 weeks. You may also “upgrade” an animal trained for riding to one trained for combat by spending 3 weeks and making a successful DC 20 Handle Animal check. The new general purpose and tricks completely replace the animal's previous purpose and any tricks it once knew. Many horses and riding dogs are trained in this way.
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So the horse you buy off the lot is a better combatant than an animal companion?
Depends on how much you spend on the horse that came off the lot, and how good of a Cavalier/Druid/Ranger you are. In some cases, yes, the one off the lot will be better.
However, I am not disagreeing with you, I think we have just been looking at it the wrong way. The regular Horse entry in the Bestiary has an Ex ability called Docile, which makes its hooves count as Secondary attacks. Docile is not listed anywhere in the Animal Companion entry for the horse, which could be intentional. Could be that it being left off means the horse is obviously NOT Docile, meaning its hooves would be primary.
*shrug*
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Correct, Howie. The mount still only has light armor prof.
A cavalier mount's light armor proficiency is granted as part of the Mount class ability. Beast Rider archetype replaces the Mount class ability with the class ability Exotic Mount. Exotic Mount does not grant the mount light armor proficiency; instead it grants Endurance. A Beast Rider's exotic mount is not proficient with armor unless taking the feats.
What am I missing?
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Correct, Howie. The mount still only has light armor prof.A cavalier mount's light armor proficiency is granted as part of the Mount class ability. Beast Rider archetype replaces the Mount class ability with the class ability Exotic Mount. Exotic Mount does not grant the mount light armor proficiency; instead it grants Endurance. A Beast Rider's exotic mount is not proficient with armor unless taking the feats.
What am I missing?
It was my bad. I caught myself too late to edit my post. I was still thinking the Beast rider kept light, but like you posted its very clear they lose it.
So for the OP, the main recourse for him is to swap out for mithral chain shirt barding. As BNW posted upthread, it has zero ACP so there is no actual penalty to wear it even without proficiency.
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Correct, Howie. The mount still only has light armor prof.So for the OP, the main recourse for him is to swap out for mithral chain shirt barding. As BNW posted upthread, it has zero ACP so there is no actual penalty to wear it even without proficiency.But it is more expensive and a dent in a 5th level's equipment - I believe it is x4 or 4400gp
On the character, make sure you have Handle Animal and ride - Ride will allow you to fight with both hands while the mount fights, but you still need Handle animal to have it fight (unless it is attacked - in which case you might need the Down command to get it to stop if you want to leave).