I'm running a Treesinger and thinking about the Sapling Treant companion. Given it's "double damage to objects", I'd like to teach it the Maneuver Trick (Sunder) to damage enemies' weapons and items, but I have 2 questions.
1) Can an Animal Companion take Improved Sunder without having 3 intelligence?
2) Does an animal trained to use the Maneuver trick provoke attacks of opportunity to use the trained maneuver (without the appropriate "improved" feat)?
I would say the first is reasonable (though technically not allowed) and that in the second, the companion would provoke without the feat.
I would say the first is reasonable (though technically not allowed) and that in the second, the companion would provoke without the feat.
I've always thought this makes sense, given that ACs can learn Improved Overrun and Improved Bullrush. However, I haven't seen anything official.
Your tree needs a 3 int to take anything not on that short list. However, you're likely giving it Power Attack anyway, so it wouldn't be a huge stretch for its third feat.
I like the image of the little treant wrapping his branches around a full-plated warrior and crumpling him.
I want to give it Power Attack, but I'm very concerned about its armor. It only has an 11 AC until level 3 (without feats).
So go for Improved Natural Armour for its first feat, Power Attack for its second. Buy a few oils of mage armour to slather on there as well.
That's a good idea, given the Intelligence requirement. I think I'll give it the Bodyguard Archetype as well.