First time with an animal companion and I'm confused

[modicasolis]

I've never played a Ranger or Druid or anything of the sort before but now I'm playing a Spell-less Ranger and I just hit level 4 and got my Animal Companion. Thing is, I don't understand how its attacks work.

I took a small Cat and I see it has listed for its attacks [Bite, 2 Claws]

Does this mean that, at level 4, it already has three attacks that it can make as a full-round action (with each of these attacks at its full BAB)?

What about as a standard action? Could it use either one Bite or two Claw attacks?

What are good feats for it to take? I'm playing a Dual Style switch hitter with Archery and 2-Handed Weapon combat styles.

[Cuup]

Yes, Bite, 2 Claws is its full attack. As a standard action, I believe it can either Bite, or 2 Claws. As a Ranger, your Animal Companion will probably not be up for front-line combat. Your best bet is to give it one task to do, and stack everything into that one task.

The Agile Maneuvers feat coupled with an Improved "Combat Maneuver" Feat would probably serve you well. Armor Proficiency feats are also good because your Animal Companion will have a very small HP pool early on, so getting hit less will be crucial. Weaing armor will only become more beneficial down the line, because you will be able to enchant it once you're rich enough.

[Claxon]

As a standard action it only gets one attack, so either a bite or a claw. It does not get both claws.

[slade867]

Boon Companion is a feat you should take immediately.

[modicasolis]

Well, the spell-less ranger gets his full Ranger level for the Animal Companion so the AC is more potent than the standard Ranger. I was thinking about Weapon Finesse and Power Attack, then getting Armor Proficiency and putting money aside for better gear.

We're playing in a modified world based on Dragon Age so enchantments are a bit harder to come by. We also get max hit points per level so his HP ain't too bad right now.

[dreadfury]

Make sure you have handle animal maxed out so uou dont have to roll to order it around. Pick up boon companion. Give it weapon finesse so it can actually hit things. Make sure you optimize its tricks too. Flank is a must have. So is attack all. Then work your cash up to an amulet of holy fists. Its the best 20k you can spend on that animal. Dont forget mithril chain barding for extra ac.

[Emmit Svenson]

modicasolis wrote:

We're playing in a modified world based on Dragon Age so enchantments are a bit harder to come by.

In that case, don’t worry about the cat. You’re going to want to replace it with a Mabari as soon as possible. :)

(Enchantment? Enchantment!)

[modicasolis]

I don't understand this business with Tricks. It seems like a pretty dumb system. I understand the idea behind it for some of them, for some of the specialized ones like Flank or whatever, but it seems awfully...unnecessary.

What Tricks are important?

EDIT: Also, what slots can animals use for equipment?

[modicasolis]

Any other suggestions?

[VRMH]

modicasolis wrote:

Also, what slots can animals use for equipment?

Depends on the animal.

[modicasolis]

Ah, I see. So what are good recommendations for gear to equip?

Mithril Chain Shirt, I imagine?
Belt of Dexterity
Agile Amulet of Mighty Fists (or some equivalent)

???

[RuyanVe]

Most important: Take the trick "attack" twice so it attacks anything you'll want it to attack.

I'd also go with the General Purpose Combat Training described in the skill section under Handle Animal.

You're cat gets the standard six tricks it can handle (sorry for the pun) due its Int 2, in addition (for being an animal companion) it gets additional tricks it can learn.
Thus, you'd take the package mentioned above and in addition the attack trick (again) as it gets to pick an additional trick right at level 1 (see table Animal Companion Base Statistics in the druid section).

Everything else is in the table (at least the basics--dunno about the Animal Archive book); keep in mind that what numbers you find there are the total of it... I've had a rather ridiculous discussion with one of my players the other day where he wanted to persuade me that NA bonus put in the table is added each level...

While I share you're feeling about some of it being "unnecessary" that's how it's handled RAW.

Feats for your AC:
Depending on how fast you close in for melee building off of the cat's trip ability might be useful. It's not so good for you if you're primarily attacking from range since a prone opponent gets +4 AC vs ranged attacks.
Toughness is always good. Improved Initiative, Armor Proficiency (light), Dodge, Mobility are all good for building a flank buddy.

Also:

Cuup wrote:

As a standard action, I believe it can either Bite, or 2 Claws.

As standard action it can either bite or attack with 1 claw.

Thanks for the link, VRMH! Didn't know this table exists. Now to plan my next druid...

Your items are a good starting point, modicasolis.

Ruyan.

[magnuskn]

Must...not...make...dirty...joke...about...thread...title.

[modicasolis]

I'm not primarily ranged. I generally start off with ranged attacks until the enemy is in melee range and ten move in and strike. My melee damage is FAR superior to my ranged damage, so I was going to build off the cat's ability to Trip.

Don't know what to do to boost that, though, since Weapon Finesse already gives me Dex to my CMB for Trip