Alright, first of all I'd like to say that I'm new to both this forum and generally not too well aquintanced with PF yet. I do however have some experience playing D&D 3.5 for about a year, but just in case I slip and say something that seems odd or/and silly or outrageously stupid, that's probably the reason.
Anyhow, this thread isn't meant as an introduction. Rather, a friend of my current GM is planning a Pathfinder campaign and me and some buddies are joining it, with both me and one of them deciding to contribute with druid buddies. However, I have only ever played sorcerers before and am a bit unsure on what to go for when it comes to druids. I've read some guides of course, and they have been a good help, but I figured I'd ask here for some more specific advice on how to lessen a specific "handicap" of sorts that my character will have; namely racial hit dice.
The race in question is the "Ratatosk" from the "Expedition to the demonweb pits" 3.5 book, and that my GM put together via "savage species". He has since revised is slightly to fit into the PF system so that shouldn't be much of an issue. Basically, the Ratatosk are humanoid-sized squirrel-folk and according to GM would work out as follows in terms of their first few levels:
"Ratatosk:
* Racial hit-dice are Monstrous Humanoid
* Medium sized
* Move 20' Land, 30' Climb or 40' Glide
* Level 1: -2 int; +2 dex; New hit die; +1 natural armor; glide speed 10/5 (fall 5 feet for every 10 feet moved horizontally); acrobatics +8 (to climb); proficient with spears and bows; Darkvision 60 feet; know Sylvan language
* Level 2: +2 con; New hit die; Forest Cover (all attacks have a 20% miss chance so long as the Ratatosk is in a forest); Gains Deflect Arrows as a bonus feat
* Level 3: +2 cha; +2 natural armor; Dive (double damage if jumping down onto a foe while using natural weapons or spears); Bonus Feat (can only be Dodge or Dash)
* Level 4: +2 dex; New hit die; Taunting Curse (Range 120'; Target must have an intelligence score and be able to see and hear the Ratatosk; if target fails Will save, target drops all non-melee equipment held and rushes the Ratatosk, enraged for 1d4+1 rounds and must charge or otherwise attack Ratatosk; save DC is 11 + Ratatosk's CHA bonus; can be used at-will)
LA: +1"
So yeah, that's pretty much what I'll be playing. My character's ability scores at 5th level (starting level for the campaign) stands as follows:
STR: 15
DEX: 19
CON: 17
INT: 14
WIS: 16
CHA: 15
However, what I'm worried about is that because her first druid level will be taken at effective party level 6, her effectiveness will be lacking and she risks falling behind in terms of usefulness. So I was wondering if anyone have any advice on how one can sort of make up for those lacking levels? "Boon companion" might aid my animal buddy and if I'm allowed to take "Practiced spellcaster" from 3.5 I might remedy some spell power, but apart from that I'm kinda lost. So you know, advice would be very much welcome.
... Oh, and on a slightly lesser note; with the above in mind, at what level (if any) would a T-Rex animal companion become a possible choice for my dinosaur-crazy little squirrel girl? I'm guessing it will be very high level, but since the PF animal companion selection (and inexperience with it) confuses me I thought I might as well ask.
Anyhow, thanks for taking the time to read!
T-rex at level 1 druid. No taking penalties anymore, it's just not a t-rex like the monster. It's an animal companion and is completely different.
Oh, that's... interesting. I honestly have no idea how animal choices works in Pathfinder. Not that I really did in 3.5 either but I'll check a bit with my DM what he thinks. Dinos might be a bit limited in access 'cause he told us today that the campaign is set in the darklands (though he's making a few adjustment to the local flora to not murder my Ratatosk's forest based abilities).