What counts as additional access to new Animal Companion choices (and some stacking clairifcation)?

[reyyvin]

These questions are geared primarily towards Pathfinder Society.

To start with, I know that most classes that gain animal companions and mounts are limited in their selection. For example, baring a change via archetype, Paladin/Cavalier/Nature Oracle/Mounted Fury Barbarian are limited to a Horse, Camel, dog, or wolf; Ranger is limited to badger, bird, camel, cat (small), dire rat, dog, horse, pony, snake (viper or constrictor), and wolf. Lunar Oracle gets bear, boar, crocadile, tiger, shark, or wolf.

Some archetypes change these lists and are clear about what they now have access to.

I'm also pretty clear on general stacking rules: levels only stack if on same list.

What I'm looking to establish is what counts as additional access. So far, I've found the following:

1) a certain Boon gives you access to the Axe Beak. For those that don't know which one it is, I won't spoil it. This one is pretty clear that it gives additional access.

2) Beast Rider (orc/Half-orc racial feat)

Beast Rider

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"Benefit: Select one of the following creature types: elephant, pteranodon, rhinoceros, stegosaurus, or triceratops. Add this creature type to your list of possible animal companions or mounts. When summoning a creature of the selected type to serve as a mount or companion, treat your effective druid level as if it were two levels higher (to a maximum of your character level). If the creature is large enough for you to ride, it gains the combat training general purpose (see Handle Animal) at no cost."

This one also looks pretty clear. Pick one of these animals and add it to your list. If you have multiple lists, does it add to all of them

3) the Steed feature of the Mammoth Rider PrC:

Mammoth Rider

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"A mammoth rider can choose from among the following animal companions to serve as her loyal steed:

Arsinoitherium, aurochs, baluchitherium, camel, cat (big), elk, horse, mastodon (elephant), megaloceros, rhinoceros, triceratops, wolf, or woolly mammoth (use stats for a mastodon).

A GM might expand this list to include other possible steeds. This steed functions as a druid's animal companion, replacing any animal companion or mount gained from another class. The mammoth rider's class levels stack with other classes that grant an animal companion to determine her effective druid level." (emphasis mine)

ok, this one may have some issues. Everything I've read suggests it counts as additional access (and full stacking) since it REPLACES your existing AC; I've recently been told this may not completely work as such. Two other interpretations I've been given:

a) It does not count as additional access and it only stacks if mount type chosen is on same list. AKA, in most cases, you give up your (druid) level 6+ AC for a (druid) level 1. I don't quite get this, especially considering it is a PrC that can only be taken after level 10.

b) The replacement would loose any class specific bonuses (like Cavalier Mount or Paladin Divine Bond extras).

Does it count as additional access and do you loose other class bonuses?

4) Companion Figurine Feat (Classic Treasures Revisited):

Companion Figurine

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"Benefit: You may select the creature summoned by your figurine of wondrous power as an animal companion or familiar, or as appropriate. The figurine has the standard abilities of a familiar or animal companion of its type, plus additional abilities related to its figurine type (see below)." (rest of feat text omitted, as it isn't relevant).

Does this count as additional access (aka, can a Paladin buy an elephant or Lion figurine and gain full benefits of its Divine Bond) or can you only select a figurine that you already have access to via "counts as" animal type?

5) Animal Ally Feat. This is mostly a stacking question

Animal Ally

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Benefit: You gain an animal companion as if you were a druid of your character level –3 from the following list: badger, bird, camel, cat (small), dire rat, dog, horse, pony, snake (viper), or wolf. If you later gain an animal companion through another source (such as the Animal domain, divine bond, hunter's bond, mount, or nature bond class features), the effective druid level granted by this feat stacks with that granted by other sources. (emphasis mine)

c) For the purposes of the feat, it grants the same list as the Ranger. By the last sentence, does it stack with all other sources, or only sources on the same list?

d) do the levels granting the AC effectively count double? For example, a multiclass paladin takes the feat at level 5 and at level 6, takes a 5th paladin level and gains a Divine Bond. Would the druid level = 5 (paladin) + 3 (feat gives 6-3=3) = 9 for a Horse?

6) If you have both Animal Ally, a class granted AC/mount, and the levels stack, how would the bonus from feats like Boon Companion or Beast Rider add in? Using above example, at level 7, character takes a multiclass level and takes Half-Orc Beast Rider feat. Would they stack like:

e) Paladin (5) + 2 (beast rider +2, max = character level) = 7 + 4 (Animal Ally = character level -3 = 4) = level 11

or

f) Paladin (5) + 4 (animal ally, as above) = 9; beast rider does not add as we've exceeded character level

I am aware that in any case, the ACs effective HD cannot exceed the character's level +1 per:

APG ruling

7) are there other sources that I missed, feats or otherwise, not counting archetypes? I'm not including the Boon that gives access to an "Owlbear," as that boon only modifies the Bear AC and does not give you access to a bear.

Thanks for the help. If this has already been answered, please direct me to the appropriate pages; I've done a lot of searching, by my search-fu is weak.

[reyyvin]

oops, this should be in the Pathfinder Society Forum... can it please be moved there?