"Pets" ability scores, different levels of point buy?

[Rylar]

Does an animal companions (or any other pet's) ability score change if using different levels of point buy (or rolling, or whatever)?

Using the wolf as an example, listed in the druid rules:
Ability Scores Str 13, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6;

Compare this to a 15 point build and it is pretty average in strength and will be a strong addition to a party. Even stronger (perhaps op) if you go down to a 10 point build.

In contrast, if you are running a higher powered campaign, say 25-30 points. The pets become a fairly weak addition to the game.

Is this how it works, or am I missing something?

[blahpers]

Nope. Animal companion stats are fixed, save for the ability score bonuses they get as the druid gains levels.

[Rylar]

Thanks.

So, what are these stats based off of? Elite array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8)? or standard array (13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8)

What do you think the racial modifiers are for a wolf?

[ShadowcatX]

Those stats aren't "based" off any array, they're just the wolf's stats. If you're asking how the wolf is constructed, its even scores are a 10 and its odd scores are an 11 (and intelligence is automatically set at 2 because of being an animal).

[blahpers]

Let's see.

Wolf companion:
Ability Scores Str 13, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6

So, that'd be +2, +4, +4, -8 (fixed to 2), +2, -4.

For comparison, wolf bestiary entry:
Ability Scores Str 13, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6

Well, hey, for once they actually match up.

[Rylar]

oh, so only if it has class levels will it have an array. So a wolf gets +2/+4/+4/-8/+2/-4 ?

[ShadowcatX]

Not necessarily, elite monsters (and really anything the DM wants) can get the elite ability array, but monsters aren't drawn up with one unless they have class levels.

[Rylar]

Let's say I'm a level 12 druid pack master. I run with 2 wolf companions. I've taken boon companion twice and applied it to each of my companions trying to keep them both close to my level. At 12 they are equivalent to 10 and 10. Instead of having them become fall further and further behind, I want to awaken one and have it become my cohort. The remaining companion will then get put back to full power and the other levels will get a new companion that will be useful out of combat (like a hawk to scout with or something).

How will stats change once I awaken my companion?
Will it still be large?
Will it lose the feats it has gained while traveling with me?
What about the ability points it has gained?
What about class levels, it says that awakened animals gain class levels, but how many? Her effective character level will be 10 via my leadership score.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/a/awaken

[Howie23]

Theoretically speaking, SRD creatures are based on the 11,11,11,10,10,10 array, with hit dice and racial modifications. Since the racial modifications contain a lot of creative license, in practice, they have whatever the designer wants them to have to reflect the creature she envisions. To what degree Paizo continued this, I'm not sure.

The observation that ACs and purchased creatures are relatively stronger at lower point buys for PCs is a good one, and interesting. It probably contributes to the idea that mundane mounts due too easily. On the other hand, if you've ever read Andy of the battle scenes from Le Morte d'Arthur, mounts dying and being replaced is a common event, at least as envisioned by the author; presumably, this was based somewhat on 15th century battle experience.

But I digress.