I've played a druid before with a tiger as an animal companion and liked the character, I was wondering if any one had any advice I'd like to play a druid that can play behind the animal companion but I don't want to play a large cat again. I liked the look of both the crocodile and the ape but have limitations, the Croc only one big attack per turn (and would stand out in towns).
I'm looking for animal companion to be far superior in combat than the druid both ac and damage dealing.
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There is a second level druid spell called Carry Companion. It turns you AC into a small stone statue that you can return to normal by touching it, putting on the ground (free action drop??) or using a command word. It is permanent until activated and works like flesh to stone.
Its great for carrying around companions that look out of place and still having them close at hand when needed.
As for options for AC I am partial to the Snake, Constrictor esp. after 4th level. Its a large AC at that point, but with narrow frame it can easily fit in a 5' wide corridor. It only has one attack but it has grab and constrict and a very good Str. It has a 24 str at 4th level meaning it hits for 1d4 + 10 dmg w/ reach (since large snakes have reach). It also has grab and constrict meaning if it grapples something it gets an additional 1d4 + 7 dmg.
I've never played a bard before as I've normal played a combat orientated character but I fancy a change, does any one have any advice on getting the best out of a bard. I understand that they stay out of combat and help other party members but other than that how do I get the best out of the class, all help gratefully received.
bards are a very flexible class... in order to "get the best out of the class" you have to decide what kind of bard you want to be. do you want to be purely support, do you want to be a melee combatant, do you want to be ranged guy, do you want to be the party's 'face', do you want to be the 'skill monkey'... and really you can usually be decent at more than one (it just depends on how specialized you want to be).
given your obvious like for animal companions you could build something like this (assuming a 20 point buy):
human, bard [animal speaker]
Str 14; Dex 16 (14+2race); Con 13; Int 12; Wis 10; Cha 14
racial alternatives: ancestral arms, jungle affinity
traits: beast bond (handle animal=class skill +1), temple guard (+1 to hit on AoOs with polearms)
skills: max ranks in- acrobatics, handle animal, know[nature], perception, stealth; 1 rank/2 levels- perform[act], perform[oratory]; for extra 1 rank/level- put 1 rank in each knowledge then pick up another perform
feats:
race- EWP[fauchard]
1- combat reflexes
3- nature soul
5- animal ally
7- boon companion
9+ whatever you want
this would be a nature oriented bard that adds to combat, buffs the whole party, and provides good skill support (with bardic knowledge 1 rank is enough to make you pretty decent, and versatile performance will give you the face skills). in combat you can use your standard actions to buff with performance and spells, and position yourself to add to combat with attacks of opportunity. at 5th level you gain an animal companion (at level -3 until 7th) which will boost your combat contribution. your party buffs will not only benefit your teammates but increase your companions effectiveness and make your AoOs better.