Can you please provide some input on best methods and practices to build the wolf companion for a Ranger?
Take the Boon Companion feat ASAP, be a greatsword ranger, flank flank flank
If you can afford the feat, take Boon Companion from Animal Archive. This will bump the power of your companion so that it is at your level rather than level -3.
Building it isn't that complicated. Find the Wolf statistics in the Core Rule Book, pg 54. Apply the level changes from Table 3-8 on pg 52.
Tricks you will want include: Attack, Attack, Down, Come. You need to take Attack twice in order to have it attack some sorts of creatures. Down is to have it break off an attack. If you have Animal Archive, it has a number of additional tricks that can be taught.
The number of tricks you get is (INT * 3) + Bonus Tricks from Table 3-8. When you first get your Animal Companion, it is fully trained. Try not to let it die, fully training a new companion takes a while.
Skill ranks are as listed and can only be taken from a limited number of skills until your animal companion is Int 3 or greater. See "Animal Skill" on pg 53.
Feats are as listed and can only be taken from a limited number of feats until your animal companion is Int 3 or greater. See "Animal Feats" on pg 53.
At 4HD (Ranger level 7 without Boon Companion or 4 if you have this feat) you can raise any one of your companion's abilities. Bumping Int gives you more tricks and allows you to put skill ranks into more skills and choose from a longer list of feats.
You add the Natural Armor Bonus to the creatures natural armor. The Wolf starts with +2 Natural Armor and there is a feat (Improved Natural Armor) that could also modify the results which is why Table 3-8 just gives an adjustment.
You add the Str/Dex bonus to both Strength and Dexterity for your creature. With a Wolf, you would also increase this at 7th level (10th level Ranger if you didn't take Boon Companion).
If you want more advice about Animal Companions, I suggest you read Druid's Log.
Hopefully this answers your questions.
This helps out. My character is already in place and at lvl 4, should achieve level 5 in couple games. So the beginning plan, does look a lot like you said.
boon companion, = AnCo @ lvl 5. bumping the INT score, +1.
I'm already bow & arrow ranger, accompanied by other melee party members. Was thinking about giving the wolf the dodge, mobility, spring attack line of feats. That way it can jump in and out tripping enemies, provoking AoO for my melee buddies.
I'm not going to be able to ride him into battle, or any of the really cool things many like to do with AnCo.
Let me know if there's anything else that is helpful.
You can't get Spring Attack for the wolf right away since it requires BAB +4. You will have to wait until 8th level for that.
Since the Wolf has the Scent ability, you may want the Seek trick to help you find invisible creatures. Track and Aid tricks would allow it to help you track creatures. The Aid trick comes from Animal Archive.
Have fun!
Why can't you ride him into battle? When you reach Druid Level 7, a Wolf becomes Large, so assuming you're Medium, ride away.
Personally with my switch hitter ranger I took Leopard, agile maneuvers and make it a tripping pet to help control the battlefield. It works well at lower levels, my Ranger is only 8th and is able to trip mooks pretty well.
