Need Advice on Tengu Hunter Companion

[Matt2VK]

I am looking at building a Tengu Hunter with some type of bird like companion for a pet.

Problem -
*Everything I've read on the forums seem to so Don't Do It.

*I'm wondering if it is possible to make a bird type companion (for my Tengu) and still be effective/useful.

*How would I go about it?

*Should I completely scrap my idea of a Tengu with a bird type companion?

Character & Companion would have to be PFS legal.

- Have never run a Companion before.

[Some Other Guy]

Or, you could play the character how you want and not worry about random people's optimization advice?

[DocShock]

Is the Roc not PFS legal? That's a monster bird, and one of the most powerful options for a companion. It's in bestiary 1.

Edit: Yeah, looks like the roc is legal. It's listed under the Bestiary 1 allowed animal companions. That will make for a powerful bird companion, so just go for that. You can even ride him later if you're light enough.

Pathfinder Society Additional Resources wrote:

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary

Animal Companions: ankylosaurus, aurochs, brachiosaurus, dire bat, dire rat, dolphin, elasmosaurus, electric eel, elephant/mastodon, frog, goblin dog, hyena, monitor lizard, moray eel, octopus, orca, pteranodon, rhinoceros, roc, squid, stegosaurus, triceratops, and tyrannosaurus;

[Shane LeRose]

Some Other Guy wrote:

Or, you could play the character how you want and not worry about random people's optimization advice?

Where's the fun in that? ;)

Roc. Yeah, it's just that good. Don't know who told you not to go avian, but that is an excellent option. No need to worry about optimization. Also, you could go verminous hunter and pick mantis/ bee/wasp/or some other flying bug. Ultimately, if you make a character you have fun with you'll be successful.

[Drogos]

I'd go Roc or play through the Path of Perfection series and get an Axe Beak companion. Or We Be Goblins Too and have an Owlbear. One of those three options.

[Imbicatus]

Hunters have the full druid list, they don't need the boon to have an Axe Beak.

[Drogos]

I didn't realize that, Imbicatus. Thanks!

[Dafydd]

Depending on your views on evolution, there are also dinosaurs.

Velociraptor is very bird like, it is a raptor after all...

Could also do Giant Vulture, Roc, Axe Beak or play the We Be Goblins for an Owlbear.

My vote is the dino if you do not need it to fly, Roc if you do want flight.

You could also pick up a familiar that flies via the Eagle Domain (Divine Hunter archetype, Eagle Domain -> Hawk Familiar). This is the plan I am going with (Tengu Divine Hunter of Erastil with Velociraptor and soon to have a Hawk)

[Matt2VK]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Was hoping to following this thread through the day but work got a bit crazy.

I really wanted to go with something like a Eagle for the bird type motif. (The small bird type companions is what I've heard that is bad). I will take a look at the Roc and the Divine Hunter archetype Eagle Domain -> hawk familiar like Dafydd has suggested.

Thanks for all the feedback.

[Ms. Pleiades]

Roc is quite an animal companion. I watched one roc and their level 3 hunter master absolutely wreck two ghouls on their own. The Roc has surprisingly high AC thanks to all their dexterity.

[Drogos]

The smaller eagle is certainly not the strongest possible companion, but it still gets 3 attacks and a good flight speed. It's certainly an ok option, just not mechanically superior compared to the Roc or Tiger. Obviously go with what you want. It's not necessary to make all the strongest possible choices in PFS to contribute.

[Kryzbyn]

Why does the natural armor go down on advancement? Or is that a further increase of +3?

SRD wrote:

Roc Companions

Starting Statistics: Size Medium; AC +5 natural armor; Speed 20 ft., fly 80 ft.; Attack 2 talons (1d4), bite (1d6); Ability Scores Str 12, Dex 19, Con 9, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 11; Special Qualities low-light vision.

7th-Level Advancement: Size Large; AC +3 natural armor; Attack 2 talons (1d6 plus grab), bite (1d8); Ability Scores Str +8, Dex –2, Con +4.

[Drogos]

It's a further increase.

[Kawkawzuz 'Bloodbeak' Screegaw]

I'm playing a Tengu Hunter, with an owlbear allowed by the 'We Be Goblins Too' boon.

I've only had one outing, but it was fun to see the reaction to putting down the figure (a medium-sized chick from Alternative Armies, IIRC), and the wide berth it was given, out of proportion to its actual stats.

Do remember that it has a penalty to taking orders, which cancels out the benefits of their bond, but that is a price I'm willing to pay for the violently comedic opportunities it opens up.

I have a table of suggested 'uncontrolled' actions, drawn up by one of the forumgoers here, for the owlbear pet found in Age of Worms. Most ensure people will regret having us visit, when they find he's eaten the drapes or took a crap in their umbrella stand.

After a previous pair of PCs who try to talk their way out of trouble, it's a nice change to play something as sociopathic as a carnivorous birdman who breaks legs for the Varisian mafia. Being able to play 'Good Bird, Bad Bird' with a deranged hooting monster only adds to the fun.