Look at the Beastmaster Archetype. I think it has a similar effect, but not until level 10 or later.
Other than that I think you have to take the feat.
Greetings,
Does anyone know of non-feat alternatives to the Boon Companion feat? Rangers are feat-starved as it is (compared to fighters), and I was wondering if there was any alternative I might take advantage of to level up my animal companion.
Thanks!
This will not help with PFS, but from what I recall, one of the developers house-ruled the -3 away for rangers in his home campaigns. He said it worked out fairly well.
The various -3s are something I'd have loved to see addressed in Unchained, too! Maybe next time?