What is the system for determining Animal companions?

[Super3astard]

I don't get the justification for making a wolf or an ape start medium and go large, but a bear of all things, is only small and becomes medium. Is that just a miss print? Is there a formula for making new animal companions not listed?

[Bob Bob Bob]

Short answer, no.

Long answer, they're all entirely made up by the developers.

Yes, some of them are very weird. Most of them don't match the versions actually found in a bestiary. Yes, some make no sense whatsoever. However, by the rules they are what they are.

[LazarX]

Bob Bob Bob wrote:

Short answer, no.

Long answer, they're all entirely made up by the developers.

Yes, some of them are very weird. Most of them don't match the versions actually found in a bestiary. Yes, some make no sense whatsoever. However, by the rules they are what they are.

No many companions are not the same as their bestiary equivalents. This is for making sure that the choices at first level can be reasonably balanced.

[Claxon]

It's for balance.

All animal companions start as small or medium, never as large.

[Nefreet]

There are two that start as Large.

Spoiler:

Horse and Camel =P

[Weirdo]

It is quite odd, though, that the bear doesn't start medium and go large.

[Claxon]

Nefreet wrote:

There are two that start as Large.

** spoiler omitted **

Damn, you're right. They also don't get any larger though.

[Barathos]

Weirdo wrote:

It is quite odd, though, that the bear doesn't start medium and go large.

It's the size of a black bear, not a brown or polar bear.

[Ascalaphus]

All that's needed is for B5 to add the "brown bear companion" that starts medium and goes large.

I think it would make a lot of people happy. Bears are a popular option among newer players. And also, bear cavalry.

[Barathos]

Ascalaphus wrote:

All that's needed is for B5 to add the "brown bear companion" that starts medium and goes large.

I think it would make a lot of people happy. Bears are a popular option among newer players. And also, bear cavalry.

I already do this in my homegames. Although, I use so many houserules it's disingenuous to call it Pathfinder.

[Milo v3]

You can just use Big Cat stats for larger bears.