Making a 15 point caster druid and would like some feedback on 'Eye for Talent'

[WeatheringStorm]

Hey all.

Am currently making a caster druid for a new campaign, starting at lvl 1.

It's a 15 point buy Menhir Savant and for background reasons I have a pet - so no domain.

I'm wondering if Eye for Talent is worth giving up the extra feat? My pet will be the "typical" big cat and I'll mostly use spells for AC buffing, battefield control and SNA.

I can't decide if 'Eye for talent' is worth it (basically would be +1/+1) or I should stick to buffing my casting through feats.

Any opinions on it is most welcome. :)

[Ascalaphus]

I don't see Eye for Talent used all that much, but when I do it's often to have an animal start at Intelligence 3 from the start instead of when it reaches its 4th HD.

The reason for that is that only at 3+ Int can animals pick from the whole feat list, and there are some feat chains that are neat for animals. But if you have to wait until the animal gets 4HD, it'll be a long wait. If you start at Int 3 at HD 1, that's a HD 1 and HD 3 feat more that you can use.

[avr]

Do you want feats beyond the basic animal companion ones on your big cat? If so, Eye for Talent can give it 4 int from the start. I think this also allows extra tricks. You can fit in Spell Focus (evocation or transmutation) & such feats without the level 1 human feat easily.

On the other hand if you want Augment Summoning you probably want it by level 3 and Improved Initiative with it. So it depends what your top priority is.

[WeatheringStorm]

I was planning on taking the first ability score bonus at 4HD into Int, I couldn't see any Feats the animal really needed outside the designated list for ACs. Seemed a bit of a 'waste' to put 2 points into Int at the start. Are there any hidden gems I am missing Feat-wise?

And yeah @avr that's basically the dilemma, either Imp Initiative or Spirit's Gift (not sure which I want yet) would be pushed back to lvl 7, since the lvl 5 Feat is locked for a druid and I don't know if +2 strength is worth that.

[Melkiador]

The extra traits feat can be pretty good for an animal companion.

[avr]

Since you'd be summoning as a 1 round action improved initiative is more than usually useful - you'd want to get your first summon out there before you could get attacked. Summoning tends to eat feats, it doesn't pay to go halfway on it. You can dabble in more things if you don't do down that path.

If you don't have any particular plans for it then there's no point getting eye for talent to Int, and I don't think it's worth delaying plans you do have to get +2 Str on the animal companion.

Just by way of what you might do with that first feat on the tiger - Dirty Fighting leading to combat maneuvers, or a teamwork feat (Callous Casting if you spend a feat there, or whatever someone else in the party is willing to work with), or Step Up, or Improved Unarmed Strike aiming for some style feat.

[BadBird]

Developing intimidation on a Companion is a useful way to go, since it reduces both saves and attack. Dazzling Display works well for a fear-bomb, and it's a nice way to get a companion making a real difference without just rushing into the fray and maybe eating a full attack. Starting with Weapon Focus and Intimidating Prowess and then grabbing Dazzling Display at 5 works with normal feat/INT progression.

[Ascalaphus]

Some of the nasty things you can do with an AC with Int 3:

* Dirty Fighting -> Improved Grapple/Trip, eventually the Greater variants.
* Improved Unarmed Strike -> Dragon Style so that your tiger has a much easier time pouncing
* Extra Traits -> Armor Expert trait + Mithral Breastplate = tiger with AC +6 armor without penalties for lacking proficiency.

[WeatheringStorm]

Thanks for the input all. I think I'll keep the feat and take it from there.

I still plan on taking Int as the first point and will try out the intimidate route, really like that notion. Thank you, all!