Animal Companion for a Sorceror

[Halek]

I can only choose a core animal companion, but i have access to any book for anything else. What would be the best animal companion form from core only and what can i do to make him more effective.

I am interested in boosting his AC without getting proficiency in armor.

Any ideas?

[Just a Mort]

Big Cats (after 7)

Bears aren't too bad too.

The trick is this - if there's no ACP, there are no penalties to take. Fit your animal companion with leather barding without bothering about proficiency, then get mw studded leather.

Mage armor is on sorcerer spell list, and works just dandy for animal companions.

Ask your GM if space will be a constraint in the campaign. If yes, since in core you can't take narrow frame, then just go bear animal companion all the way.

[Letric]

Halek wrote:

I can only choose a core animal companion, but i have access to any book for anything else. What would be the best animal companion form from core only and what can i do to make him more effective.

I am interested in boosting his AC without getting proficiency in armor.

Any ideas?

What do you want your AC to do? Is it a protector, damage dealer, your own personal car?

Depending on those answer you have several options.
Bodyguard and granting +AC to you, or some flying thing if you're small so you can always have flying on, or something you buff and does insane damage.

[Halek]

Letric wrote:

Halek wrote:

I can only choose a core animal companion, but i have access to any book for anything else. What would be the best animal companion form from core only and what can i do to make him more effective.

I am interested in boosting his AC without getting proficiency in armor.

Any ideas?

What do you want your AC to do? Is it a protector, damage dealer, your own personal car?

Depending on those answer you have several options.
Bodyguard and granting +AC to you, or some flying thing if you're small so you can always have flying on, or something you buff and does insane damage.

It really just needs to be able to survive in melee. Our party is me sorcerer bro, a blaster witch, a dervish dance rogue, and a gimped fighter.

I just want a flanking buddy with decent AC. The rogue wants sneak attack and the fighter needs any accuracy he can get.

Right now i am thinking velociraptor for the pounce. I am third level so for its feats im thinking weapon finnesse and weapon focus talons. Snag leather armor and aim for a masterwork studded leather later.

[Rory]

Halek wrote:

I just want a flanking buddy with decent AC. The rogue wants sneak attack and the fighter needs any accuracy he can get.

Mage Armor on your animal companion is all you should need at level 3.

Example: Small bear at level 3 has a 16 DEX. Spend one feat on Dodge and the second feat on Mobility.

23 AC (+4 Mage Armor, +1 Size, +3 DEX, +1 Feat, +4 natural armor) Typical
27 AC (+4 more from Mobility) when moving in position to flank

At level 3, that is a really great AC. It is also really good offense since it would have decent strength and very easily flanking.

[doc roc]

Some kind of goblin creature seems appropriate! :))

[Halek]

I don't know mage armor as a spell. Sorceror here so cant get it quickly.

A raptor with weapon finnesse has better to hit and gets pounce and scent. It also has a 60ft movement speed so it can just go around most enemies reach to get into flanking.

[Rory]

Halek wrote:

I don't know mage armor as a spell. Sorceror here so cant get it quickly.

A raptor with weapon finnesse has better to hit and gets pounce and scent. It also has a 60ft movement speed so it can just go around most enemies reach to get into flanking.

1000gp for a Page of Spell Knowledge (Mage Armor)

Bears are -1 to hit, +2 damage, and +1 feat over raptors at level 3.

Bears are +1 to hit, +4 damage, and +1 feat over raptors at level 4 thru 6. Since you are nearly level 4, this bears (haha!) a lot of merit to know about.

Bears are +2 to hit, +2 damage, and +1 feat over raptors at level 7+, although raptors finally get pounce.

Either one is okay to take. I was just using the bear as an example.

Can someone double check this... talons are secondary attacks, so raptors to hit on a full attack routine with talons (-5 to hit) is severely disadvantaged?

[Halek]

Why are bears getting more feats?

Wouldn't the higher dex make weapon finnesse more attractive for the raptor.

Also i am not seeing anything that makes the talons secondary attacks? Why would they be?

[Rory]

Halek wrote:

Why are bears getting more feats?

Wouldn't the higher dex make weapon finnesse more attractive for the raptor.

Also i am not seeing anything that makes the talons secondary attacks? Why would they be?

Bears don't require Weapon Finesse = +1 more feat mentioned above.

At level 3, bears have a 16 STR and raptors have an 18 DEX (which is the -1 to hit by the bears).

At level 4, bears have a 20 STR and raptors have an 18 DEX (which is the +1 to hit for the bears).

At level 7, raptors drop 2 DEX (which means the bears are +2 to hit relatively). At this level, Weapon Finesse doesn't help over strength anymore, so you can free up that feat.

Found the chart. Talons are primaries, so that won't be an issue for you. Yay!

*******************************************

Natural Attacks by Size
Natural Attack
Base Damage by Size*
Damage Type Attack Type
Fine Dim. Tiny Small Medium Large Huge Garg. Col.
Bite 1 1d2 1d3 1d4 1d6 1d8 2d6 2d8 4d6 B/S/P Primary
Claw — 1 1d2 1d3 1d4 1d6 1d8 2d6 2d8 B/S Primary
Gore 1 1d2 1d3 1d4 1d6 1d8 2d6 2d8 4d6 P Primary
Hoof, Tentacle, Wing — 1 1d2 1d3 1d4 1d6 1d8 2d6 2d8 B Secondary
Pincers, Tail Slap 1 1d2 1d3 1d4 1d6 1d8 2d6 2d8 4d6 B Secondary
Slam — 1 1d2 1d3 1d4 1d6 1d8 2d6 2d8 B Primary
Sting — 1 1d2 1d3 1d4 1d6 1d8 2d6 2d8 P Primary
Talons — 1 1d2 1d3 1d4 1d6 1d8 2d6 2d8 S Primary
Other — 1 1d2 1d3 1d4 1d6 1d8 2d6 2d8 B/S/P Secondary