Worth building a character around an Owlbear companion?

[Slyme]

I am just starting to GM PFS, and I am going to end up with the chronicle sheets that allow you to have an Owlbear companion on my first GM baby, and I was wondering if it would be worth building a character around.

If so, any particular builds I should take a closer look at?

Also, I know they said the Grizzly Bear from Ultimate Wilderness would be a valid option for the base animal, is that officially allowed yet? Or do we need to wait for it to hit the AR/CC documents?

[Shifty]

You can 100% apply the Grizzly and this is legal, so long as you own UW.

Owlbear is awesome :)

[TriOmegaZero]

I didn't even really build around it. Just rolled druid and was the spellcaster to the owlbear's tank.

[pauljathome]

Define "worth while". Locally, I've seen at least 2 Owlbear companions and the player seemed to have a lot of fun with them.

[Slyme]

I was thinking worth while as in not handicapping myself by choosing a super sub-par companion just for flavor. Most of the time, when I see someone rolling around with an Owlbear it is mainly for silliness...little kid character with Mr. Fluffins the Owlbear, etc.

Seems like being a straight druid focusing on buff spells while the Owlbear wades into melee is probably the best overall build. Not really into the mounted combat pouncing lance attacks of doom type build. Any other builds I should look into?

[Gummy Bear]

I don't think they'll ever be the best companion (less than a handful of attacks and no pounce, but grab iirc), but they are still pretty solid and YOU GET TO HAVE AN OWLBEAR FOR A BEST FRIEND HEEELLLLLLLOOOOOO!

A Hunter or Sacred Huntmaster Inquisitor can both have animal companions. Depending on what the boon says, a cleric with the animal domain could have one.

Since it is based on a bear, could oracles use it too? I suspect the boon text will solve that, but it is another potential way to go.

If I ever get the boon, I'll be using it on a teamwork feat focused melee inquisitor so he can be battle buddies with his owlbear.

[Nefreet]

With Grizzly stats, I think it will not be subpar.

I built a Cavalier around the original Owlbear, though, and by Level 9 I just retired them early.

I researched and tinkered and spent too many days fine tuning both the PC and the Owlbear, and it just wasn't fun during actual gameplay.

I will probably resurrect the character in PFS2.0 or something.

[Slyme]

I have a level 10 (6 hunter/4 Unchained rogue) who I have basically retired because they just wreck combats. Too many attacks per round (TWF+Tiger), too many crits(keen kurkis), takes too long to resolve all my turns, etc.

I'll have to play around, see what kind of fun druid I can come up with. I kinda like the idea of a buffer with a big tanky pet. Maybe a Tengu...a bird/man with a bird/bear companion? I'll have to think about it.

[Secane]

Is the Grizzly Bear really a valid option for this boon?

Owlbear Boon:

Owlbear Companion: You recovered a clutch of owlbear eggs and may raise one of the hatchlings as a pet. If you possess a class feature that permits you to take a bear as an animal companion or mount that progresses as an animal companion, you may instead gain the service of an owlbear. The owlbear companion uses the stats of a bear companion with the following modifications: all Handle Animal checks made to train or handle the owlbear suffer a –4 penalty; the bonus granted by the devotion ability increases to +5; the creature’s starting Charisma score is 10; and the animal companion looks like an owlbear instead of a normal bear. This owlbear is considered an animal for all purposes.

Given that the boon specifically call out "take a bear as an animal companion"?

Could this be an example of similar naming? Like how the Swashbuckler Weapon Training (Ex), may have the work Weapon Training in it, but its considered a totally different class feature from a Fighter's Weapon Training (Ex) and can't be used to qualify from advanced weapon training?

[Slyme]

John Compton has specifically stated they are allowing Grizzly Bears to use the Owlbear boon...I just wasn't sure if I could do it now, or it I have to wait for them to update the Additional Resources before I could.

John's Post

[Shifty]

You can do it now, so long as you own the resource.

[Baroness Bobbi]

My main issue is that Lunar Oracles only get bears, not grizzlies as their animal companion list is limited. So alas no Owl Grizzly Bear for Bobbi, who was built specifically for the Owlbear. Her Owlbear Hoot will remain adorably incompetent!

Hmm

[Gummy Bear]

Well that's lame. A grizzly bear can't count as just another type of bear?

Admittedly I haven't made a character with a companion (yet) so I'm not well-read with that part of the rules text. It makes sense to me that you'd be able to use them interchangeably though.

[Secane]

@Gummy Bear,

Its really no difference from how rangers can select small cats, but not big ones. Many archetypes have restrictions, its all part of being an archetype, you win some you lose some.

Slyme wrote:

John Compton has specifically stated they are allowing Grizzly Bears to use the Owlbear boon...I just wasn't sure if I could do it now, or it I have to wait for them to update the Additional Resources before I could.

John's Post

Thank you for the link!

[Gummy Bear]

Oh, that's a good point. Fair enough!

[Slyme]

Currently Hunter and Druid are the only ones who can take Grizzly Bear...or maybe some archetype that allows another class to take the same companions as a Hunter or Druid.

[Tomppa]

Wild child brawler can also take any animal available to a druid - one of my favorite archetypes.

As to the owlbear - it is viable as long as you find it fun!

[RealAlchemy]

I know I'm a little late to the party, but consider a Sylvan bloodline sorceror buffing up an grizzly bear (owlbear) with the boon companion feat and the implications of share spell with the sorceror/wizard spell list.

[Slyme]

Hmm...some interesting options. Going to have to look into all the available options for other classes/archetypes that gain access to druid animal companions.

[RealAlchemy]

If you really want to build around having and buffing a companion, Improved Spell Sharing can be really gross. I was thinking about (off the top of my head) greater invisibility, mirror image, stone skin, displacement, bull's strength, bear's endurance, shield ...