Replacing Animal Companions

[InstantD]

The page on Animal Companion states that if your companion dies, you can replace it. This implies that you're not in some way reviving your original animal companion right? You're getting a new animal. In that case, for Rangers or Druids that have spent feats on Animal Companions, the new companion would have all the bonuses from those feats, right?

Also, when we replace an animal companion, does it have to be of the same type? Can we start with a bird and later replace it with a bear or something? Can I replace an animal companion for a different type of companion without the original having to die first?

Apologies in advance if the above questions are already answered in the Rulebook, as I can't seem to find them.

[dnoisette]

Now that you've pointed it out, I realize these questions did not even cross my mind before because I automatically assumed the new companion was getting the benefits from all the related feats you selected.
I do believe it is the intent when replacing an animal companion, else you basically just lost 2/3 feats in the process - having to wait a week of downtime to replace your AC is already punishing enough!

I also don't see anything that technically prevents you from choosing a different animal companion when the first one dies.

We also seem to be lacking any ruling as to whether or not it is possible to decide to let your current animal companion go so you can change for another, if you so desire.
For now, it doesn't seem to be a possibility: you're stuck with the animal you chose at level 1 until said animal dies, presumably.

Your post did bring up an interesting alternative: why not have a Raise Animal Companion power for Druids of the Animal Order, akin to that of the Hunter in 1st edition?
Or, better yet, a spell that does the same thing?
It seems hardly overpowered to me, especially if you add a costly material component to the casting or have a penalty such as the Hunter's negative level.
You could even restrict the use of such power with a time limit.
Druids of the Animal Order invest a lot in their AC, it seems normal that they would have an option to not be totally screwed over for a week when AC dies unexpectedly from a critical hit (seems likely to happen a lot given how squishy they are now)...

[Ediwir]

You could retrain a feat (1 week of downtime) to drop Animal Companion and instead gain Animal Companion, thus remaking your choice.
I mean, it's probably easier to just ask the DM for a new companion, but RAW? totally doable.

[dnoisette]

It is doable but it wouldn't hurt either to just include a sentence under the animal companions sub-section that says that the new companion gets the benefits of feats you selected for the previous one. :)

[InstantD]

I think if we can get completely new companions, getting one of a different type makes sense. Though it does open up builds like taking a different type until you get specialised animal companion and trading it for Bear/Bird which becomes better as specialised AC