Animal Companion Building

[pad300]

Ok, I am building an mid-high level Animal Companion (effective druid level 13), and I have noticed a surprising lack of online advice; nobody has written an animal companion guide...

I do not aspire to do so, but I would like suggestions for how to spend the AC's feats. Here is what I have so far:

Megaloceros Animal Companion
Size : Large
Low Light Vision, Scent
Speed : 50 ft
HP: 110 = 11d8 => 55 +11*4 (con)+11 (Toughness)
AC: 26 = 10 +13 NA + (? Armor) + 4 Dex -1 size
Fort +11 = +7 animal HD+4 Con
Reflex +11 = +7 animal HD +4 Dex
Will +7 = +3 animal HD +2 Wis +2 Iron Will; +4 morale bonus on Will saves against enchantment spells and effects
CMD: 30 = 10 +8 (bab)+7 (str)+4(dex) +1 size
Attack : Gore +14 (+8+7str -1 size)/2d6+7 ((+7str or +10 if only attack), Hooves X2 +12 (+8+7str-1 size-2 secondary )/1d4+7 (+7str)
Special Attacks powerful charge (2d6)
BAB +8
CMB: +16 = +8 (bab)+7 (str) +1 size
Str 25=12+4(AC Bonus)+8(size)+1 (8 hd ability score increase)
Dex 19=17+4 (AC Bonus)-2(size)
Con 18=14+4(size)
Int 3=2+1(4hd ability score increase)
Wis 15
Cha 5
Skills (11 pts)
Acrobatics (+ 10, 3 rank +4 dex +3 trained)
Climb (+11, 1 rank +7 str +3 trained)
Swim (+11, 1 rank +7 str +3 trained)
Perception (+8, 3 rank +3 trained +2 wis)
Stealth (+ 8, 1 rank +4 dex +3 trained)
Fly (+ 9, 2 rank +4 dex +3 trained)

Special: Link, Share Spells, Evasion, Devotion, Multiattack
Tricks: Attack, attack, flank, defend, down, seek, heel, flank, sneak, Maneuver (Grapple), Use airwalk spell
Feat: Toughness (1 hd), Power Attack (3hd), Iron Will (5 hd), Impaling Charge (7 hd), Multiattack (lvl 9 AC bonus), ??? (9 Hd), ??? (11 hd)

Some Feats that I am considering:

1) Additional Traits (Possibly Twice)
A) Deathtouched (race), +2 trait vs Mind-Affecting
Almost as good as Iron Will
B) ?Twitchy (Campaign)?, +1 reflex +2 init
C) Armor Expert (Combat), - 1 ACP
Would make mithral breastplate barding viable (if expensive) armor
D) Adopted (Human, Bred For War), +1 CMB +1 intimidate
E) Freed Slave (katapesh, regional) +1 to Fort
We are playing Legacy of Fire, so the AC qualifies)

Rejected traits - Adopted (Half-Orc, Tusked); too cheesy (master isn't a 1/2 orc)
Finding Haleen - would be great (+11 HP and +11 Skill points), but doesn't work as the AC doesn't have class levels

2) Weapon Focus (Horns)
A +1 to hit is boring, but always useful.

3)Hefty Brute
Bonus to CMB/CMD and can grapple larger stuff with Impaling Charge

[Heather 540]

I think no one's made a guide to animal companions because of how straight forward they are, despite the difference between each one. Usually an animal companion is either being used as a mount or being sent into melee.

Anyway, Improved Natural Armor is a nice little defensive feat, as is Dodge and Armor Focus. You're also going to need Light Armor Proficiency if you can't get the ACP down to zero.

You mentioned Power Attack as one of the feats, so you're clearly not using EITR. Which kinda sucks for a natural weapon build. Improved Natural Weapon is only going to apply to a single natural weapon. It's still a good way to get your DPS up a bit.

If the PC has 13 Cha and a feat to spare, you might want to get Evolved Companion to grab your boar another attack - Slam or Tail Slap in this case.

[Trokarr]

I would suggest Improved Unarmed Strike (feat tax) and Dragon Style as your next 2 feats. Dragon Style would allow your companion to charge through difficult terrain and squares that contain allies. These abilities can be quite handy with a build that capitalizes on charging.

[Java Man]

For a charge focused build rhino charge and charge through are also worth a gander.

[Trokarr]

It would have been better if you had Dragaon Style earlier on to take more advantage of it. If retraining is an option you could consider swapping out some feats to take Dragon Style sooner.

[Name Violation]

additional traits can only be taken once.

i like Lessons of Chaldira for 1/day reroll any save

[Andostre]

pad300 wrote:

Ok, I am building an mid-high level Animal Companion (effective druid level 13), and I have noticed a surprising lack of online advice; nobody has written an animal companion guide...

In case it's helpful, I do know of at least one.

I'm pretty sure that Zenith Games' Guide to the Guides lists more than just that one, also.

[pad300]

Andostre wrote:

pad300 wrote:

Ok, I am building an mid-high level Animal Companion (effective druid level 13), and I have noticed a surprising lack of online advice; nobody has written an animal companion guide...

In case it's helpful, I do know of at least one.

I'm pretty sure that Zenith Games' Guide to the Guides lists more than just that one, also.

I found that, the link gives me a 404 error. The various other entries on Zenith pretty much have very little to do with the actual build of the Animal Companion...

[Andostre]

Which one gives you a 404 error? If it's one of the links on the Zenith Games blog, it wouldn't surprise me. The list has been around forever, and Zenith doesn't always know when a link dies.

If it's for the rpgbot.net one, then that would be my fault since I hand-typed the URL. (Most gaming sites are blocked at my work, so I was copying from my phone.)

[Tottemas]

Feats are at a premium so you want em to count. Things like Weapon Focus and Dodge are not only boring, but a waste. Not an exhaustive list, but feats I'd consider.

Daredevil archetype + Combat Reflexes -> Combat Patrol

Cunning + INT headband -> Signature Skill + Healer's Hands

Cunning -> Harvest Parts

Friendly Switch

Bodyguard archetype -> Lookout

[Tyrant Lizard King]

I could recommend Eldritch Claws and Improved Natural Attack: Gore for the feats. Hefty Brute is a nice option as well. Light Armor Proficiency would help if you can afford chain shirt barding.

If you've got a feat to spare on the Druid, Evolved Companion can offer some nice options...
Improved Damage: ups the die type (2d6 becomes 2d8) which stacks with any size increase from Strong Jaw spell or Improved Natural Attack.
Bleed: at 1d6 is nice
Skilled: for a +8 to a skill is a lot but I only recommend that if you're going for an Intimidate or heavy Stealth build animal
Improved Natural Armor: at +2 it's notably better than the +1 granted by the feat of the same name.