trentonjoe said:
I think that the final answer is a little high. I don't think a 1st level dog fighter could take a 5th level human fighter.
Nor could a 5th level ranger necessarily beat the fighter. Anyway, you're comparing a creature with an ECL of 4 (the dog) to a creature with an ECL of 5 (the fighter).
I have here created two NPCs. Fang, and Bob. Both use the standard point buy to get the stats Str 15, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8. Fang also gets to add his racial modifiers to his stats, and Bob gets to raise his Strength by one point for being fourth level.
The awakened riding dog, Fang
Ability Scores: Str 19, Dex 17, Con 18, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 6
HD: 4 animal + 1 fighter level; 4d8 +1d10 + 20
HP: 43
Attacks: Bite +9 (+4 base, +4 Strength, +1 focus)
Damage: Bite 1d6+6 (average 9,5)
AC: 22 (+4 natural, +3 Dexterity, +5 breastplate barding)
Speed: 30 or run 120
Feats: Weapon Focus (bite)
Equipment: Breastplate barding
The human fighter, Bob
Ability Scores: Str 16, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8
HD: 4 fighter levels; 4d10 + 8
HP: 30
Attacks: Bastard sword +9 (+4 base, +3 Strength, +1 focus, +1 masterwork)
Damage: Bastard sword 1d10+5 (average 10,5)
AC: 20 (+7 half plate, +2 large shield, +1 dodge)
Speed: 20 or run 60
Feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword), Weapon Focus (bastard sword), Weapon Specialization (bastard sword), Dodge, Power Attack
Equipment: Masterwork bastard sword, half-plate, large steel shield