Animal Companions at higher Level

[pbd]

Is a druid's animal companion viable at higher level? I am currently playing a druid 11 with a tiger animal companion. I don't want to switch companions everytime a new, more powerful companion comes along (that just seems a little munchkiny), but the companion advancement seems a little underpowered.

A companion gets 2 additional HD every 3 druid levels, plus 2 natural armor bonus, and 1 point for str and dex. With the tiger it is 6 levels offset so it is currently on the second tier of advancement (+2 hd, for a totla of 8 etc.). It has 80 hp, while the other fighters in the party have >100. its AC is 25 (pretty low) and it has a deplorable will save. The only thing keeping it even close is that I rolled its stats and got a decent spread (oe 18 which went to dex) and have done well on hp (just tp get 80!); and have given it a amulet of NA +4 and bracers of armor +2. It can dish ouit the damage pretty well, but I end up having to withdraw it from the fight or it goes down the 2nd or 3rd round. Next level it will hit the next advancement tier and this should help some, but by 13th or 14th level, it is gonna be seriously underpowered again.

With the way things are going, I am planning on dismissing it; the druid just wouldn't sit by and let it be in damger like that.

Basically, is it possible for a druid to keep the same companion for multiple levels and have it not become a liability/corpse?

Any strategies are welcome; we are using straight core rules, but the DM may allow some reasonable houserules on certain things.

Thanks,
pbd

 

[Lord Pendragon]

The companion is never going to be as powerful as the party fighter, nor should it! Basically, you have two choices with the Companion. Keep trading up and get Serious Offense / Weak Defense. Or keep a low-level Companion and get Weak Offense / Serious Defense. Compare your tiger with an appropriately boosted riding dog, for instance. It'll have a much better AC and saves, at the expense of the tiger's powerful attacks.

So you have a choice. A companion with more staying power, or a companion that does more damage but is more fragile.

 

[Infiniti2000]

The companion is never going to be as powerful as the party fighter, nor should it!

Really! pbd, do you really think that a druid should have all the powers he has at his disposal plus an animal companion equal to a same level fighter? Are you serious about that?

The animal companion is fine as is, especially if your DM already houseruled you to roll stats and hit points. If your druid puts himself in danger, he should have no qualms putting the animal in harm's way.

 

[DevoutlyApathetic]

I don't completely agree with your opinion there. The animals' con is by far the most important factor in making those hit dice do something. Otherwise you end up with something like a Giant Octupus which is just begging to die.

My opinion is that generally animal companions at high level become far more secondary things. Mildly useful and occasional huge liabilities.

 

[pbd]

Really! pbd, do you really think that a druid should have all the powers he has at his disposal plus an animal companion equal to a same level fighter? Are you serious about that?

The animal companion is fine as is, especially if your DM already houseruled you to roll stats and hit points. If your druid puts himself in danger, he should have no qualms putting the animal in harm's way.

I am not saying it should be able to take down (or even come close) the party fighter; but if it can't hang in melee and requires resources to even keep alive, it has become a liability. Bascially, having not played a druid defore, I am wodering if that is generally the case and if the companion needs to be set free...

The druid chooses to go into danger, the campanion follows the druid; the companion's behavior is essesntially controlled by the druid. The druid, as a steward of nature, has a responsibility not to abuse his animal "companion".

 

[DevoutlyApathetic]

I am not saying it should be able to take down (or even come close) the party fighter; but if it can't hang in melee and requires resources to even keep alive, it has become a liability. Bascially, having not played a druid defore, I am wodering if that is generally the case and if the companion needs to be set free...

The druid chooses to go into danger, the campanion follows the druid; the companion's behavior is essesntially controlled by the druid. The druid, as a steward of nature, has a responsibility not to abuse his animal "companion".

I realized I didn't exactly answer your question.

My opinion is you no longer send the tiger into the fray. He hangs back and acts as a blocker for you. You cast your spells behind a movable wall with teeth and fangs that very much wants you to be left alone.

 

[Endur]

The Animal Companion's role changes over time.

In many early level parties (levels 1-6), a Druid's animal companion may be the most powerful fighter in the party. Especially if you have a Leopard or a Brown Bear or a Viper.

Once you are past the low levels, the Druid becomes more powerful with greater spell-casting capabilities and the Animal companion takes a back seat.

As a level 10+ Druid, your animal companion should be considered your "friend" and not a "fighter." At this point, your animal companion should never charge into combat. Instead, he should stay in the rear and only attack enemies that charge the Druid.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Any strategies are welcome; we are using straight core rules, but the DM will allow some reasonable houserules on certain things.

Ah. There goes the Natural Bond (Complete Adventurer feat) suggestion

-Hyp.

 

[Rkhet]

Polymorph Any Object solves your problems. In fact, Polymorph Any Object solves ALL your problems, whatever they may be.

Want permanent animated objects without paying xp? PAO. Want a bigger and meaner familiar/animal companion? PAO. Want twelve natural attacks on your fighter? PAO. Want to turn the entire battlefield into lava? PAO.

 

[pbd]

The Animal Companion's role changes over time.

In many early level parties (levels 1-6), a Druid's animal companion may be the most powerful fighter in the party. Especially if you have a Leopard or a Brown Bear or a Viper.

Once you are past the low levels, the Druid becomes more powerful with greater spell-casting capabilities and the Animal companion takes a back seat.

As a level 10+ Druid, your animal companion should be considered your "friend" and not a "fighter." At this point, your animal companion should never charge into combat. Instead, he should stay in the rear and only attack enemies that charge the Druid.

I guess that is the way it is heading. Unfortunately the character concept is a druid that wildshapes to tiger form and focusses on melee; the additon of the tiger companion made for the potential of a pair of combat baddies. However, in light of recent events in our campaign (ie. the companion getting smoked a couple of times) that may not work out...

This is why I am concerned with the ability of the animal companion to "hang".