Gizmo5579
2011-05-17, 04:05 PM
Ok, so I've seen many posts on what stats to use for guard dogs/riding dogs based on price and what not (I've come to the conclusion that a guard dog at 25gp uses regular "dog" stats with the guard training package and riding dog at 150gp uses the "dog, riding" stats with the riding training package) but I want to know what the consensus is on advancing a purchased dog. Do they increase HD and subsequently increase stats over time? And if so is it based on your CL or does the animal gain exp too and level up that way? For example, as a druid or ranger increases their levels, that in turn increases the stats and abilities for their animal companion. So, a lvl 6 druid who has had his animal companion from level 1 will add 4 bonus HD as well as 4 to nat armor. If I bought a guard dog (as a character from any class) and kept it from my first level up to level 6, would it still run off the base stats for a dog and still only have 1HD or does it gain HD at the same rate I do as I lvl?
Also, if they do level up with you, would you consider the bonus HD for an animal companion to be in place of normal leveling, or in addition to? i.e. If the same lvl 6 druid had a wolf animal companion from lvl 1 all the way to lvl 6, would the wolf have 6HD (2HD Base +4bonus HD for Druid lv) or would it have 11HD (2HD Base + 4Bonus HD + 5HD for leveling)?
It seems that adding bonus HD plus leveling HD might make an animal companion a bit excessive, but not allowing purchased animals to advance is a waste of money later on. Sorry for the long post but I wanted to make sure I was clear and specific.:smallsmile:
Also, if they do level up with you, would you consider the bonus HD for an animal companion to be in place of normal leveling, or in addition to? i.e. If the same lvl 6 druid had a wolf animal companion from lvl 1 all the way to lvl 6, would the wolf have 6HD (2HD Base +4bonus HD for Druid lv) or would it have 11HD (2HD Base + 4Bonus HD + 5HD for leveling)?
It seems that adding bonus HD plus leveling HD might make an animal companion a bit excessive, but not allowing purchased animals to advance is a waste of money later on. Sorry for the long post but I wanted to make sure I was clear and specific.:smallsmile: