[3.P] Warforged Ranger - variant animal companion

[GoatBoy]

I'm DM'ing a game set in Eberron, using Pathfinder rules. I was statting up a Warforged Quirky Miniboss Squad (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/QuirkyMinibossSquad) which included a Ranger, and I was thinking that it would be rather silly for a Ranger to keep an animal companion while living in the Mournland. There are alternate features to this, but it got me thinking... would it cause any problems to let a Warforged Ranger substitute his animal companion, for a homonculous of equivalent hit dice?

Constructs (in Pathfinder) get full BAB, plus all the construct immunity goodness. But is this worth the loss of good saves the ability to receive healing spells? Well, it probably is, but I'm wondering if the imbalance is significant enough in the long run. I really love the flavour, though, and it might even be something I'd try to get away with when I play in a future game, if there are no glaring problems.

Oh, in case anyone was wondering...

The Terrorforged: (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Terrorcon_%28G1%29)
Rippersnapper - Ranger dual-wielding scorpion whips
Hunn-grr - His Iron Defender (ECS) companion
Sinnertwin - Alchemist with Breath Weapon Bomb (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/alchemist/discoveries/paizo---alchemist-discoveries/breath-weapon-bomb) discovery (arm-mounted flamethrowers)
Cutthroat - Warforged Scout Rogue
Blot - Warforged Charger

[gorfnab]

Another idea would be just to slap the Living Construct subtype on the animal companion.

[Darrin]

There are alternate features to this, but it got me thinking... would it cause any problems to let a Warforged Ranger substitute his animal companion, for a homonculous of equivalent hit dice?


Awesome idea. The only problem I see is if the ranger = creator, it takes 2d10 damage if the homonculous dies... and most ranger's animal companions are a blood smear waiting to happen. So you'll need to decide if you want to include that drawback or not. (I'd say no, but since this is an evil NPC, it might make things much more dramatic if the PCs kill his "pet" *and* he takes damage.)

[bansidhe]

Just saw this and thought: Warforged Ranger - variant animal companion=K9 from Dr Who...but hows it going too cope with rough terrain?! :)