Animal Companions and APL

[Cowboy_ninja]

When calculating the Average Party Level (APL) to design an encounter in Pathfinder, do I add in the druids character level and the animal companion's HD, or just the druid's character level?

[Flickerdart]

When calculating the Average Party Level (APL) to design an encounter in Pathfinder, do I add in the druids character level and the animal companion's HD, or just the druid's character level?
The companion is a druid's class feature, and doesn't count in the calculation. Similarly, you wouldn't count anything summoned by the BBEG wizard as part of the CR.

[Cowboy_ninja]

The companion is a druid's class feature, and doesn't count in the calculation. Similarly, you wouldn't count anything summoned by the BBEG wizard as part of the CR.

Thanks! Wasn't sure if the Druid's pet was calculated into the Druid's CR.

Which begs the question, how do you calculate the CR of a druid who has lost their animal companion?

[Invader]

Thanks! Wasn't sure if the Druid's pet was calculated into the Druid's CR.

Which begs the question, how do you calculate the CR of a druid who has lost their animal companion?

It would be pretty much the same, it's not that overwhelming of a feature that it would change the CR.

[Chilingsworth]

On the other hand, what would happen if you faced only the animal companion? Is there any situation that could have it be worth XP?

[Flickerdart]

On the other hand, what would happen if you faced only the animal companion? Is there any situation that could have it be worth XP?
An animal companion by itself is its own encounter, and counts for XP independent of the druid.

[Chilingsworth]

An animal companion by itself is its own encounter, and counts for XP independent of the druid.

And then if you met its druid (possibly with the druid having replaced the now deceased animal companion)?

[Flickerdart]

And then if you met its druid (possibly with the druid having replaced the now deceased animal companion)?
Ok, let's put it in terms of numbers.

Say, we have a level 4 Druid named Tarzan with an Ape animal companion. The PC meets the Ape when it's gathering bananas for Tarzan. The Ape is a CR2 encounter, as standard for the creature.

The PC trounces the Ape with no problem. The Ape runs away and the PC and keeps going. He now meets Tarzan. As a 4th level Druid, Tarzan is a CR4 encounter. Regardless of whether or not the Ape made it back to him, he is still a CR4 encounter. if he casts Summon Nature's Ally II to summon a dire badger, he's still a CR4 encounter. If he summons the dire badger and then leaves, it's a CR2 encounter (the CR of the dire badger).

Does that help?

[Chilingsworth]

yeah. Thanks.