Is there a way for a Bard to get an Animal Companion?

[inuyasha]

Without a dip in druid, or a few levels invested in Ranger, is there a way for a Bard to get an animal companion? I'm coming up with ideas for my current setting, which is very primitive, and I want to know if I can make Bards as Druid-y as possible, because I've disallowed the Druid class for story reasons (they're the main villains, and I don't want people playing them pretty much for that reason).

[LibraryOgre]

I'd go with the old standard, the feature swap.

In fact, it's one of the ones suggested in UA:

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm



Bard
A rare bard might display a special link to nature and the mysterious world of the fey. Such characters tend to be more aloof and less inspiring than standard bards.

Gain
Animal companion (as druid), nature sense (as druid), resist nature's lure (as druid), wild empathy (as druid).

Lose
Bardic knowledge, inspire courage, inspire competence, inspire greatness, inspire heroics.

You might also look at the Savage Bard, at the same link.

[inuyasha]

I've played so much Pathfinder in the past year or so that I've forgotten certain 3.X things exist. That'll mesh perfectly, thank you very much!

[Mehangel]

Animal Ally (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/animal-ally) feat?

[exelsisxax]

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/bard/archetypes/paizo---bard-archetypes/animal-speaker

always summon the same sort of creature?

[inuyasha]

As for the feat, I've never seen that book before, but it'll come in handy for any character, so that's awesome! Thank you.

As for the archetype, I've seen that before. SNA is a bit weak, and has a short duration, but that's pretty cool nonetheless, I've never really looked at it too thoroughly.

[Serafina]

Animal Ally feat works for every character, and with Boon Companion (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/boon-companion) it will even be at full level.
It IS restricted to certain types of animals, and does not usually work with feats that increase your choice of companion (on account of not being a class feature).
However, the way it is written, a single-level dip into Druid, Hunter or some other class with the full range of animal companions will allow you to have one of those with full progression. Note that this works with Hunter, so even if you do not want players to take that Druid-dip, it works fine. Alternatively, it also works with a dip into Wildblooded (Sylvan (http://archivesofnethys.com/WildbloodedDisplay.aspx?FixedName=Sylvan)) Sorcerer, which may fit better with a Bard.

In theory, the character could go for Cleric Variant Multiclass (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/character-advancement#TOC-Core-Classes) and take the Animal domain - but then they would only get their animal companion at level 15, and it's hardly cheaper on feats.