Ranger's animal companion.

[DarkEternal]

So, the ranger expressed a desire for a new animal companion after the last one sodded off and was left in another dimension.

He's a level 10 ranger and level 5 fighter, so I was thinking, is there a rule of which animals he can get? I know the PhB speaks of eagles, wolves, and vipers-constrictors, but are there more? Seems like he could get something more powerful then that at his level, though it would sort of feel strange to see him waltz around the town with a huge serpent or something like that.

Also, how do I calculate levelling of said beasties? Do they level up like portrayed on Druid's animal companion feature or something? Or do you level them up like normal characters?

[Serpentine]

Uh... pretty sure they're exactly like Druid companions, except lagging behind a few levels. Including alternate animal companions.

edit: Yep.

Animal Companion (Ex)
At 4th level, a ranger gains an animal companion selected from the following list: badger, camel, dire rat, dog, riding dog, eagle, hawk, horse (light or heavy), owl, pony, snake (Small or Medium viper), or wolf. If the campaign takes place wholly or partly in an aquatic environment, the following creatures may be added to the ranger’s list of options: manta ray, porpoise, Medium shark, and squid. This animal is a loyal companion that accompanies the ranger on his adventures as appropriate for its kind.

This ability functions like the druid ability of the same name, except that the ranger’s effective druid level is one-half his ranger level. A ranger may select from the alternative lists of animal companions just as a druid can, though again his effective druid level is half his ranger level. Like a druid, a ranger cannot select an alternative animal if the choice would reduce his effective druid level below 1st.

[DarkEternal]

Uh... pretty sure they're exactly like Druid companions, except lagging behind a few levels. Including alternate animal companions.

edit: Yep.

Yeah, gathered that much. Now, the other and more important part of the question about the actual beasties they can have? Is that list all, or does it grow the greater the level is? Can we see ranger's taming celestial lions, dire bears, all sorts of crazy stuff or is that out of bounds, or homebrewed at best at the DM's discretion?

[Jack Zander]

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/dr...nimalCompanion

Scroll to the bottom of the page.

[Cog]

Some of the splats have more animals as well. Find a druid handbook for lists, or if you want hardcopy, the PHBII has a (partial?) list. However, a ranger's companion already lags behind, and with four levels lost to Fighter, it'll be difficult to make a combat-viable companion.

Urban Class Features offers an 'Urban Companion' ACF. HP, BAB, and skills are based off your character level rather than your effective druid level. This might be more effective, since all three of those should be high for this character.

[Eloel]

Also helpful would be the Natural Bond feat, granting +3 Druid levels. Makes the companion a bit more valid for combat, unlike normal ranger companions, which pretty much scout, die, or both.

[Moriato]

Yeah, gathered that much. Now, the other and more important part of the question about the actual beasties they can have? Is that list all, or does it grow the greater the level is? Can we see ranger's taming celestial lions, dire bears, all sorts of crazy stuff or is that out of bounds, or homebrewed at best at the DM's discretion?

The list is it, but there are ways to add more choices to the list. For example in the book of exalted deeds there's a feat call Exalted Companion which adds some celestial creatures to your list of available companions, or lets you add the celestial template to your pre-existing choices. I'm sure there's similar feats/class features in other books, as well

FYI Dire bear is already on the list, but even if you go straight ranger from here on out, you'll be well into epic before you can have one.