Customizing Animal Companion

[Pooji Dung]

I am playing a Ranger/Shadowdancer and my GM and I are tweaking my companions.

Instead of two companions (an animal from the Ranger levels and a shadow from the Shadowdancer levels), my PC is going to have one companion at a better level. When I get to 9th level (Ranger5/ShadowDancer4), I will have one shadow companion with a level as if I was a 9th level Druid (instead of Ranger - 3 for the animal and shadow from ShadowDancer).

So, is there an easy way to increase the class level for a companion and allow the Shadow template? I have not played around with the editor yet, but I have time to learn and experiment--it will be at least a month until I get to 9th level.


TIA for any suggestions.

 

[AndrewD2]

I think you'll have to make a custom archetype that makes the ranger and shadowdancer levels stack.

 

[nuku]

Take this feat: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/boon-companion

And just increase the number of feats you're allowed by 1, and done.

 

[Pooji Dung]

Take this feat: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/boon-companion

And just increase the number of feats you're allowed by 1, and done.

I don't think that will work for two reasons.

First, the Ranger starts out at a level disadvantage (Ranger level - 3) for animal companion. There's no way to make up those lost levels. Even if did erase the ranger deficit for animal companion, after one Shadowdancer level the benefit of the feat is used up and later levels will leave the animal companion behind. Or am I missing something here?

Second, we want to make one companion, combining the Ranger's Hunter's Bond animal companion with the Shadowdancer's summoned shadow. I think I'm gonna have to fiddle with stuff in the editor.

 

[Pooji Dung]

I think you'll have to make a custom archetype that makes the ranger and shadowdancer levels stack.

I will look into that. Thanks!

 

[nuku]

I don't think that will work for two reasons.

First, the Ranger starts out at a level disadvantage (Ranger level - 3) for animal companion. There's no way to make up those lost levels. Even if did erase the ranger deficit for animal companion, after one Shadowdancer level the benefit of the feat is used up and later levels will leave the animal companion behind. Or am I missing something here?

Second, we want to make one companion, combining the Ranger's Hunter's Bond animal companion with the Shadowdancer's summoned shadow. I think I'm gonna have to fiddle with stuff in the editor.

If you're willing to dig into Hero Lab's guys, that feat is still a fine place to start to modify the animal companion's level. Good luck!