Dinosaur Companion

[caterpillar]

I would like to ask about the Dinosaur Companion feat. I've chosen this one to have an effective buddy nearby, when the enemies surrounds me. I found no info in wiki, but got some surprising ones when I chose it. It appears to me, that I've wasted one feat, because of the Dinosaur seems even weaker then my previous panther companion - lower XP, lower AC, lower STR, CON. Yes it has higher CHA , and WIS. Also one of its attacks is higher 1-6 DMG instead of 1-3 like panther. Attack is the same +5. All atributes on the same level of the creature. Beast.

If I compare saves panther also wins. Now my question, would it be possible to tune it up a bit or at least to write some infos in wiki? How does the creature's abilities look like on higher level? Because in my point of view, how I see it now, I should invest the precious feat to Improved critical for my bow and left the panther hop about as before, I'd feel happier and safer.

And yet another question, would it be possible to make some bandages which would work for animal companions in the same way as for elves? Or humans if you want? Or special ones purely for animals?

[Root]

But...

But...

It's a goddamn raptor.

The awesomeness value of that alone far outweighs minor bonuses to saves.

And you know the increased Wis? There's a reason for that.

What you have wrangled there, my boy, is a prime specimen of the rare species Philosoraptor.



YEAH. It brings stunning revalations from meaningless chaos and has swords instead of fingers.

You can keep your Panthers and Bears, and their marginally superior combat ability.

I'm happy with my raptor.

[Fezzik]

They were nerfed a bit because they were way TO powerful as is, if I'm not mistaken. In a way, they should be a bit wimpier, especially in Sundren... it rains all the time and it's freaken cold all the time!

[caterpillar]

But...

But...

It's a goddamn raptor.

The awesomeness value of that alone far outweighs minor bonuses to saves.

And you know the increased Wis? There's a reason for that.

What you have wrangled there, my boy, is a prime specimen of the rare species Philosoraptor.

YEAH. It brings stunning revalations from meaningless chaos and has swords instead of fingers.

You can keep your Panthers and Bears, and their marginally superior combat ability.

I'm happy with my raptor.

Yes the raptor looks awesome, but it wasn't the point. I've spent a feat on a creature which AC is 15 on the same level, where panther has 18. The only combat advantage is, that one of the attacks has 1-6 instead of 1-3. I agree that the default Raptor was probably too strong, but make it weaker than a "cat" and loose a feat by choosing Dinosaur Companion is not the way in my eyes.

If the intention was to make the animal rare it's good, I agree. Just please, it would be nice to make a note about it in Wiki, because I would not choose it in such a case, as well as I would not choose Weapon Focus Spear, if I'm intending to use Axe and Axe only.

Somebody could object to it, that this is about RP. It is. I bought awesome looking 1D6 short swords and even if I liked them, I threw them out and bought ordinary looking +1 1D6 short swords. I like leveling, I like adding +1 skill points to my survival and I like spending feats in the way, that I have some profit of it. It's about practicality.

[Philosopher]

The raptor gets better at much higher levels, if I am not mistaken. They are only sub-par early on.

Also, Root wins today.

[Root]

Thought you might like that.

My Chultan Druid of Ubtao and his brother, Kwalu, the warrior who died and was Reincarnated as a raptor are happy, in any case. I mean, I consider it as spending a feat on roleplay value, like Adaptability or Skill Focus: Diplomacy.

Feat well spent.

[caterpillar]

The raptor gets better at much higher levels, if I am not mistaken. They are only sub-par early on.

Also, Root wins today.

Thanks for the answer.

Thought you might like that.

My Chultan Druid of Ubtao and his brother, Kwalu, the warrior who died and was Reincarnated as a raptor are happy, in any case. I mean, I consider it as spending a feat on roleplay value, like Adaptability or Skill Focus: Diplomacy.

Feat well spent.

You missed my point. If I open wiki and check the "feats section" I can find this:

Adaptability
You thrive under circumstances that require you to adapt, and excel at uncovering the secrets of the wilderness and surviving to tell the tale.
Benefit: You get a +1 bonus on Fort Saves and a +2 bonus on Survival checks.

but no info about changes in Dinosaur Companion feat. If you would choose Adaptability expecting gaining +1 Fort Saves and +2 Survival and instead got -1 Fort Saves, -2 Survival, +1 Weapon Crafting, I think you would feel a bit disappointed.

I would like humbly to ask somebody for adding these informations to wiki? It's not only this feat, but also some spells what work differently then in description. I know it's boring and I'm absolutely sure that somebody is eager to do it - not me, I'm too lazy. Thaaanks.

[Thief Of Navarre]

http://nwn2.wikia.com/wiki/Animal_companion ~ As you can see all the animals have their pros and cons. Personally I chose panther because it looked goofy..

The Dinosaur does get quite a bit better. My reccomendation for a companion to keep you safe would definately have to be boar because it has alright damage, much better hp and nice AC; with awaken and greater magic fang cast.. perhaps even bear's endurance as well it would take an equally leveled pure fighter to take it down.

[caterpillar]

http://nwn2.wikia.com/wiki/Animal_companion ~ As you can see all the animals have their pros and cons. Personally I chose panther because it looked goofy..

The Dinosaur does get quite a bit better. My reccomendation for a companion to keep you safe would definately have to be boar because it has alright damage, much better hp and nice AC; with awaken and greater magic fang cast.. perhaps even bear's endurance as well it would take an equally leveled pure fighter to take it down.

Thanks, I know these pages. I've checked it before choosing the Dinosaur Companion feat. Problem is that these charts or descriptions are sometimes different then in real Sundren world. I found even the thread about Dinosaur Companion being tuned down because of its power, sadly with no other description. What I did not expect, that the dinosaur was tuned down so much, that on he's weaker then the panther on the same level, which "costs" you extra feat. Buuut Philosopher said, that it should be more equal on the higher level, so I'm looking forward to it. I hope. And exactly this, I mean your "link", is why I dare to suggest to and plead to ask the developers to describe their changes in the Wiki.

And as a companion I like only Panthers or Dinosaurs. Boars are very unsympathetic . Definitely only cats or dragons have the chance in my eyes.

[Root]

If you would choose Adaptability expecting gaining +1 Fort Saves and +2 Survival and instead got -1 Fort Saves, -2 Survival, +1 Weapon Crafting, I think you would feel a bit disappointed.

I'd feel disappointed, unless it contained raptor-based bonuses.

Such as the ability to craft raptors.

[caterpillar]

I'd feel disappointed, unless it contained raptor-based bonuses.

If you mean this:


ATRIBUTES.......Panther.......Dinosaur (costs one extra feat)
............STR...........17..............16 (-1)
............DEX...........20..............17 (-3)
............CON..........15. .............13 (-2)
............INT..............2. ...............2
............WIS...........12..............14 (+2)
............CHA............6...............10 (+4)

AC: Panther 18 ........ Dinosaut 15 (-3)

HIT POINTS: Panther 36 ......... Dinosaur 33 (-3)

DAMAGE:..................Panther................Di nosaur
..............FIRST............1-6........................1-3
..............SECOND........1-3........................1-3
..............THIRD............1-3........................1-6

BAB: both the same

SAVES...............Panther.............Dinosaur
..........FORT............5......................4 (-1)
..........REFLEX.........8......................6 (-2)
..........WILL.............2...................... 3 (+1)

Both on the same level Beast 3.

Conclusion is, that I've spent one extra feat to "weaken" my dear animal companion. It's nice, that the Dinosaur has high CHA, but I bet he shall not roll the appraise skill when I'll be shopping? And I have to mention Thief Of Navarre who has recommended Boar as a better fighting creature then Panther. My only hope is, that the progression on higher level will be better. That's all.

[Zoberraz]

I think the big concern about this was how the Dinosaur companion was, at low level, stronger than the druid/ranger whom summoned it.

Perhaps the dinosaur companion was balanced to have a smoother power curve - which may be why people have commented that 'it gets better as you rise in level'.

[Captain Caveman]

One of my biggest regrets with Plu was taking that feat. It was crushed after the nerf. Even at his high level ( 12 level druid + other )state I never use it except for RP because it dies fairly quickly even with buffs. As stated the bear and panther are superior/equal and do not require a feat.

While I fully agree it is an awesome RP feat, it seemed like a very harsh nerf for someone who had one of the first raptors on the server.

A balance between what was and what is would be a nice compromise.