Druid cohort

[QOShea]

I'm rejoining a game that I had to stop playing in for health reasons, advanced my character to match the current levels, and the DM said I could go ahead and make my cohort.

What I'm looking at right now is an awakened riding dog.

Wasn't sure what the LA on that would be, so I just gave him ten class levels.

Awakened Riding Dog (Cohort)

STR 17  DEX 15  CON 15  INT 14  WIS 12  CHA 09

Level 1 (Fighter 1) - Tracking (racial bonus feat), Power Attack (fighter feat), WF (Bite); Skills - Diplomacy 4, Concentration 4.

Level 2 (Fighter 2) - Combat Expertise (fighter feat); Diplomacy +1, Concentration +1

Level 3 (Fighter 3) - Improved Trip; Diplomacy +1, Concentration +1

Level 4 (Fighter 4) - Improved Bull Rush (fighter feat); Diplomacy +1, Concentration +1; STR +1

Level 5 (Fighter 5) - Diplomacy +1, Concentration +1

Level 6 (Fighter 6) - Improved Natural Attack, Shock Trooper (fighter feat); Diplomacy +1, Concentration +1

Level 7 (Fighter 7) - Diplomacy +1, Concentration +1 (Total = Diplomacy +5, Concentration +5)

Level 8 (Kensai 1) - Concentration +1, Jump +4, Sense Motive +1; Signature Weapon +1

Level 9 (Kensai 2) - Concentration +1, Jump +4, Sense Motive +1; Signature Weapon +2 (+1 and Warning); Leap Attack

Level 10 (Kensai 3) - Concentration +1, Jump +4, Sense Motive +1; Signature Weapon +3 (+2 and Warning)

Any suggestions?

[PhaedrusXY]

A monk dip would actually go well with this. A monk can use natural weapons attacks as secondary attacks (-5 to hit, 1/2 str damage) on top of his flurry of blows. Also, riding dogs have decent Wisdom scores, and the boost to saves and bonus feats are nice too (especially if you can use the alternative fighting styles for different feats).

You could also just stick some armor spikes on his barding and have him make iterative attacks with that, and use his bite as a secondary attack, though. If you don't do something like this, he'll never have more than one attack.

And giving any weapon above a +1 enhancement bonus is a waste of money. Just cast Greater Magic Fang (or Weapon) on it. Spend your money (or Kensai bonuses) on things that are actually useful and that you can't get all day from a buff spell.

[bearsarebrown]

Mouth Pick from Savage Species will let you make iterative attacks.

And it's awesome.

[altpersona]

are you small sized?

is riding dog a RP thing? or do you just want it?

they have some +'s but so do wolves and several other similar creatures..

are templates an option? besides riding..

books?

[QOShea]

For books, all but ToB and psionics, trying to avoid the Eberron stuff since we only have the main book for it.

The riding dog is due to the fact that people don't panic when they see a dog, but they do when they see a wolf. (Feh, peasants! What do they know.)

The druid is human, so medium sized. Don't need a mount now with 14 hour wild shape.

Alas, templates are not an option.

The cohort should be able to make iterative attacks with his BAB being over +5, like any other fighter. If not, where is that rule found?

For the Signature Weapon, eventually he'd have to go +5 with +5 in bonuses because you can't have more than  +5 in bonuses on a weapon.

As for the monk, I can't really picture the dog up on his hind legs hitting people with his front paws.

"What breed is that dog?" "Duh! I'm a boxer!"

[Ribusprissin]

"What breed is that dog?" "Duh! I'm a boxer!"

"I am just a poor dog, with my story seldom told..."

[Negative Zero]

For books, all but ToB and psionics, trying to avoid the Eberron stuff since we only have the main book for it.

The riding dog is due to the fact that people don't panic when they see a dog, but they do when they see a wolf. (Feh, peasants! What do they know.)

The druid is human, so medium sized. Don't need a mount now with 14 hour wild shape.

Alas, templates are not an option.

The cohort should be able to make iterative attacks with his BAB being over +5, like any other fighter. If not, where is that rule found?

For the Signature Weapon, eventually he'd have to go +5 with +5 in bonuses because you can't have more than  +5 in bonuses on a weapon.

As for the monk, I can't really picture the dog up on his hind legs hitting people with his front paws.

"What breed is that dog?" "Duh! I'm a boxer!"

The SRD should state that you can't take iterative attacks with natural weapons. A Monk's natural attack is an exception. (Incidentally, the dog could just headbutt, or kick, or anything that is a bludgeoning attack, for an unarmed strike. It doesn't have to be a fist.)

[QOShea]

Blast! So it does. That sucks big time.

Hmm.. what to do with him now...

Hmm, could you enchant a helmet to work as a +1 weapon for headbutts? LOL

[Negative Zero]

Mouth Pick from Savage Species will let you make iterative attacks.

And it's awesome.

Do that. Mouthpick is an enhancement you can get for a weapon that lets you wield it in lieu of using a bite attack. Imagine giving a longsword a handle that fits in the mouth instead of the hand. It's like that. Since it's a manufactured weapon and not a natural one, the iteratives will work just fine.

[QOShea]

Do that. Mouthpick is an enhancement you can get for a weapon that lets you wield it in lieu of using a bite attack. Imagine giving a longsword a handle that fits in the mouth instead of the hand. It's like that. Since it's a manufactured weapon and not a natural one, the iteratives will work just fine.

Would the cohort need his own cohort to carry the weapon? I can't picture how he would draw it.

Hmm

Mouthpick, eh? I'll check it out.

I did like the image of the dog eventually having teeth that looked extra sharp (keen), crackling with sparks (shocking), quick to bite (warning), and not sure what else to put on it.

[altpersona]

other regular animals may work out well also..

owl, eagle, monkey, horse.. that sorta thing..

also are we talking cohort or companion?

[QOShea]

other regular animals may work out well also..

owl, eagle, monkey, horse.. that sorta thing..

also are we talking cohort or companion?

This is a cohort. Awakened Riding Dog.

His animal companion is an unAwakened Riding Dog.

The companion kicks more ass than the cohort.

[QOShea]

Where is the information on the mouthpick located?

I can't find it in Savage Species.

[altpersona]

ah ha.

[QOShea]

ah ha.

 

[Agita]

Lords of Madness, page 46. It apparently even gives you automatic proficiency with the weapon. That's kind of neat.

[QOShea]

Lords of Madness, page 46. It apparently even gives you automatic proficiency with the weapon. That's kind of neat.

Of COURSE it's in a book we don't have.

Oy.

 

[PhaedrusXY]

Blast! So it does. That sucks big time.

Hmm.. what to do with him now...

Hmm, could you enchant a helmet to work as a +1 weapon for headbutts? LOL

Like I said... armor spikes. If he's not a monk, he should definitely be wearing armor. Also, a monk can use any part of his body to make unarmed strikes. So he doesn't have to be a "boxer".

[woodenbandman]

I think you should give A something other than a 7th fighter levell, and B something for over-the-top awesomeness. Perhaps if you gave him a level of bard and took him into war chanter so he could inspire courage by howling.

[cru]

RAW, an awakened riding dog should have 4 HD: a normal riding dog has 2, awaken adds 2. Also, it becomes a magical beast (augmented animal). That sucks cause your animal buffs no longer apply.