Hero Companions
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Some hero's can have companions in the form of pet animals or robots. This page focuses on the rules around having a Pet Animal or Robot and how to level the companion and teach it new abilities.
The two common Advance Classes that can have companions are the Xenophile and the Technosavant. To learn more about these classes please review there respected pages.
Companion Base Stats
| Class Level | HD | Affinity Bonus |
Skills | Feats | Tricks Functions |
Natural Armor Bonus |
Str/Dex Bonus |
Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | +0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +0 | +0 | - |
| 2nd | 3 | +0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | +0 | +0 | - |
| 3rd | 3 | +0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | +2 | +1 | - |
| 4th | 4 | +1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | +2 | +1 | - |
| 5th | 5 | +1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | +2 | +1 | - |
| 6th | 6 | +1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | +4 | +2 | - |
| 7th | 6 | +2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | +4 | +2 | - |
| 8th | 7 | +2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | +4 | +2 | - |
| 9th | 8 | +2 | 6 | 4 | 4 | +6 | +3 | - |
| 10th | 9 | +3 | 6 | 5 | 4 | +6 | +3 | - |
| 11th | 9 | +3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | +6 | +3 | - |
| 12th | 10 | +3 | 7 | 5 | 5 | +8 | +4 | - |
| 13th | 11 | +4 | 8 | 6 | 5 | +8 | +4 | - |
| 14th | 12 | +4 | 8 | 6 | 5 | +8 | +4 | - |
| 15th | 12 | +4 | 9 | 6 | 6 | +10 | +5 | - |
| 16th | 13 | +5 | 9 | 7 | 6 | +10 | +5 | - |
| 17th | 14 | +5 | 10 | 7 | 6 | +10 | +5 | — |
| 18th | 15 | +5 | 10 | 8 | 7 | +12 | +6 | - |
| 19th | 15 | +6 | 11 | 8 | 7 | +12 | +6 | - |
| 20th | 16 | +6 | 12 | 8 | 7 | +12 | +6 | - |
Class Level
This level is based on the Advance Class or Character level of the Companion's owner. With the Technosavant or Xenophile its associated with there Advance Class level unless the Character has the 'Improved Companionship' feat. If the Character is not playing an Advanced Class that provides the ability to have a Companion the Character must have the 'Companionship' feat and then the Class Level of the companion is based on 1/5 there Character Level.
HD
HD stands for Hit Die. Its the number of Hit Die the Companion will have. The Hit Die itself is determined by the animal itself or the make of the robot.
Affinity Bonus
The Affinity Bonus is just like a Character's affinity bonus. It is the bonus added to roles that the Companion has an affinity with. In most cases this is either Strength or Dexterity. However in some cases the Companion can specify a different Affinity. If it doesn't specify it is Strength.
Skills
The Companion has skills just like a Companion. However the number of skills available is limited. Below is the list of available skills for both Robots and Animal Companions:
Athletics(Str), Acrobatics(Dex), Escape Artist(Dex), Intimidate(Cha), Perception(Wis), Stealth(Dex), Survival(Wis).
Robots Class Skills are: Intimidate, Perception Animal Class Skills are: Athletics, Survival
Feats
Just like Character's Companion's can utilize feats. However not all feats are available. Below is a list of all the available feats.
Acrobatic, Agile Maneuvers, Athletic, Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Diehard, Dodge, Endurance, Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Armor, Improved Natural Attack, Improved Overrun, Intimidating Prowess, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Power Attack, Run, Skill Focus, Spring Attack, Stealthy, Toughness, Weapon Finesse, and Weapon Focus.
Tricks & Functions
Animal Companions can be taught Tricks and Robots can have Functions programmed. Some are the same. For example the Combat Techniques Character can do can be taught as Tricks or Functions. Most other Tricks and Functions are different as they pertain to either animals or robots.
The section below titled Tricks & Functions has more on this.
Natural Armor Bonus
This is added to the Companions AC and represents how much more difficult is to hit the battle hardened companion. It could represent improved Armor or flexibility or a little bit of both.
Str/Dex Bonus
As the Companion levels up two of the most important stats are improved. Their Strength and Dexterity. The Xenophile or Technosavant may be able to change these bonuses to fit there needs.
Special
These are specials that are provided as the Companion improves. These are specific too the either Animals or Robots.
Companion Leveling
Companions level up in relation too there owners. If a owner doesn't have any levels in an Advance Class that provides the ability to have an Companion the only way a Character can own a companion is through the 'Companionship' feat. If this is the case then the Class Level of the companion is 1/5th the Character level of the owner.
When leveling up an Animal Companion a Character can instantly improve upon there stats, choose new feats if applicable, and apply any new specials. However if the companion can learn a new trick the Character must take 1 week of training to teach the new trick to the Companion. During this time the Character acts as if crafting. So this will take 8 hours per day and any other labor after that point would cause the Character to be Fatigued. With the 'Improved Training' feat a Character can train an Animal Companion in just 1 day.
When leveling up a Robot Companion a Character has to craft the new features onto the Robot. The improved Class level is a representation of the Characters understanding and familiarity with the Robot as well as the Robot's AI having improved and better capable of taking new instructions. Each robot level Costs Money. Take 1/3rd the cost difference between the Current Robot level and the new level and that is the cost in building materials. The Crafting takes 1 day worth of labor and is considered repair work. No roll is needed if the Character has an Advanced Class that grants the ability to have Robot Companions. Once done the Robot has all the new stats, specials, functions of the next Class Level. If the Character takes the 'Improved Training' feat this can be done in 1 hour.
Finally if a Character takes the 'Improved Companionship' feat this means different things depending on if the Character has an Advance Class granting the ability to own a Companion. If the Character doesn't have an Advance Class that allows for Companions then this feat simply allows for the Companion Class Level to be 1/4th the Character level. If the Character does have said Advanced Class then it means that the Companion Class Level now depends not on the Advance Class level put the Character level meaning that the Companion can reach level 20 as well.