Make Ranger HiPS normal HiPS

[ARHicks00]

There is a feat that ups your companion to the same as a druid of your level.

And druid pets feel right to me.

I believe natural bond is +2 and the other companion feat is +3 and +3 epic companion for a total of 8. I can't say because I never invested in companion feats as a druid or ranger. (Although the druid was far better than the ranger's without it)

[bharring]

TLDR, with Natural Bond, a Ranger's companion is just as strong as a same-level Druid

Long version
https://wiki.bgtscc.net/index.php?title ... ion_(feat)
Ranger Animal Companions are same as a Druid of 3 levels lower.

https://wiki.bgtscc.net/index.php?title=Natural_Bond
The feat increases your effective level for Animal Companion by 3, up to your Character Level

So a 10th level Ranger with the feat has the same Animal Companion as a 10th level Druid.

Can't speak to the epic level feat (still level 19), but my Druid's companion has always been strong enough to matter. He's not as strong as another character my level, but he's not supposed to be.

[bharring]

Per the wiki, Animal Companion with Epic Animal Companion at 30 tops out at a 23HD animal. Dragon Companion - another epic feat - gets a 26HD Dragon instead.

I wouldn't expect the Animal Companion to hold their own unsupported, but looks like they've stats enough to be quite useful.

[ARHicks00]

Per the wiki, Animal Companion with Epic Animal Companion at 30 tops out at a 23HD animal. Dragon Companion - another epic feat - gets a 26HD Dragon instead.

I wouldn't expect the Animal Companion to hold their own unsupported, but looks like they've stats enough to be quite useful.

TLDR, with Natural Bond, a Ranger's companion is just as strong as a same-level Druid

Long version
https://wiki.bgtscc.net/index.php?title ... ion_(feat)
Ranger Animal Companions are same as a Druid of 3 levels lower.

https://wiki.bgtscc.net/index.php?title=Natural_Bond
The feat increases your effective level for Animal Companion by 3, up to your Character Level

So a 10th level Ranger with the feat has the same Animal Companion as a 10th level Druid.

Can't speak to the epic level feat (still level 19), but my Druid's companion has always been strong enough to matter. He's not as strong as another character my level, but he's not supposed to be.

Thanks for that. I just know my pet was level 8 to 9 when I was 17 and 18. Not good when you trying to fight minotaurs, wyvern, xvarts, and gnolls within lions way. If the Ranger pet is suppose to -3 levels lower than my pet should have level 14 to 15 respectively. That is something that should be looked into.

[Steve]

Really, the information is RIGHT THERE if you take the time and actually pay attention:

Ranger level A ranger's effective level for the purposes of determining the companion’s characteristics and special abilities is equal to half his ranger class level. This in addition to adjustments made for advanced choices.

That means a lvl 18 Ranger will have a lvl 9 Companion, and the chart to understand its power levels is here: https://wiki.bgtscc.net/index.php?title ... %28feat%29

[ARHicks00]

Really, the information is RIGHT THERE if you take the time and actually pay attention:

Ranger level A ranger's effective level for the purposes of determining the companion’s characteristics and special abilities is equal to half his ranger class level. This in addition to adjustments made for advanced choices.

That means a lvl 18 Ranger will have a lvl 9 Companion, and the chart to understand its power levels is here: https://wiki.bgtscc.net/index.php?title ... %28feat%29

Which is completely different from other servers I have played on. BGTSCC isn't the quintessential nwn2. For example, Ranger and Paladin spellcasting is still 1/2 in Dalelands. Only BG, Kingdom of Haven (I think), and Skullport/Tales had full spellcasting. I think either Tales of Amn or Skullport had -3 companion progression + 1 per level.

I don't pay the companion much attention as mostly rely on the Ranger's physical abilities not his off-dps.

[Thaelis]

Really, the information is RIGHT THERE if you take the time and actually pay attention:

Ranger level A ranger's effective level for the purposes of determining the companion’s characteristics and special abilities is equal to half his ranger class level. This in addition to adjustments made for advanced choices.

That means a lvl 18 Ranger will have a lvl 9 Companion, and the chart to understand its power levels is here: https://wiki.bgtscc.net/index.php?title ... %28feat%29

Um, isn't that under the heading "3.5e Comparison", which means that's how it works in PnP?

It says: "NWN2 gives Rangers Animal Companions at class level - 3."

However, even that is pretty abstruse since you don't get a level 17 animal when you are level 20. You get the same animal companion that a 17th level Druid would get (i.e. a level 11 animal).

Anyway, whatever it actually is in BGTSCC, it's still pretty weak. They die easily even if you dedicate all your spell slots to buffing them. I'm with ARHicks on this one

[c2k]

BGTSCC isn't the only nwn2 PW.

FTFY, to fit the context of what you added afterward.

[bharring]

The wiki links to another wiki that has stats/level, at least 1-20. Seems the general rule of thumb is roughly +2HD every 3 levels for the companion.

We don't need Animal Companions to get +3HD for every 3 levels. This'd make Animal Companions theoretically as strong as the Ranger/Druid. Stronger, even, with the epic fate. Druids turning into 30HD dragons are strong, imagine druids turning into 30HD dragons with a 33+HD Animal Companion.

At any rate, doesn't impact HIPS vs Rangers all that much. Animal Companions can help take a little heat off, but without substantial support can't properly "tank". you're playing 1 PC not 2.

[ARHicks00]

BGTSCC isn't the only nwn2 PW.

FTFY, to fit the context of what you added afterward.

True, but my point was that most of experience with pets were non-BG related and those servers tend to treat pets differently.

[ARHicks00]

The wiki links to another wiki that has stats/level, at least 1-20. Seems the general rule of thumb is roughly +2HD every 3 levels for the companion.

We don't need Animal Companions to get +3HD for every 3 levels. This'd make Animal Companions theoretically as strong as the Ranger/Druid. Stronger, even, with the epic fate. Druids turning into 30HD dragons are strong, imagine druids turning into 30HD dragons with a 33+HD Animal Companion.

At any rate, doesn't impact HIPS vs Rangers all that much. Animal Companions can help take a little heat off, but without substantial support can't properly "tank". you're playing 1 PC not 2.

Dude, I understand that. I wouldn't want the Ranger pets going the way of Vanilla WoW pets (Anyone who played Vanilla WoW knows what I am talking about ), but rather like Skullport the Ranger pets aren't really good after a certain level, which makes spells investment in them useless and most of the Ranger spell list is useless. It doesn't help that for a good bit your pet is 1/2 your level so going into an area that is designated for level 18 adventuring and you have a pet is 9 basically means your pet is outright useless.

But you are right, pets have nothing to do with HIPS.