<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=188886.msg9131580#msg9131580">Quote from: FallenDabus on 01-11-2013, 11:56:47</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">I've never seen the animal companions be referred to as a superior specimen as far as I can remember. I actually thought that animal companions are younger versions of the animals, particularly larger ones like elephants and T-rex, that have bonded with a mortal companion, which I thought was an ingenious way of solving the balanced issues that advanced animal companions could cause. <br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>I agree, a "superior " version of the animal isn't stated anywhere in either the D&D 3x or the Pathfinder systems in regards to animal companions. Neither is it stated that they are "inferior" versions for that matter. I use the term in regards to general health and ultimate potential of the animal. Compare a wolf in the wild to a zoo cared for wolf and there are significant  differences. The zoo version is healthier, better fed, larger and usually slightly more intelligent. Animal companions are sort of the same situation. Because of their bond to their 2-legged companion, they have better conditions and other advantages. So, in that regard, they are superior to their regular cousins. They DO start off as a size smaller than the regular version, reflecting that they start off as young animals. However, they "grow" into adult versions at the level 4/7 advancement. So, why don't they follow the animal capabilities? You have two versions of the same animal and it doesn't make a lot of sense to deny them what are instinctive and evolutionary abilities.<br/><br/>If the lost capabilities could be taken as feats, it would make more sense, but they aren't options for animal companions. They can bite just as hard, they have a few more HP, but otherwise, they are weaker than a version 2 to 4 HD lower than they are.<br/><br/>I'm just curious about the differences. The net result isn't much different. The companion is generally slower and trade a few HP for the lost offensive/defensive abilities. A couple of low level feats usually don't make up for the differences.<br/>