Improved Companion Templates

When choosing an improved companion, instead of choosing a new creature, you may instead choose one of the following template options to your companion. If a template choice has prerequisites, you must meet those prerequisites before qualifying for that option. Some template options include additional adjustments or gain a mastery at the indicated level.

When determining the effects of a template that uses the templated creature’s Challenge Rating (“CR”), use your effective druid level for that companion as its CR.

Aligned

Your companion holds qualities similar to the great outsiders which champion their alignment.

Special: The aligned templates are alignment-themed. Their theme is referred to as their “thematic alignment” for this section. For example, the celestial template’s thematic alignment is good, resolute is lawful, and counterpoised is true neutral.

Prerequisites: Knowledge (religion) or Knowledge (planes) 3 ranks; alignment within 1 step of the template’s thematic alignment.

Template: The companion gains one template chosen between celestial, entropic, fiendish, resolute, and counterpoised (Champions of Balance).

Template Adjustments: Alignment The companion’s alignment shifts to the template’s thematic alignment; Ability Scores If the companion’s base Intelligence is less than 3, it increases to 3. If the companion’s base Charisma is less than 11, it increases to 11.

Mastery (11th level): Ability Scores Str +2, Cha +2.

Constructed

Your companion possesses inorganic or mechanical physiology, whether clockwork organs, cybernetic limbs, or golem-craft ed skin.

Prerequisite: Knowledge (engineering) or Craft (mechanical) 5 ranks.

Template: The companion gains the promethean creature template.

Mastery (11th level): Defensive Abilities fortification (25%). This stacks with other abilities which ignore critical hits and precision damage.

Special: If you possess the Tech sphere and would replace the Craft (mechanical) skill with another skill when determining the effects of the Tech sphere, you may use that skill to qualify for this improved companion template as though it were Craft (mechanical).

Dark

Your companion’s form shift s hues of gray, purple, and black, its power drawn from the planar inkwells of shadow.

Prerequisite: Knowledge (planes) or Stealth 3 ranks.

Template: The companion gains the dark template.

Special Abilities The creature gains the following special abilities:

Mastery (11th level): Ability Scores Dex +2; If the companion’s base Intelligence is less than 3, it increases to 3; Skills The companion gains a +4 racial bonus on Stealth checks.

Elemental

Your companion’s form displays elemental might, its power intimately connected to the elemental planes.

Prerequisite: Knowledge (planes) 3 ranks or Charisma 13.

Template: The companion gains one template chosen between aerial, aqueous, chthonic, and fiery.

Mastery (11th level): Ability Scores Wis +2; If the companion’s base Intelligence is less than 3, it increases to 3; Languages The companion can speak, read, and understand one language based on their chosen template (aerial–Auran; aqueous– Aquan; chthonic–Terran; fiery–Ignan).

Fey-Touched

Your companion has ties to the faerie, whether cursed, gift ed, or by chance.

Prerequisite: Bluff or Knowledge (nature) 3 ranks.

Template: The companion gains the fey-touched creature template (Heroes from the Fringe), but does not gain the change shape special quality.

Template Adjustments: Ability Scores If the companion’s base Intelligence is less than 6, it is increased to 6; if the companion’s base Charisma is less than 11, it increases to 11.

Feats: The companion gains Transformation as a bonus feat and must choose Anthropomorphic Transformation (transformation) as its (transformation) talent; Special If the companion does not know a language, it gains one language its master can speak while transformed.

Mastery (11th level): Ability Scores Cha +4; Special The companion gains Bluff and Stealth as class skills and is treated as having the fey creature type in addition to its original creature type whenever it would be advantageous (such as being treated as a fey creature for the Fallen Fey sphere). In addition, choose Seelie or Unseelie.

Giant

Your companion’s size is great and its strength mighty, hearkening to the great giants.

Prerequisite: Knowledge (local) 5 ranks or Strength 13.

Template: The companion gains the giant template.

Mastery (11th level): Defensive Abilities DR/5 piercing.

Possessed

Your companion is not alone in its own mind as a spirit or long-passed personality walks alongside it.

Special: The possessed template grants a “second personality” to the base creature, referred to as a spirit. The spirit’s motives should be aligned with the companion’s master and should not be hostile to the companion’s master. GMs and players should discuss what type of spirit would possess the companion before selecting this template.

Prerequisites: Knowledge (history) or Sense Motive 5 ranks; Psychic Sensitivity or the ability to cast psychic spells.

Template: The companion gains the possessed template.

Template Adjustments: Special Whenever the spirit possesses the companion, it remains in control for 10 minutes. In addition, choose any one language the companion’s master can speak. While the spirit is possessing the companion, the companion can speak and understand that language.

Mastery (11th level): Ability Scores +2 Con; Special Spectral Prowess (Su) While the spirit is possessing the companion, the companion’s natural attacks gain the ghost touch special weapon ability and deal an additional 1d10 damage against creatures with the undead type or incorporeal subtype. In addition, once per day as a free action, the companion can choose to become possessed by the spirit.

Primordial

Your companion’s form is an echo of the past, drawing great strength from ancient well springs and powerful ancestors.

Special: When selecting this template, choose one magic sphere to be the companion’s “primordial sphere”. Once the companion’s primordial sphere is chosen, it cannot be changed.

Prerequisite: Knowledge (history) or Survival 3 ranks.

Template: The companion gains the primordial template, but does not gain the spell-like abilities.

Template Adjustments: Ability Scores +2 to the companion’s casting ability modifier; Feats: Advanced Magic Training, Basic Magic Training; the companion must select its primordial sphere with the talent gained from this feat. If the companion already possesses Basic Magic Training, the companion instead gains Extra Magic Talent, selecting a magic talent from its primordial sphere.

Mastery (11th level): Ability Scores +2 to the companion’s casting ability modifier; Feats: Extra Magic Talent, selecting a magic talent from the companion’s primordial sphere.