Rangers/Spirit Shaman and Natural/Imp. Natural Bond

Rangers/Spirit Shaman and Natural/Imp. Natural Bond

Kunikos 1257209893|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

If you are a Ranger of level 4 and take Natural Bond feat, does your Animal Companion then act as a level 3 Druid companion? Then with Improved, would it act as a level 4 Druid companion (class cap)?

Similarly, a Spirit Shaman of level 5 takes Telthor Companion, and Natural Bond, would it then count as a level 2 Druid companion? With Improved, then would it act as a level 5 Druid companion equivalent (class cap) ?

Re: Rangers/Spirit Shaman and Natural/Imp. Natural Bond

Kaedrin 1257210747|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Natural Bond adds +3 (per it's description). Ranger is equal to Druid at Ranger - 3. So a 4th level ranger is a 1st level druid. With Natural Bond he is a 4th level druid.
Improved would do nothing.

Spirit Shaman is effective druid level of SS - 3 (so a 5th level is equal to a 2nd level druid). Natural Bond adds 3 which takes it back to level 5. Again, Improved does nothing.

Ranger is Ranger - 3. Spirit Shaman is SS - 3. Paladin (with Devoted) is Paladin - 4. Natural is +3 (up to your HD as a cap). Improved is +3 (up to your HD as a cap). Epic is +3 (can exceed HD).

I really don't how to make this any clearer.

Re: Rangers/Spirit Shaman and Natural/Imp. Natural Bond

Kunikos 1257289817|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Thank you for the explanation. I see that Exalted Companion will now add an additional -2, so then Improved Natural Bond becomes useful for these situations if you have that feat (such as Lion of Talisid builds).