Ranger: Animal Companion - Choose a base is no real choice?

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So these are the options in the rules:
Quote
Choose a base:
•Ferocity +2, Cunning +1, 1 Armor, Instinct +1
•Ferocity +2, Cunning +2, 0 Armor, Instinct +1
•Ferocity +1, Cunning +2, 1 Armor, Instinct +1
•Ferocity +3, Cunning +1, 1 Armor, Instinct +2
Who would not pick the last base option?

Let's say that a default pet has
•Ferocity +1, Cunning +1, 0 Armor, Instinct +1
Compare to that assuming all 4 pet stats are equally weighted the 4 options have the following amount of extra stats:
1st base: 2
2nd base: 2
3rd base: 2
4th base: 4
Can someone explain to me how these rules makes any sense?

Re: Ranger: Animal Companion - Choose a base is no real choice?
« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2014, 12:54:48 PM »
Per page 131, Animal Companion's Instinct is a stat that has only negative effects.

You choose as many weaknesses as the Instinct score, and when someone else interferes with you trying to Command the animal, the interfering player adds the animal's Instinct to the interfere roll. So relative to the baseline stats you've factored out, there are 3 benefits (extra +2 Ferocity, armor 1) and 1 detriment (extra +1 Instinct), balancing out to the same 2 extra benefits as the others.
« Last Edit: May 19, 2014, 02:23:11 PM by Borogove »

Re: Ranger: Animal Companion - Choose a base is no real choice?
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2014, 01:51:40 PM »
Aaah, then it makes sense. Thanks for clarifying!