Giant2005
2015-06-22, 12:07 AM
I used the monster creation guidelines from the DMG to create 5 new Cr 1/4 Beasts which are intended to be used by the Beastmaster.
They are all specialized in order to enhance their strengths and in some cases reduce the weaknesses of the companion, as a result they are quite a bit more powerful than the other companion options. I recommend using them only if you have an issue with how the Beastmaster's companions perform.
I figured some Beastmasters might want little more out of their companion other than a decent mount. With that in mind, I made the extremely resilient Giant Cockroach. This one is a little unrealistic compared to the others and is more of a parody of a Cockroach than anything resembling reality but I'm sure at one time or another we have all frustratingly decided that Cockroaches are immortal and it is that outburst that leads to the:
http://s1.postimg.org/zbwyrecov/Giant_Cockroach.png
Next up I created an offensive ranged companion option which I feel is a bit of an otherwise unsatisfied need for any Ranger that wants an offensive mount without having to fight in melee. that line of thought gave birth to the:
http://s30.postimg.org/3vvrnbsv5/Giant_Bombardier_Beetle.png
The next two are basic companions that in practice function exactly like the best companions currently do: They require serious ranger levels and the Mounted Combatant feat to survive but are effective melee combatants. These ones are just more offensive variations for those that thing damage is a field where the Beastmaster falls behind.
http://s9.postimg.org/4qqmfipjz/Giant_Wolverine.png
http://s28.postimg.org/d8jrlu61p/Giant_Praying_Mantis.png
The final creation is a melee combatant that unlike the Wolverine and Praying Mantis, doesn't require being mounted in order to survive (And as a smaller creature, can't actually be mounted). It has good offense and defense (Once its HP is boosted by the Beastmaster's passive abilities) and unlike this things defenses/damage are actually pretty realistic considering how monstrous a Tardigrade really is. For those that aren't aware and can't be bothered googling the creature, they are the most resilient things on the planet and look like something born of a nightmare (Shame on that new Errata that prevented me from giving them a functional Frightful Presence).
http://s16.postimg.org/cmbv6rk2t/Giant_Tardigrade.png
The newest addition is a multi-attacking Deinonychus (Which is the presumably feathered, dinosaur the raptors from Jurassic Park were based off). I may have taken some liberties on this one as no-one really knows how they fought but considering the knives strapped to their feet and their big ol' teeth, it isn't a huge leap to think they were all used as weapons. I figure like flightless birds of today, their combat involves a whole lot of kicking but unlike the flightless birds of today, they didn't have wings to stabilize them while doing so. So I went with a simple bite grapple to keep them upright while they kick like maniacs.
http://s8.postimg.org/nglx4yrc5/Deinonychus.png
It has come to my attention that for some unknown reason, some people cannot see the images. So here are download links for those that can't see the images and are interested enough to bother:
Deinonychus (https://www.dropbox.com/s/pyrqbasjzu5dndw/Deinonychus.PNG?dl=0)
Giant Bombardier Beetle (https://www.dropbox.com/s/3vombs3li6td6i0/Giant%20Bombardier%20Beetle.PNG?dl=0)
Giant Cockroach (https://www.dropbox.com/s/e2qah4gea0w4lxm/Giant%20Cockroach.PNG?dl=0)
Giant Praying Mantis (https://www.dropbox.com/s/c21g4wye79s314j/Giant%20Praying%20Mantis.PNG?dl=0)
Giant Tardigrade (https://www.dropbox.com/s/p43p3tt0gz8898a/Giant%20Tardigrade.PNG?dl=0)
Giant Wolverine (https://www.dropbox.com/s/03n5rxwhgwmzv67/Giant%20Wolverine.PNG?dl=0)
They are all specialized in order to enhance their strengths and in some cases reduce the weaknesses of the companion, as a result they are quite a bit more powerful than the other companion options. I recommend using them only if you have an issue with how the Beastmaster's companions perform.
I figured some Beastmasters might want little more out of their companion other than a decent mount. With that in mind, I made the extremely resilient Giant Cockroach. This one is a little unrealistic compared to the others and is more of a parody of a Cockroach than anything resembling reality but I'm sure at one time or another we have all frustratingly decided that Cockroaches are immortal and it is that outburst that leads to the:
http://s1.postimg.org/zbwyrecov/Giant_Cockroach.png
Next up I created an offensive ranged companion option which I feel is a bit of an otherwise unsatisfied need for any Ranger that wants an offensive mount without having to fight in melee. that line of thought gave birth to the:
http://s30.postimg.org/3vvrnbsv5/Giant_Bombardier_Beetle.png
The next two are basic companions that in practice function exactly like the best companions currently do: They require serious ranger levels and the Mounted Combatant feat to survive but are effective melee combatants. These ones are just more offensive variations for those that thing damage is a field where the Beastmaster falls behind.
http://s9.postimg.org/4qqmfipjz/Giant_Wolverine.png
http://s28.postimg.org/d8jrlu61p/Giant_Praying_Mantis.png
The final creation is a melee combatant that unlike the Wolverine and Praying Mantis, doesn't require being mounted in order to survive (And as a smaller creature, can't actually be mounted). It has good offense and defense (Once its HP is boosted by the Beastmaster's passive abilities) and unlike this things defenses/damage are actually pretty realistic considering how monstrous a Tardigrade really is. For those that aren't aware and can't be bothered googling the creature, they are the most resilient things on the planet and look like something born of a nightmare (Shame on that new Errata that prevented me from giving them a functional Frightful Presence).
http://s16.postimg.org/cmbv6rk2t/Giant_Tardigrade.png
The newest addition is a multi-attacking Deinonychus (Which is the presumably feathered, dinosaur the raptors from Jurassic Park were based off). I may have taken some liberties on this one as no-one really knows how they fought but considering the knives strapped to their feet and their big ol' teeth, it isn't a huge leap to think they were all used as weapons. I figure like flightless birds of today, their combat involves a whole lot of kicking but unlike the flightless birds of today, they didn't have wings to stabilize them while doing so. So I went with a simple bite grapple to keep them upright while they kick like maniacs.
http://s8.postimg.org/nglx4yrc5/Deinonychus.png
It has come to my attention that for some unknown reason, some people cannot see the images. So here are download links for those that can't see the images and are interested enough to bother:
Deinonychus (https://www.dropbox.com/s/pyrqbasjzu5dndw/Deinonychus.PNG?dl=0)
Giant Bombardier Beetle (https://www.dropbox.com/s/3vombs3li6td6i0/Giant%20Bombardier%20Beetle.PNG?dl=0)
Giant Cockroach (https://www.dropbox.com/s/e2qah4gea0w4lxm/Giant%20Cockroach.PNG?dl=0)
Giant Praying Mantis (https://www.dropbox.com/s/c21g4wye79s314j/Giant%20Praying%20Mantis.PNG?dl=0)
Giant Tardigrade (https://www.dropbox.com/s/p43p3tt0gz8898a/Giant%20Tardigrade.PNG?dl=0)
Giant Wolverine (https://www.dropbox.com/s/03n5rxwhgwmzv67/Giant%20Wolverine.PNG?dl=0)