clown-father
2015-09-11, 09:40 PM
Greetings all,
Recently one of our players has decided to take up a Beast Master Ranger but as we have come to learn there are a few design flaws with it. The issues seem to be the beast surviving at higher levels of play (due to the CR and size restrictions), lack of scaling to keep up with the other melee classes in general and overall variety of the beast able to be selected.
Our DM has come up with a few ideas to remedy this but the group's concern is with game balance. The player is set on keeping as the Beast Master, and really we are to far along to have him change to something else.
Any feedback on these would be appreciated as wells as other alternative ideas. Thanks. :)
The Ideas
HP:
Assign hit dice as per page 276 in the DGM (average or rolled, player preference) and add Constitution Rating. If the rating is a negative, assume the score is 0 for this purpose.
Stats:
Allow the beast to level up stats in the same method as a player. Though for simplicity, status are leveled up at every 5th level of the players current level (Example: If the player is at level 12, the beast companion would have two instances of stat increases.). Regular rules regarding stat caps apply in this fashion. Max leveling for a beast is the same as a player. Should a new beast be acquired due to the death of the prior beast companion, the player will be allowed to level up stats on the new beast up to the current player level.
Challenge Rating and Size Restrictions Changes:
The Ranger is able to gain access to beast companions of higher challenge rating and size based on the class level:
Levels 1-4 - No more than CR 1/4 and Medium Size
Levels 5-8 - No more than CR 1/2 and Large Size
Levels 9-12 - No more than CR 1 and Large Size
Level 13-16 - No more than CR 2 and Huge Size
Levels 17-20 - No more than CR 3 and Huge Size
Off the leash:
As a bonus action, the player can allow the beast to act independently. A full action is required to return the beast under your control. While acting independently, the beast gains a regular action and a move action. It may also make opportunity attacks but is unable to use actions such as Dash, Disengage, Dodge or Help. In addition, the beast will act according to its instincts as directed by the DM. If the ranger is unconscious or if the beast is not within range to receive verbal commands (or is restricted in hearing them) the beast will act independently. While acting independently, the beast does not gain the benefits of the Bestial Fury class feature.
Rules Clarifications and addendum:
During down time between adventures, the ranger PC can train the companion to learn some skills as a PC that it would physically be able to perform. Skills such as Intimidation or Athletics would be acceptable. Skills such as History would not.
It is also assumed that an animal companion can make opportunity attacks on its own if able to do so. This functions whether under the player's control or acting independently.
If desired, the player may allow the beast to attack twice once the Extra Attack class feature is gained. Though if done so, the class feature Bestial Fury can not be used twice in this fashion.
During the campaign, the player may be presented with opportunities to gain animal companions that do not have the beast key word. Such creatures will be based on location and must have more animal like features. Examples of acceptable alternate companions can include: griffon, flumph, or nightmare. Though these do not possess the beast key word, the ones able to be chosen are still bound by the Challenge Rating and Size Restriction Changes.
Recently one of our players has decided to take up a Beast Master Ranger but as we have come to learn there are a few design flaws with it. The issues seem to be the beast surviving at higher levels of play (due to the CR and size restrictions), lack of scaling to keep up with the other melee classes in general and overall variety of the beast able to be selected.
Our DM has come up with a few ideas to remedy this but the group's concern is with game balance. The player is set on keeping as the Beast Master, and really we are to far along to have him change to something else.
Any feedback on these would be appreciated as wells as other alternative ideas. Thanks. :)
The Ideas
HP:
Assign hit dice as per page 276 in the DGM (average or rolled, player preference) and add Constitution Rating. If the rating is a negative, assume the score is 0 for this purpose.
Stats:
Allow the beast to level up stats in the same method as a player. Though for simplicity, status are leveled up at every 5th level of the players current level (Example: If the player is at level 12, the beast companion would have two instances of stat increases.). Regular rules regarding stat caps apply in this fashion. Max leveling for a beast is the same as a player. Should a new beast be acquired due to the death of the prior beast companion, the player will be allowed to level up stats on the new beast up to the current player level.
Challenge Rating and Size Restrictions Changes:
The Ranger is able to gain access to beast companions of higher challenge rating and size based on the class level:
Levels 1-4 - No more than CR 1/4 and Medium Size
Levels 5-8 - No more than CR 1/2 and Large Size
Levels 9-12 - No more than CR 1 and Large Size
Level 13-16 - No more than CR 2 and Huge Size
Levels 17-20 - No more than CR 3 and Huge Size
Off the leash:
As a bonus action, the player can allow the beast to act independently. A full action is required to return the beast under your control. While acting independently, the beast gains a regular action and a move action. It may also make opportunity attacks but is unable to use actions such as Dash, Disengage, Dodge or Help. In addition, the beast will act according to its instincts as directed by the DM. If the ranger is unconscious or if the beast is not within range to receive verbal commands (or is restricted in hearing them) the beast will act independently. While acting independently, the beast does not gain the benefits of the Bestial Fury class feature.
Rules Clarifications and addendum:
During down time between adventures, the ranger PC can train the companion to learn some skills as a PC that it would physically be able to perform. Skills such as Intimidation or Athletics would be acceptable. Skills such as History would not.
It is also assumed that an animal companion can make opportunity attacks on its own if able to do so. This functions whether under the player's control or acting independently.
If desired, the player may allow the beast to attack twice once the Extra Attack class feature is gained. Though if done so, the class feature Bestial Fury can not be used twice in this fashion.
During the campaign, the player may be presented with opportunities to gain animal companions that do not have the beast key word. Such creatures will be based on location and must have more animal like features. Examples of acceptable alternate companions can include: griffon, flumph, or nightmare. Though these do not possess the beast key word, the ones able to be chosen are still bound by the Challenge Rating and Size Restriction Changes.