Segev
2021-11-12, 04:50 PM
Based very loosely on the old 3.5 Halfling Outrider - really, just inspired by its existence - this archetype tries to both be a better "pet subclass" for the Ranger and to reward small PCs without making it too punishing to be medium and pursue this.
I request feedback on interest, balance, and suggestions for improvement, please. Also, if any ability names are as lame as I think they are, feel free to offer suggestions for better ones!
Outrider (Ranger Archetype)
A specialist in finding mounts in the wilderness and ranging far and wide with their mobility, the outrider is rarely found going on foot.
Outrider Spells
At certain levels, you learn additional spells as Ranger spells. These do not count against the number of Ranger spells you know. If the spell is a ritual spell, you may cast it as a ritual.
Ranger Level 3: animal friendship
Ranger Level 5: enlarge/reduce
Ranger Level 9: water breathing
Ranger Level 13: locate creature
Ranger Level 17: commune with nature
Rider and Steed As One
At third level when you take this archetype, creatures Charmed by you will serve you willingly and competently as mounts. You do not need a saddle to ride such creatures comfortably, though they still must be at least one size category larger than you to hold you. When your controlled mount would take any kind of damage except poison, you may take the damage in its place. Your steed still suffers any other effects of the source of damage. If your proficiency bonus is higher than your controlled mount’s, then your mount substitutes your proficiency bonus for its own.
Jockey
At third level when you take this archetype, you learn to use the same magics that enable a mount to serve you to enable you to better ride a wider range of creatures. When you impose the Charmed condition on a beast, you may choose to affect yourself as by the Reduce option of enlarge/reduce, and remain that size for as long as the Beast remains Charmed.
Additionally, if a beast you have Charmed is subjected to an effect that would increase its size category - such as the enlarge/reduce spell - you may choose to remove any Concentration requirement that effect might have and change its duration to “while the Beast remains Charmed.” If you are not already smaller than normal, you may affect yourself with the Reduce option as if you had just Charmed the creature when you do this.
Aggressive Mount
At seventh level, you learn how to leverage a controlled mount’s natural weapons. In addition to the normal options for a controlled mount’s actions, you may use your bonus action to allow your mount to use its action to use one of its attacks.
Mauling Mount
At eleventh level, when you use a bonus action to direct your controlled mount to use its action to attack, it may choose to use a multiattack action, if it has one, instead of just one of its normal attacks.
Share Spells
At fifteenth level, your willing, controlled mount may count as affected by any spell that is affecting you, at your option.
I request feedback on interest, balance, and suggestions for improvement, please. Also, if any ability names are as lame as I think they are, feel free to offer suggestions for better ones!
Outrider (Ranger Archetype)
A specialist in finding mounts in the wilderness and ranging far and wide with their mobility, the outrider is rarely found going on foot.
Outrider Spells
At certain levels, you learn additional spells as Ranger spells. These do not count against the number of Ranger spells you know. If the spell is a ritual spell, you may cast it as a ritual.
Ranger Level 3: animal friendship
Ranger Level 5: enlarge/reduce
Ranger Level 9: water breathing
Ranger Level 13: locate creature
Ranger Level 17: commune with nature
Rider and Steed As One
At third level when you take this archetype, creatures Charmed by you will serve you willingly and competently as mounts. You do not need a saddle to ride such creatures comfortably, though they still must be at least one size category larger than you to hold you. When your controlled mount would take any kind of damage except poison, you may take the damage in its place. Your steed still suffers any other effects of the source of damage. If your proficiency bonus is higher than your controlled mount’s, then your mount substitutes your proficiency bonus for its own.
Jockey
At third level when you take this archetype, you learn to use the same magics that enable a mount to serve you to enable you to better ride a wider range of creatures. When you impose the Charmed condition on a beast, you may choose to affect yourself as by the Reduce option of enlarge/reduce, and remain that size for as long as the Beast remains Charmed.
Additionally, if a beast you have Charmed is subjected to an effect that would increase its size category - such as the enlarge/reduce spell - you may choose to remove any Concentration requirement that effect might have and change its duration to “while the Beast remains Charmed.” If you are not already smaller than normal, you may affect yourself with the Reduce option as if you had just Charmed the creature when you do this.
Aggressive Mount
At seventh level, you learn how to leverage a controlled mount’s natural weapons. In addition to the normal options for a controlled mount’s actions, you may use your bonus action to allow your mount to use its action to use one of its attacks.
Mauling Mount
At eleventh level, when you use a bonus action to direct your controlled mount to use its action to attack, it may choose to use a multiattack action, if it has one, instead of just one of its normal attacks.
Share Spells
At fifteenth level, your willing, controlled mount may count as affected by any spell that is affecting you, at your option.