Shadus
2014-12-30, 01:59 AM
So having now read the 5E books I gotta say there is a lot to like. However; one thing that stands out to me is how bad the Beast Master Ranger Archetype is. It makes me rather sad. After all The Beastmaster is one of my favorite fantasy movies of all time, and 5E's Beast Master plain sucks. I mean using YOUR action to have your pet attack is pretty lame. Also, there is no way to get many of the, in my opinion, more classic beast pets is a shame. A Beast Master who can't can't have Lions, and Tigers, and Bears? Oh My.
So after talking it over with a friend, this little bit of inspiration hit me. I present, my fix.
Beast Companions
At 3rd level, you gain a beast companion that accompanies you on your adventures and is trained to fight alongside you. Choose a beast that is no larger than Medium and that has a challenge rating o f 1/4 or lower (appendix D presents statistics for the hawk, mastiff, and panther as examples). Add your proficiency bonus to the beast’s AC, attack rolls, and damage rolls, as well as to any saving throws and skills it is proficient in. Its hit point maximum equals its normal maximum or four times your ranger level, whichever is higher. The beast obeys your commands as best as it can. It takes its turn on your initiative, though it doesn’t take an action unless you command it to. On your turn, you can verbally command the beast where to move (no action required by you). You can use your bonus action to verbally command it to take the Attack, Dash, Disengage, Dodge, , Help action or use a skill it is proficient in. A beast will continue to follow your command every round until it no longer can or told do another action. As you gain levels in Ranger your ability to train beasts improves. At 7 Level you can control multiple beasts or a single more powerful beast. The total challenge rating of your beasts cannot surpass 2/4 and you can have up to 2 beast companions. This further increases to 3/4 CR and 3 companions at level 11 and CR 1 and 4 companions level 15. In addition, starting at 7 level you can obtain animal companions of large size. While traveling through your favored terrain with only the beast, you can move stealthily at a normal pace. If the beast dies, you can obtain another one by spending 8 hours magically bonding with another beast that isn’t hostile to you, either the same type of beast as before or a different one.
Beast Training
Beginning at 7th level, any beast companions you have had for over one week gain proficiency in one of the following skills: Athletics, Acrobatics, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Perception, or Survival. Also if you are ever separated from your beast companions, you can call them to your side with a whistle, and they will appear in 1d4 rounds, crossing any gaps, voids, or planes as necessary.
Beast Bond
Starting at 11th level, your kinship with your beast companion has risen to a supernatural level. You gain a spiritual mind link with your beast, allowing you to communicate with them. In addition you can spend an action to see through any one of your companions eyes and feel what they feel. While in this state you can take direct control of their actions but it uses your own actions. Your companion must be within a number of miles equal to 1/2 your ranger level (rounded down) for you to use this ability.
Share Spells
Beginning at 15th level, when you cast a spell targeting yourself, you can also affect your beast companion with the spell if the beast is within 30 feet o f you.]
So what do you think? Is having multiple pets broken? Dose giving them skills make the Ranger to good of a skill monkey(AKA allow it to surpass the Rouge who should remain the king of skills)? Dose something not make sense/ is to complicated? Let me know. I'd love your feedback.
So after talking it over with a friend, this little bit of inspiration hit me. I present, my fix.
Beast Companions
At 3rd level, you gain a beast companion that accompanies you on your adventures and is trained to fight alongside you. Choose a beast that is no larger than Medium and that has a challenge rating o f 1/4 or lower (appendix D presents statistics for the hawk, mastiff, and panther as examples). Add your proficiency bonus to the beast’s AC, attack rolls, and damage rolls, as well as to any saving throws and skills it is proficient in. Its hit point maximum equals its normal maximum or four times your ranger level, whichever is higher. The beast obeys your commands as best as it can. It takes its turn on your initiative, though it doesn’t take an action unless you command it to. On your turn, you can verbally command the beast where to move (no action required by you). You can use your bonus action to verbally command it to take the Attack, Dash, Disengage, Dodge, , Help action or use a skill it is proficient in. A beast will continue to follow your command every round until it no longer can or told do another action. As you gain levels in Ranger your ability to train beasts improves. At 7 Level you can control multiple beasts or a single more powerful beast. The total challenge rating of your beasts cannot surpass 2/4 and you can have up to 2 beast companions. This further increases to 3/4 CR and 3 companions at level 11 and CR 1 and 4 companions level 15. In addition, starting at 7 level you can obtain animal companions of large size. While traveling through your favored terrain with only the beast, you can move stealthily at a normal pace. If the beast dies, you can obtain another one by spending 8 hours magically bonding with another beast that isn’t hostile to you, either the same type of beast as before or a different one.
Beast Training
Beginning at 7th level, any beast companions you have had for over one week gain proficiency in one of the following skills: Athletics, Acrobatics, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Perception, or Survival. Also if you are ever separated from your beast companions, you can call them to your side with a whistle, and they will appear in 1d4 rounds, crossing any gaps, voids, or planes as necessary.
Beast Bond
Starting at 11th level, your kinship with your beast companion has risen to a supernatural level. You gain a spiritual mind link with your beast, allowing you to communicate with them. In addition you can spend an action to see through any one of your companions eyes and feel what they feel. While in this state you can take direct control of their actions but it uses your own actions. Your companion must be within a number of miles equal to 1/2 your ranger level (rounded down) for you to use this ability.
Share Spells
Beginning at 15th level, when you cast a spell targeting yourself, you can also affect your beast companion with the spell if the beast is within 30 feet o f you.]
So what do you think? Is having multiple pets broken? Dose giving them skills make the Ranger to good of a skill monkey(AKA allow it to surpass the Rouge who should remain the king of skills)? Dose something not make sense/ is to complicated? Let me know. I'd love your feedback.