Searching for Animal Companion based Prestige Class (for Ranger)

[anest1s]

One of my players in my campaign, wants to take a prestige class, which will give him better animal companion, or wild shape something, or something like that. His theme is that he wants to become the king of all animals. He is also a bit barbaric.

The problem is, that there aren't any official prestige classes to do that, without being completely weak. Which means, that I have to ask you, if you know one not official, which could do the trick

Thanks in advance...

 

[Uber Dungeon]

Warbeast trainer; http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Warrior_Beast_Trainer_(3.5e_Prestige_Class)

Animal Lord;
http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Animal_Lord_(3.5e_Prestige_Class)

I like those two. You could always make one up.

 

[fireinakasha]

Well, in terms of official PrCs, have you considered the Beastmaster from Complete Adventurer? Extra animal companions is almost as good as a more powerful one, plus you get wild empathy, and Speak With Animals as a spell-like.

If you're going to homebrew, here are some ideas:
An aura like a Paly's, but that only effects friendly animals.
Massive bonuses to Handle Animal are a must.
Wild empathy is a must. Consider removing the increased difficulty for magical animals.
A special ability that allows you to use Handle Animal with a penalty to get an animal to perform tricks it does not know.
An ability that allows you to Handle Animal on an animal that you have not ever trained. The idea here is to befriend it with Wild Empathy, and then turn it against your foes with Handle Animal.
Maybe use Handle Animal to give bonuses to friendly animals. Maybe something like Bardic Music, but using HA instead of Perform.

 

[Uber Dungeon]

A little after thought from the book "Races of the wild"
The feat;
SHARED FURY
Your fearsome rage spurs your animal companion to
greater heights.
Prerequisites: Handle Animal 4 ranks, animal companion
class feature, rage class feature.
Benefit: When you rage, your animal companion gains
the same benefits and penalties from your rage that you do,
but only if it is within 5 feet of you. The companion’s rage
ends when your rage ends, or as soon as you are no longer
within 5 feet of your companion.

That could be fun to base around.

 

[fireinakasha]

So, I just stumbled across this homebrew and remembered this thread. You might want to check this one out:
The Beastmaster (3.5 Base Class. PEACH!) - Giant in the Playground Forums

They took the Beastmaster from CoAdv and turned it into a base class with cool abilities. Might be worth some multi-classing...

 

[Darkhaunter]

Knight of the Black Glade prestige class

This may not be exactly what he's looking for since it centers around one animal companion and isn't a "master of all animals", but the Grimoire Viperian has a very cool "green knight" style prestige class called the Knight of the Black Glade.

The Knight of the Black Glade is designed for a multi-class druid/ranger or druid/fighter. The knight's animal companion horse steed continues to level as if the character gained levels in druid, and has some cool druid/forest-themed abilities. Eventually the prestige class gains the ability to summon a black stag which works like a locate object or locate creature spell, as well. The prestige class continues to gain druid spell levels with every other level gained.

Again, not a master of all animals type, but definitely a different take on the woodland knight/warrior type.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

This may not be exactly what he's looking for since it centers around one animal companion and isn't a "master of all animals", but the Grimoire Viperian has a very cool "green knight" style prestige class called the Knight of the Black Glade.

The Knight of the Black Glade is designed for a multi-class druid/ranger or druid/fighter. The knight's animal companion horse steed continues to level as if the character gained levels in druid, and has some cool druid/forest-themed abilities. Eventually the prestige class gains the ability to summon a black stag which works like a locate object or locate creature spell, as well. The prestige class continues to gain druid spell levels with every other level gained.

Again, not a master of all animals type, but definitely a different take on the woodland knight/warrior type.

You are offering a suggestion on a character that was being built a year and a half ago. He's probably got it figured out by now.

Otherwise, welcome to the boards!

 

[James the Newbie]

Natural bond

Natural Bond – Feat – D&D Tools

Obvious uses for upping other classes strength since you are a ranger

Companion spell bound

Companion Spellbond – Feat – D&D Tools

More obvious uses

wild cohort

Random Encounters: Wild Life - Animal Companions for Any Character

For another companion


Wilderness companion

Gain: Animal companion (as druid; treat sorcerer or wizard as
a druid of half his class level).
Lose: Familiar.

for yet another companion, if much lower level.

---
Gain: Wild shape (as druid; Small or Medium animals only),
fast movement (as barbarian).
Lose: Combat style, improved combat style, combat style
mastery.

-_- then I notice the date, but atleast it's here for others XD

 

[Grogg of the North]

Lion of Talisid (BoED) would work for what you want. Gives you a limited wildshape, stacks for animal companion and advances spell casting.

Halfling Outrider (CW) would also give you an animal companion/special mount that is probably going to be stronger than you are!