WHich is Better? Dire Wolf Mount or Beastmaster w/ Companion?

[BASHMAN]

I want to play a ranger with a pet dire wolf, but I am not sure which option is better-- having a Dire Wolf Mount & the mounted combat feat, or having the Beastmaster build and taking a Wolf (or maybe Bear) companion, and saying it is a dire wolf.

I intend to play a halfling (yes, sub-optimal for a ranger, I know) who rides the dire wolf most of the time, and shoots arrows.

I know technically, I could have both-- maybe have a raptor companion with a dire wolf mount-- but for now let's just consider it a matter of one or the other.

 

[Wednesday Boy]

I don't have the books in front of me so I'm not positive but I had a similar idea and if I remember correctly all of the beast companions are Small or Medium and a mount has to technically be Large in order to be ridden (regardless of the size of the rider). So RAW, a beastmaster ranger can't ride their beast companions.

 

[Turtlejay]

Mounts only have 1 healing surge and no way to heal beyond that. Your companion has 2, and can benefit from your surges. Mounts are made to die...

Jay

 

[BASHMAN]

So both suck? The companion cannot be ridden (even if I am small) and the mount is disposable? I wonder if I could work a deal with the DM that I take the mounted combat feat, choose beastmaster build, AND pay the 1,000 for a dire wolf mount, just to say that I can ride my companion...

 

[weem]

Nothing in front of me either at the moment, but doesn't the mount (if used in combat) take an equal portion of the XP as well, or is that a houserule I heard/am recalling?

 

[Byronic]

Nothing in front of me either at the moment, but doesn't the mount (if used in combat) take an equal portion of the XP as well, or is that a houserule I heard/am recalling?

I believe that if the mount is worth 150 exp it adds 150 exp worth of monsters to the battle. So the exp the players get doesn't change, just the amount of monsters.

 

[Gort]

I believe that if the mount is worth 150 exp it adds 150 exp worth of monsters to the battle. So the exp the players get doesn't change, just the amount of monsters.

That's only if your DM decides that the mount gets all of its own powers and actions. In that case it's basically an allied NPC, and so the enemy NPCs can be tougher.

However, if you're using the rules where a mount basically does nothing except give its mounted combat bonus and increase the speed of the rider, you don't make the opposition tougher.

 

[Nebulous]

I'd allow a mount to have an attack, either a minor, standard or move action on the part of the rider. If he took the right feat of course. I probably also wouldn't have the mount use the same hit points and stats straight out of the MM, they would have to be catered to character level. And maybe scale along with the PCs.

 

[Mithreinmaethor]

First the mount and/or the Beast companion uses the same set of actions as its Rider or Ranger. Only if the Rider or Ranger is unconscious do they gain independent actions.

But for the OP here is a comparison of the Dire Wolf and the Wolf Companion at Character level 5.

DW - AC 19, Fortitude 18, Reflex 17, Will 16, Hps: 67, +10 to hit
W - AC 19, Fortitude 19, Reflex 17, Will 17, Hps: 64, +9 to hit

The difference is that as a Beast Master you have a lot of powers that are used for you and your beast to allow flanking etc. And powers that allow the beast to attack or you to attack. Beasts are easier to heal and can be raised.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Since wolves are pack animals (and would behave in a literally retarded manner in a pack of 2), why not take both?
That way you can have the whole alpha male and alpha female thing going (one of which is you).

On the subject of halflings being suboptimal, IMO it boils down to available weapon options.
You can use the ... shortbow ... they're suffering from weapon choice neglect.

I'd give them a superior shortbow option with +3/D8.
Weaker than greatbow or superior crossbow.
Probably won't have a feat to spare to take it anyway, but just having it available makes (non-rogue) halflings seem less lame.