Can you show me some math to back this assertion up? I mean, I admit I may be being dumb and missing something!
It looks like you have to be 11th level to do that, drop one of your two attacks, which are likely Prof+(STR or DEX)+Magic bonus to hit and 1d8 or higher +Prof+(STR or DEX)+Magic bonus to damage, let's lowball and say 18 stat, +1 1d8 magic weapon. So +9 to hit, 1d8+9 damage.
Panther is +7 to hit, 1d6+4 damage, causes KD, then +7 to hit, 1d6+6 damage. Let's assume AC20 for a tough single target enemy.
No-feature Ranger is thus 50% chance to hit each w/two attacks averaging 4.5+9 damage, so 13.5 DPR
Beastie is 50% chance with one, so 6.75 + 40% chance of 3.5+4 = 3 + 40% chance of 3.5+6 = 3.8 so DPR = 13.55!
0.05 gain in DPR for Beastie, w/a 40% chance of KD.
However in any situation where Volley applies, a Hunter is waaaay ahead. Also if any of his other features apply (i.e. 1d6 to damaged targets, double prof to hit large, etc.)...
(PS this is why Paladins with Great Weapon Fighting style are brutal, they going at adding dice to thier weapon attacks all of which benifit from GWFS)
picture a Paladin with hitting an enemy with a great sword for 2D6 + 1D8 + 2D4 + 1D8 + Strength Mod x 2.
That's 2D6 for the greatsword, 1D8 Improved Smite, 2D4 elemental weapon, 1D8 for Divine Favour, and Strength Mod, with 2 attacks. And then add in say a 5th level smite too. And reroll 1 and 2s on all of it.
I'm making 2 assumptions which you aren't.
First I'm assuming an AC well below 20. My impression has been that even at lvl 11 AC 20 would be very rare (or possibly even non-existent) even among very tough enemies. A more realistic AC would definitely favor the beast ranger more.
My second assumption is more questionable, which is that at lvl 11, or shortly after lvl 11, rangers get a 3rd attack. I base this off of the alpha book appearing to have just left out mention of 3rd attacks for all classes (though maybe I missed them), and the fact that the ranger appears to have the same attack progression as the fighter, who gets a 3rd attack at lvl 11 in basic. If this is not the case, then volley becomes comparably much better and the beast master ranger worse.
On a completely different note, it is kind of weird that volley has such a bigger AoE spread than whirlwind attack. Whirlwind attack will rarely be worth using rather then just attacking but volley has much more potential.
Why do you think Rangers get a 3rd attack? They didn't get this in the October Playtest, nor did anyone but the Fighter, and they don't have it now. It's not so much "questionable" but assuming a complete design reversal, neh?
They get an extra attack like ability at 11 - either the 2 for one beast attack or the multi-attacks.
If they did not have this complex action economy but had a simple one you would be complaining that they got twice as amny actions as other folks & were an NPE creating machine as well as being totally OP.![]()
The only issue is that as a Great Sword is two handed, technically you cannot cast Somantic spells in combat. Its not a huge issue (and there may be a work around) but its something to be aware of when making your spell selection.