D&D 5E UA interviews: The possible future for Pet Subclasses in 5e.

[OB1]

If this is some sideways method of creating a spell-less ranger, then just make a spell-less ranger. But don't neuter their ability to use spells just to have a pet. The existing system is better than that.

Been arguing this forever but what is needed are a few 8 hour duration non concentration spells that buff the pet. A few suggestions.

Pet Insurance- While under the effect of this spell, if your beast companion drops to 0 hp, it drops to 1 instead and is teleported into a pocket dimension until the end of the spell or you use a bonus action to recall it.

Pet Armor - While under the effect of this spell, your beast companion gains a +3 to it's AC and Saving Throws

Hunting Party - While under the effect of this spell, add Hunter's Mark Damage to your beast companion when it deals damage. Your beast companion also has advantage when attacking a creature with your hunter's mark on it.

 

[Charlaquin]

I like the idea of the ranger spending spell slots to heal their animal companion, same as the Moon Druid can spend spell slots to heal their wild shaped form.

 

[Blue]

It's a massive conflict with the general Ranger spell list. You're almost saying it's a beast OR spellcasting but not both. Too high a price in my opinion.

Actually, there's a good amount of game-balance value if you have a powerful companion that your spell selection is limited at the times you are utilizing it the most. That allows a trade-off allowing it to be sufficiently powerful for most, and for the few times it's dead or not available you are have your full casting range back to keep you competetive.

 

[Mistwell]

Actually, there's a good amount of game-balance value if you have a powerful companion that your spell selection is limited at the times you are utilizing it the most. That allows a trade-off allowing it to be sufficiently powerful for most, and for the few times it's dead or not available you are have your full casting range back to keep you competetive.

If that's the plan for balance, then it would have been needed in place prior to designing the spell selections for the Ranger - and not patched on years later. Right now the spells for concentration are not in any way related to the concept you're expressing. The concentration spells in place are balanced against the other concentration spells such that you are expected to have one in place but not a second one. The expectation is not none in place, and the non-centration spells are not laid out to account for that either.

 

[OB1]

Actually, there's a good amount of game-balance value if you have a powerful companion that your spell selection is limited at the times you are utilizing it the most. That allows a trade-off allowing it to be sufficiently powerful for most, and for the few times it's dead or not available you are have your full casting range back to keep you competetive.

Given the limited selection of spells a Ranger has, I don't think concentration is needed to balance the power of animal companion buff spells. It's enough that they have to give up other spells to choose a boost to their companion. As I suggested upthread, the spells should instead have a mage armor like 8 hour non concentration duration. Spending a know spell plus having to use 1-3 slots daily to create the effects I described will keep the power scale in check.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I disagree and the Wildfire power seems a reasonable way to draft this for the beastmaster as well.

1) It takes a limited resource to summon/resurrect it after it dies. For the Ranger I think this should be a spell slot.
2) It shares your initiative count but takes it's turn immediately after yours.
3) It takes the Dodge action on it's turn unless you used a bonus action on your turn to command it to take one of the actions in it's stat block or to take the Dash, Disengage, Help, or Hide action.

I’d argue that the Ranger version should have more HP and the ranger able to spend a slot to heal it as a bonus action within 60ft,instead of being so easily summoned, but yeah, that probably works.

As long as it’s a choice between at least three forms.

Pack Hunter companion: wolf, big cat, etc. damage, pounce, knock down.

Stout Defender companion: Bears and board and such

Airborne Sentinel companion: birds. Lower damage, flyby, ability to Help as part of attack.

Then find a place in the subclass for sharing senses if possible, but if not, we aren’t any worse off on the scouting front than we are now...

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I never understood why the Beastmaster ranger didn't get a feature that let its beast companion attack the same target it is attacking in exchange for not getting an extra attack feature, and roll Extra Attack into the archetype.

Because it’s not fun for a lot of people who want a pet to give their attack over to the pet. The Revised Ranger does that, and everyone I know who uses it for a BM Ranger trades that feature for regular Extra Attack.

 

[Leatherhead]

If this is some sideways method of creating a spell-less ranger, then just make a spell-less ranger. But don't neuter their ability to use spells just to have a pet. The existing system is better than that.

The opposite actually. Rangers have far more limitations on their spells than just what they can concentrate on. Namely a limited number of them known and a smallish pool to begin with. By channelling psuedo-spells though their pet selection, we can really open up their effective spell list.

 

[Mistwell]

The opposite actually. Rangers have far more limitations on their spells than just what they can concentrate on. Namely a limited number of them known and a smallish pool to begin with. By channelling psuedo-spells though their pet selection, we can really open up their effective spell list.

What pseudo-spells are you channelling and how does that make eliminating concentration spells OK?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

What pseudo-spells are you channelling and how does that make eliminating concentration spells OK?

I wonder, what do you think about simply adding spells that boost the pet, same as the ranger has self buffs, that don’t require concentration so they don’t interfere with the normal ranger concentration spells?