D&D 5E 5E Beast Companion Mechanics.

[Weiley31]

So I'm fully aware of the issues with the PHB Ranger and the Beast Master's Companion. So the Revised Ranger is going to be the default choice for the class at my table since it(and the Beast Conclave) are better.

Now my question is this: With the release of the sweet UA Class Features Variant playtest rules, WHICH Beast Companion "mechanic" is better? The Revised Ranger Beast Conclave or UA Class Feature Variant? I want to use WHICHEVER system is better for Beast Companions, of all kinds, at my table. Including for the Battlesmith's Mecha animal.

*My view is that a Ranger with a Beast Companion SHOULD be a badass tag-team in battle. ESPECIALLY if they are bonded.

Also if this question was already asked by me, the original posting isn't appearing for some reason.

 

[Salthorae]

The new UA Class Feature does not change Beast Master at all.

All it does is add two new companion options whose stat-blocks have things inherent to them that counteract many of the complaints that people had about companions before.

1. Low Hitpoints/Hit Die -
   1. these new companion options have HD = Ranger level so they can heal better on short rests.
      1. Earth beast has d8's, Air has d6's
   2. They have hit points = (ranger level x 5) + Beast's Con modifier + Ranger's Wis modifier
2. Prevent death of a companion
   1. These both have the ability to basically resurrect them by spending a 1st level or higher spell slot.
3. Action Economy
   1. These have an ability that lets you use your Bonus Action to command them to attack rather than your attack action

These changes are INHERENT to the Beasts, not the Beast Master subclass.

The only other change that matters for Beast Master in the UA is that the Revivify spell was added to the base Ranger spell list so Beast Masters with other companions can keep them alive/around if they have the spell and 300 gp of diamond dust!

 

[Weiley31]

The new UA Class Feature does not change Beast Master at all.

All it does is add two new companion options whose stat-blocks have things inherent to them that counteract many of the complaints that people had about companions before.

1. Low Hitpoints/Hit Die -
   1. these new companion options have HD = Ranger level so they can heal better on short rests.
      1. Earth beast has d8's, Air has d6's
   2. They have hit points = (ranger level x 5) + Beast's Con modifier + Ranger's Wis modifier
2. Prevent death of a companion
   1. These both have the ability to basically resurrect them by spending a 1st level or higher spell slot.
3. Action Economy
   1. These have an ability that lets you use your Bonus Action to command them to attack rather than your attack action

These changes are INHERENT to the Beasts, not the Beast Master subclass.

The only other change that matters for Beast Master in the UA is that the Revivify spell was added to the base Ranger spell list so Beast Masters with other companions can keep them alive/around if they have the spell and 300 gp of diamond dust!

Ya I saw that. It's still a pretty good option. I like the lore of the Primal Beasts too that they briefly offered.

I just didn't know if this was better to use over how Beast Conclave scales the animal companions or even like how the Battlesmith's pet scales as well.

 

[Salthorae]

Ya I saw that. It's still a pretty good option. I like the lore of the Primal Beasts too that they briefly offered.

I just didn't know if this was better to use over how Beast Conclave scales the animal companions or even like how the Battlesmith's pet scales as well.

Personally I'd try out the ranger with just the UA options and leave Revised Ranger alone for now. it's really not all that much better than base ranger honestly.

They brought a ton of love to him with the new stuff. Natural Explorer and Favored Enemy are both way upgraded, and with the new beast companion options, I think there's probably very little to not like about Beast Master now.

 

[CapnZapp]

[*]Prevent death of a companion
[*]These both have the ability to basically resurrect them by spending a 1st level or higher spell slot.

Which is it?

Do they die or not?

 

[Weiley31]

Which is it?

Do they die or not?

Basically you can revive the Beast of The Air/Earth. That's how I took it.

Honestly with how they did the Primal Beasts, you can actually use the default PHB Ranger Beast Master for "regular animals" and the UA Beast of The Air/Earth for those "rare" beasts that are from the Primal Lineage.
-id be crazy enough to do that.-

 

[Parmandur]

Which is it?

Do they die or not?

They are incarnated spirit beings, who can be re-incarnated by the bonded Ranger. So, they can die, but be brought back, as with a Familiar.

 

[Salthorae]

Which is it?

Do they die or not?

I can edit my post to read "Prevent Perma-death" if that would be more helpful as it is what I meant.

One of the biggest Beast Master complaints has always been that the Ranger itself doesn't have a way to bring back just dead companions, and if they have a special companion that isn't native to the area they're traveling in, their replacement companion might not be what they want (DM dependent obviously.)

The Revivify spell added to and this ability of these Primal beasts means that it is no longer a valid complaint with these UA options.

 

[Weiley31]

I just wasn't sure WHICH scaling is better with making the beast still.being a viable source of damage and health.

Whether the Conclave/Battlesmith/or UA was better. Or even with how the Beast Companion moves and stuff.

 

[Al2O3]

I haven't checked the details, but these new beasts are essentially how WotC want to implement the good parts of the Iron Defender design into the Beast master. So Beast master and Battlesmith should be on par.

I do not remember the revised ranger at all, and consider it dead to me. I can't help at all there.