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First off, let me restate: there will not be a Ranger Beastmaster solution that works for everyone. Best case scenario IMO is 2 or 3 options that resolve issues for separate groups. However, I believe based on the 'Let Beasts attack without actions' thread that treating the companion as an...

So far you're the only one presenting Pet = PC. NPCs and PCs are evaluated with separate rules. If you are coming from a "Everything plays by the same rules" (3.x) point of reference, I think you are right, it is more work than it is worth. Otherwise DM encounter balance is no more difficult...

There are a lot of pieces one might tweak on the subject of animal companions. Feature or NPC CR Limit Size limit Saves HP Action economy Hit Dice (short rest healing) Spell Interactions Creatures by Terrain If NPC, value for encounter building and XP division (full or partial) Town...

Ranger Animal Companion is for when you want a pet that you are entitled to. Companion as extra party NPC is dependent on the DM buying in to the idea. Advancement is not especially hard to figure out. (HD equal to level, maybe some ASI) You can buy a mount but you can't keep the DM from...

Entangle is not on the Ranger Spell List. Maybe if the Ranger has "Speak with Animals" active he could command as a free action.

The potential 'torture' flavor is fine, but it is there. Overall, I'd go with other options, but the balance seems fine.

The companion can make perception checks (often with advantage), move, react, block movement, be a target, heal a limited amount on a short rest (I'd like to see this fixed), heal to full on a long rest, make death saves, and act as a replacement character any rounds where you character is down...

Well you could heal a creature to death, especially prisoners. Leaving them in a severely weakened state unless you allow them a full rest.

https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/536683487517224961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Poison that depends on a save not doubled. Poison damage that doesn't get a save I would double (usually it's add-on and small like +1d6 similar to Divine Favor). The rest is still debatable. If it's debated...

When I look at the options in the DMG I think they explicitly avoiding reprinting rules from previous editions. There are very few rules that are exactly like previous editions, but there are new variations on the 5e rules (see Healing and Recovery). However the previous edition rules can be...

All the dice unless they come from a separate source (like Poison damage which comes from a failed Poison save).

1. Add a Ranger 'Oath: Hurt 'em and Heal 'em': Cure Wounds, and Hunter's Mark at Level 2. Plus normal spells. 2. I like adding Giant Killer to Favored Enemies. 3. Beasts get HD equal to Ranger level but only the original HD are maximized, minimum 4/HD (really only applies to d4 Tiny/d6...

I think the term "pet" is becoming unclear. Animal Companion is what the Ranger Beastmaster currently has. It has increasing AC, HP, Attack, Damage, and Saves (in theory, not actual). As the Ranger gains levels it increases in actions. Spirit Companion has very little scaling (how much do...

Other than the Monster Manual and DMG?

Following Mike's tweets this is following the Playtest method of start overpowered and pull back. Concentration pet lasting after PC unconsciousness is an artifact of earlier draft - i.e. they disappear on PC dropping. Treat Primeval Awareness as Once per short rest for 5 minutes. I expect...

https://twitter.com/mikemearls/status/642017506257842176 Sounds like Mike would go with the extra character option.

Pet dies, take Karma damage.

Black Bear CR 1/2 - over the CR 1/4 limit. Brown Bear CR 1 Large - over the CR and size limit. Or maybe players are getting them via Animal Friendship, Animal Handling, and general roleplay as true pets rather than Class features. Dogs, cats, horses, ferrets, elephants, pack mules, dude who...

Barrier Peaks/"Space Zoo" mashup with Spelljammer/"Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow". Ending with Gith/Neogi in the Spine of the World mountains/"At the Mountains of Madness".

They do gain HP as the Ranger levels RAW - HP=4*Ranger level. Between Death saves, and overnight healing they are nearly as sturdy as the party's wizard or sorcerer. Or are you referring to increasing the per level HP? By my spreadsheet the old companion lags the spirit companion by only a...