Animal Master Archetype for many classes

[jodyjohnson]

Beastmaster for everyone!!!

Well maybe not for everyone but I can see a generic Beastmaster subclass one might give as an option to a bunch of classes.

Basically it takes the core of the Ranger Beastmaster - and the only tweaks it needs is the 'Pet can fast-stealth' in favored terrain. And expanding the 15th level feature to include Spells and Class Abilities (like Action Surge or Second Wind). Remove the magical bonding language.

My (or yours) general BM fixes would still apply.

One tweak would be allowing large mounts of Challenge 1/4 or lower at 3rd. And a second is to allow higher Challenge companions at 7th (1/2) and 11th (Large non-mounts up to CR 1). Companion gets HD equal to level (for hit points and short rest healing). Add in default actions (dash, dodge, disengage like Mounts - PHB 198) and ability to command silently with Animal Handling.

Potentially add in the Mount: act independently option (DM control).

Classes I could see this applying to. (Replaces their archetype powers gained at 3rd).

Barbarian
Bard
Druid
Fighter
Paladin
Ranger (already)
Rogue
Sorceror (I'd see this more as a summoner style - maybe refluff a bit)

Monk, Warlock, Wizard, and Cleric don't seem to fit as well since their subclasses have much more integrated effects.

This would be in addition to the normal options to have mounts, trained animals, familiars, awakened cohorts, henchmen, hirelings, and summoned or animated creatures.

 

[Xeviat]

I'd support this. Your general beast master fixes are pretty close to mine. The new Mastermind Rogue actually had me go and do some math that may help you with some conceptualization.

I compared a Level 3 Hunter Ranger with Colossus Slayer (+1d8 damage against wounded targets) to a Level 3 Beast Master Ranger. I had changed the "use an action to get your companion to take an action" to the Chain Warlock's "spend an attack to get your companion to use its action to attack". Comparing a Hunter Ranger using TWFing to a Beast Master Ranger using 1 attack of theirs and their companion's attack gave me a expression for the companions that many fit into (there's a few outlyers, like the giant centipede and the giant poisonous snake, who the CR calculator says is a CR 1 creature anyway ...).

Then, I tested what it would be if the beast could use help on its own, just like a familiar. Help added to a Beast Master Ranger using Duelist and a shield added up to comparable damage to the Hunter Ranger using Duelist and a shield.

So, basic actions would work just fine on the companion, even help. I too support giving the companion full HD; the 4E companions had more HP than players, actually, and the 3E Druid companion wasn't far behind (poor ranger companion).

But the real question is this: "How would each class utilize an animal companion?"

The barbarian wouldn't really need a companion for generating advantage; they have a way of generating it on their own. While I can envision a barbarian beast master, I can't think of what it would mechanically do off the top of my head.

An animal companion bard would likely find their companion to be comparable to a versatile cantrip; you can command it to attack, to fetch, to hold, to guard. This would be pretty easy to balance. You'd want to let it become more independent around level 5 or 6.

An animal companion druid would be something I would love to see. The land druid and the moon druid gain enough features to give up for an animal companion. Again, like the bard, they'd be comparable to cantrips, and you'd want them to become more independent at level 5 or 6, when cantrips gain power and most offensive spellcaster builds get "potent cantrip".

A fighter with an animal companion would be great. Just like a ranger, giving up attacks for the animal to attack grants some versatility in attack actions, especially if your companion has riders like prone. Should be easy to balance.

I'm not sure about a paladin. It seems like it would eat into their Summon Mount spell. Balancing it like the fighter or ranger would be tough, though, as the level 3 Paladin ability is a beefy encounter power, not a consistent buff that can be traded out for help actions or a bigger attack.

The rogue would use an animal companion primarily as a source of advantage and a partner to let them sneak attack. They'd want more defensive options on their companion, like evasion and uncanny dodge, and maybe shared sneak attack (no one ever suspects the butterfly ...).

Sorcerer, like the Wizard, could easily have a buffed familiar archetype, just like the Warlock. But also getting a permanent, buffable summon would be cool too. My friends who play Pathfinder really do love the summoner class.

As for the monk, I could envision it. There's certainly space for it mechanically. Determining the fluff would be the hard part.