D&D 5E Beastmaster Ranger some magical help

[Paraxis]

So I was thinking about the beastmaster ranger and how it is pretty sub par at the moment, with it's actions being split between their companion and themselves.

I understand why, action economy is one of the most exploitable things in the game and most of the time a fast track to crazy high dps. But we already have that broken with summon spells and animate dead. I got to thinking and I assume the reason is because those are spells you are using a resource to gain those minions and extra actions.

My idea, while the ranger has Speak with Animals spells up and his companion can hear orders let the ranger and animal companion have a full set of actions each. Simple solution to the problem I think, ranger needs to spend a spell slot to have complete control over his companions actions.

 

[Wrathamon]

This might have merit. Would be curious to see how it plays out.

 

[The Myopic Sniper]

If I were to redesign that subclass with a more magical feel, I probably would add some at will and/or encounter powers related to animals similar to the Eldritch Invocations of the Warlock. If the Warlock can pick up a an invocation that allows them to speak with beasts at will at 2nd level, I am not sure why a more magical beast flavored Ranger couldn't as well. I know their main shtick is the animal companion, but it feels a bit narrow of a focus for me for an entire subclass. Maybe that concept should have been thrown into the feat module to begin with to give Druids, nature clerics, Barbarians and anyone with an attachment to an animal companion in their character concept to have pick it up.

 

[Huber_D]

A couple weeks ago, I watched a demonstration with a police dog. It will definitely be flavoring how I allow my players ranger/animal companion work.
When the dog was near the officer, he essentially went into "Defend Mode." Nothing was going to get near the officer without first dealing with the dog. That was essentially the dog's default mode. It didn't require a command, the dog just knew to protect its handler.
When there was a threat (a firefighter wearing a bite shield), the officer would give a command and the dog would attack the target. In a DnD battle with multiple targets, I'd rule that the companion will attack the nearest bad guy with nothing but a verbal order. The ranger would have to use an action in order to specify a different target. The dog would also disengage and return to the handler with just a verbal command.
The dog would conduct searches for items scented like people with just a verbal command as well as fetching items. I'd say to fetch a specific item ("bring me the fallen bugbear's axe") would require an action, but just a general fetch command would be free and generally used for fallen allies.

 

[Skyscraper]

A couple weeks ago, I watched a demonstration with a police dog. It will definitely be flavoring how I allow my players ranger/animal companion work.
When the dog was near the officer, he essentially went into "Defend Mode." Nothing was going to get near the officer without first dealing with the dog. That was essentially the dog's default mode. It didn't require a command, the dog just knew to protect its handler.
When there was a threat (a firefighter wearing a bite shield), the officer would give a command and the dog would attack the target. In a DnD battle with multiple targets, I'd rule that the companion will attack the nearest bad guy with nothing but a verbal order. The ranger would have to use an action in order to specify a different target. The dog would also disengage and return to the handler with just a verbal command.
The dog would conduct searches for items scented like people with just a verbal command as well as fetching items. I'd say to fetch a specific item ("bring me the fallen bugbear's axe") would require an action, but just a general fetch command would be free and generally used for fallen allies.

This seems like a sensible solution, i.e. require an action for the ranger to give an order to his animal companion, such as attacking a given target or defending the ranger (in which case it will attack the first target to approach the ranger - friend or foe? ); but afterwards the animal companion will continue to attack without requiring additional commands by the ranger.

 

[SilverfireSage]

I've argued so so so many times about the beast master being just as good as other classes. This doesn't seem necessary, and I could see exploitation happening very easily at higher levels. Since the wolf gets more powerful over time would you make the spell slot higher as time goes on?