Can I have a mount and a companion?

[Klaus]

So, as a n00b i'm just making sure, I can't attack with my bow on the same turn that my beast attacks with meelee? Although I understand the problem with allowing both I also can see a lore problem with not allowing both, IE the synchronizing of abilities of the Ranger and the Beast, which are supposed to be mostly seamless.

Is there some way around this? maybe a feat i've overlooked?

Sorry again i'm new to the game

You and your beast share one set of actions: standard, move and minor.

If you use your move action to move, your beast companion can move as well.

If you want to attack along with your beast, you must look for Ranger "beast" attack powers that allow it. Both "Paired Predators" and "Encircle the Prey" (Ranger 3 encounter powers) allow you and your beast to attack, but they're more melee powers (so no bows).

 

[Mithreinmaethor]

So, as a n00b i'm just making sure, I can't attack with my bow on the same turn that my beast attacks with meelee? Although I understand the problem with allowing both I also can see a lore problem with not allowing both, IE the synchronizing of abilities of the Ranger and the Beast, which are supposed to be mostly seamless.

Is there some way around this? maybe a feat i've overlooked?

Sorry again i'm new to the game

As others above have stated you must have a Ranger Attack Power with the Beast keyword that states that you and the beast can attack at the same time. Otherwise it is one or the other. Since I believe the beast companion can also deliver the Quarry damage you can fluff it to say that damage comes from you. But it will still only ever be the Quarry damage.

 

[Kablump]

Alright thanks folks, I'm getting it now, I just have to find synchronized powers, or use minors and standards at the same time if I want the awesometastic cinematic effect. I also have other abilities that I could use the beast for with amazing outcome so it should be pretty feasible.. so long as we both have movements in the same turn meaning that I could likely mount, move and attack.. it's still pretty disturbingly powerful. I just wish they'd nerf basic power a bit and make it a little more of an addup which would be cooler.

Like when you're getting to the point where your allies deal roughly about 45 damage while doing the same job, maybe you could roll for 23 damage and your beast for 17, the remaining imbalance would be for the fact that combined you have a higher chance to actually inflict damage due to the nature of rolling for each attack. Maybe I should write a new class that's similar to BMR eh?

 

[Mithreinmaethor]

Alright thanks folks, I'm getting it now, I just have to find synchronized powers, or use minors and standards at the same time if I want the awesometastic cinematic effect. I also have other abilities that I could use the beast for with amazing outcome so it should be pretty feasible.. so long as we both have movements in the same turn meaning that I could likely mount, move and attack.. it's still pretty disturbingly powerful. I just wish they'd nerf basic power a bit and make it a little more of an addup which would be cooler.

Like when you're getting to the point where your allies deal roughly about 45 damage while doing the same job, maybe you could roll for 23 damage and your beast for 17, the remaining imbalance would be for the fact that combined you have a higher chance to actually inflict damage due to the nature of rolling for each attack. Maybe I should write a new class that's similar to BMR eh?

If you get to the point that others in the party are doing that kind of damage you are fighting things with resistance to damage etc so if you split your amongst 2 attacks your likely to do less damage overall.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Alright thanks folks, I'm getting it now, I just have to find synchronized powers, or use minors and standards at the same time if I want the awesometastic cinematic effect. I also have other abilities that I could use the beast for with amazing outcome so it should be pretty feasible.. so long as we both have movements in the same turn meaning that I could likely mount, move and attack.. it's still pretty disturbingly powerful. I just wish they'd nerf basic power a bit and make it a little more of an addup which would be cooler.

Like when you're getting to the point where your allies deal roughly about 45 damage while doing the same job, maybe you could roll for 23 damage and your beast for 17, the remaining imbalance would be for the fact that combined you have a higher chance to actually inflict damage due to the nature of rolling for each attack. Maybe I should write a new class that's similar to BMR eh?

I think what you really end up with for advantages from the beast are more in terms of things like flanking, an extra combatant that can absorb some damage, do OAs, and generally add a bit of control to the party overall. You can also use your beast to designate quarry, which can be QUITE handy.

The beast keyword powers are really not all that amazing unfortunately. Some of them are tolerably useful, but in general you can find better attack powers.

One strategy would be instead of having a wolf to have say a hawk. It can fly so it can get to places nobody in the party may be able to go and could designate back rank enemies as quarry, etc. Then you'd have to find a wolf and tame it to be your mount, which could be pretty cool. Another way to get an extra 'friend' is to multi-class into Shaman and have a spirit companion. There's no way to get both a spirit companion AND a familiar as a ranger though (aside from one Forgotten Realms background).

The Beast Protector feat from MP2 is an interesting thing that can give you some extra OAs as well.

Personally I think beast master is underrated by a lot of people. It can work pretty well, IF you can get over the mechanical fact that the beast rarely makes attack rolls.

 

[Garthanos]

I think what you really end up with for advantages from the beast are more in terms of things like flanking, an extra combatant that can absorb some damage, do OAs, and generally add a bit of control to the party overall. You can also use your beast to designate quarry, which can be QUITE handy.

True...
And if you are Alpha wolf your companion wolf will probably figure his primary duty is harassing not going for the kill... (aka flanking.... combined this with skinning of quarry as damage from with the beasts help and its not too bad)

 

[Kablump]

I think what you really end up with for advantages from the beast are more in terms of things like flanking, an extra combatant that can absorb some damage, do OAs, and generally add a bit of control to the party overall. You can also use your beast to designate quarry, which can be QUITE handy.

The beast keyword powers are really not all that amazing unfortunately. Some of them are tolerably useful, but in general you can find better attack powers.

One strategy would be instead of having a wolf to have say a hawk. It can fly so it can get to places nobody in the party may be able to go and could designate back rank enemies as quarry, etc. Then you'd have to find a wolf and tame it to be your mount, which could be pretty cool. Another way to get an extra 'friend' is to multi-class into Shaman and have a spirit companion. There's no way to get both a spirit companion AND a familiar as a ranger though (aside from one Forgotten Realms background).

The Beast Protector feat from MP2 is an interesting thing that can give you some extra OAs as well.

Personally I think beast master is underrated by a lot of people. It can work pretty well, IF you can get over the mechanical fact that the beast rarely makes attack rolls.

After playing with BM i think i'm making a horseback archer with a mount that's uncomprehendingly fast for low level

 

[chorolus]

I think what you really end up with for advantages from the beast are more in terms of things like flanking, an extra combatant that can absorb some damage, do OAs, and generally add a bit of control to the party overall. You can also use your beast to designate quarry, which can be QUITE handy.

The beast keyword powers are really not all that amazing unfortunately. Some of them are tolerably useful, but in general you can find better attack powers.

One strategy would be instead of having a wolf to have say a hawk. It can fly so it can get to places nobody in the party may be able to go and could designate back rank enemies as quarry, etc. Then you'd have to find a wolf and tame it to be your mount, which could be pretty cool. Another way to get an extra 'friend' is to multi-class into Shaman and have a spirit companion. There's no way to get both a spirit companion AND a familiar as a ranger though (aside from one Forgotten Realms background).

The Beast Protector feat from MP2 is an interesting thing that can give you some extra OAs as well.

Personally I think beast master is underrated by a lot of people. It can work pretty well, IF you can get over the mechanical fact that the beast rarely makes attack rolls.

Well, if you start as a Hybrid Shaman/Beastmaster Ranger then grab an Arcane class MC feat for the familiar, you can have 3 'pets'. I'm playing one now, and it's quite nice to have a veritable mobile-wall in front of her to block/flank/etc(she's a ranged axe-thrower, Dex/Wis focus, so she's not the most durable character unfortunately).

With the Nimble Strike shift-boosting feats, Ghostwalker Style and Battle-Scarred Veteran, she can shift 2 squares/attack/shift 2 squares again, then proceed to make a move action AND move all of her pets per round as needed during her move action/minor action phases. Sure, it's a bit more interesting structuring her actions during each turn, but it's not as hard to get used to as it sounds.

She's focused on the Reaving Axe Student/Slayer feats as well, so when she crits on a Twin Strike/Nimble Strike, the enemy is knocked prone and provokes OA's upon standing from whoever is in range. Not to mention the +temp HP source from her Shaman spirit companion...she's turning out to be quite a powerful support/leader-type character.