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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tessarael" data-source="post: 9533548" data-attributes="member: 12909">Many of the A5E and 5E D&D rules that animal companions, familiars, steeds, etc., scale poorly with character level. I agree that the <a href="https://a5e.tools/node/3728" target="_blank">Houndmaster</a> archetype for Fighter, <a href="https://a5e.tools/node/3748" target="_blank">Beastmaster</a> archetype for Ranger, and <a href="https://a5e.tools/node/3783" target="_blank">Gyre Gazer</a> archetype for Warlock have much less of a scaling issue, and may not need the <a href="https://www.levelup5e.com/news/how-do-monstrous-menagerie-iis-heroic-monsters-work" target="_blank">heroic monster</a> scaling. 5E D&D also has the <a href="https://dnd5e.wikidot.com/sidekicks" target="_blank">Sidekick rules</a> to level up such companions. I'm a bit surprised that the heroic monster scaling article didn't mention familiars, as that seems an obvious application for it.I think this basically comes down to what the DM and the players want in the campaign. If the party is short on PCs, then an animal companion that levels up at half their rate to stay more useful will be helpful, but still fall behind unless buffed, given magic items, etc. Some players may also want their familiar, pet, or steed to remain useful at higher levels ... So if the DM wants to allow that with no cost, fine, otherwise I'd be inclined to charge say a feat, eldritch invocation, divine lesson or similar for it to balance it out vs. other players.Assuming the heroic animal companion only levels up every other level the PC does, what do you get from it at as say an 8th level character? The heroic animal companion will be level 4. I don't have Monstrous Menagerie II, but I assume from the article the benefits are the following: <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">+40 HP                             <--- This is the biggest improvement for survivability.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">+2d6 damage once/turn  <--- This is the biggest improvement for damage output.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">+1 AC</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Proficiency bonus improves to +3</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Initiative bonus also improves +1</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">2 saving throw proficiencies (e.g., Strength, Constitution)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One heroic feature</li> </ul>All of these are good to keep the animal companion relevant. I do think if you charge a feat for it, it's not going to even be too good for Beastmaster, Gyre Gazer, or Houndmaster; though I'd be inclined to not give the additional HP from both sources, and instead give +1 to an ability instead if you have one of those archetypes and are paying a feat for this.</blockquote>

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