Hybrid Beastmaster?

[fireinthedust]

So I can't build a proper Beastmaster using the Hybrid rules and the DDI CB. aside from emailing WOTC, I'm likely going to have to write this up freehand.

Anyhoo: I'd like some help with a cross between a Beastmaster and a Fighter, mostly because I want to do a good two-handed Broadsword while still having a tiger companion. Maybe a Barbarian would be a better choice than fighter.

Any recommendations?

 

[DracoSuave]

Yeah. Look at all the Ranger Beast powers that involve ranged weapons or wielding two-weapons at the same time.

Count them twice.

Zero.

You don't need to hybrid to do what you seek to do.

 

[fireinthedust]

true, but are there more optimal builds?

I'm just... well, the lack of pizzaz to the non-beast options I'd have is overwhelming. I'm thinking that a human Beastmaster/Barbarian (for example) would have cooler options than to move the beastie and then do nothing but stand an basic-attack. Same thing with the BM/Fighter; just more options than only directing a tiger around the field.

Maybe picking a different class and just buying a mount (that happens to be a tiger) would be a better option?

 

[DracoSuave]

Weill, optimizing a build is a different story. You didn't include 'minmax this' in your list of desired things to do. 'Good two-handed broadsword' isn't optimal. Fullblade IS, on the other hand...

Now granted 'Move and do damage' might not be your cup of tea, but it's the theme of the ranger class. But, there are attacks that don't bother with the two-weapon-style.

Attacks on the Run at level 9 does two 3[W] attacks with one weapon. Beast Latch doesn't involve movement at all. It hinders it. Hunt's End is a 3[W] attack daily, and Hunter's Bear Trap is a 2[W] attack that slows and ongoing damages.

Hunter-Partner Strike is a 2[W] encounter power that does extra damage when (not if, when) you flank.

You have options other than 'Shift, do damage' in Ranger. However, 'Shift, do damage' is sort of a striker thing. It's what they do.

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Chairman Myao, level 11
Half-Orc, Ranger, Feral Spirit
Fighting Style: Beast Mastery
Beast Companion Type: Cat

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 21, Con 11, Dex 17, Int 11, Wis 17, Cha 11.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 16, Con 10, Dex 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 10.


AC: 24 Fort: 24 Reflex: 21 Will: 20
HP: 73 Surges: 6 Surge Value: 18

TRAINED SKILLS
Dungeoneering +13, Athletics +14, Perception +13, Nature +13, Stealth +12

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +7, Arcana +5, Bluff +5, Diplomacy +5, Endurance +6, Heal +8, History +5, Insight +8, Intimidate +7, Religion +5, Streetwise +5, Thievery +7

FEATS
Level 1: Lethal Hunter
Level 2: Predatory Action
Level 4: Vigilante Justice Style
Level 6: Weapon Expertise (Heavy Blade)
Level 8: Weapon Focus (Heavy Blade)
Level 10: Weapon Proficiency (Fullblade)
Level 11: Bleeding Precision

POWERS
Ranger at-will 1: Predator Strike
Ranger at-will 1: Circling Strike
Ranger encounter 1: Enclose the Prey
Ranger daily 1: Partnered Savaging
Ranger utility 2: Pack Alertness
Ranger encounter 3: Beast Latch
Ranger daily 5: Lacerating Maul
Ranger utility 6: Weave Through the Fray
Ranger encounter 7: Beast Rush
Ranger daily 9: Attacks on the Run
Ranger utility 10: Companion Emplacement

ITEMS
Sigil of Companionship (heroic tier), Cape of the Mountebank +2, Summoned Earthhide Armor +3, Vicious Fullblade +3
RITUALS
Raise Beast Companion
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======

 

[fireinthedust]

Weill, optimizing a build is a different story. You didn't include 'minmax this' in your list of desired things to do. 'Good two-handed broadsword' isn't optimal. Fullblade IS, on the other hand...

Chairman Myao, level 11
Half-Orc, Ranger, Feral Spirit
Fighting Style: Beast Mastery
Beast Companion Type: Cat

Sweeeeet! Why only 16 in Str/Dex? I typically do that just for the main attacks for any class. Would it be for skill bonuses?
I ask as I'm wondering about choices for 4e optimization.
I'm mostly the DM, so this side of the 4e screen is wierd for me. I'll eventually want to think about group tactics *against* PCs, as I want to make my combats more brutal without just pulling out Ogres on my lvl 4 PCs. Oh well, for now I'm a player!

what about Off-hand attack? Like, if I used the two-handed weapon, then sucker-punched with a spiked Gauntlet, or something? Is there something against that in general as a build strategy?


What about a Barbarian with a Mount?
I'm going to go Human, as the goal is to play He-man; does that screw up the optimization for a tiger-companion'ed character? The campaign level is likely 3, for a first-time 4e DM.

really appreciate the advice, btw.

 

[DracoSuave]

Sweeeeet! Why only 16 in Str/Dex? I typically do that just for the main attacks for any class. Would it be for skill bonuses?
I ask as I'm wondering about choices for 4e optimization.
I'm mostly the DM, so this side of the 4e screen is wierd for me. I'll eventually want to think about group tactics *against* PCs, as I want to make my combats more brutal without just pulling out Ogres on my lvl 4 PCs. Oh well, for now I'm a player!

16 + 2 for racial bonus is usually considered a good sweet spot, where you're milking your primary, but leaving yourself points to spare to do other things.''

And I couldn't work in chainmail, so good dexterity is necessary to have decent AC.

what about Off-hand attack? Like, if I used the two-handed weapon, then sucker-punched with a spiked Gauntlet, or something? Is there something against that in general as a build strategy?

That is doable. Mechanically, not much benefit from a minmax point of view, but it's doable from a style point of view.

What about a Barbarian with a Mount?
I'm going to go Human, as the goal is to play He-man; does that screw up the optimization for a tiger-companion'ed character? The campaign level is likely 3, for a first-time 4e DM.

really appreciate the advice, btw.

Okay, that's a different thing entirely!

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Me-Man And the Hasturs of the Muniverse!!, level 11
Human, Barbarian, Fearbringer Thane
Feral Might: Thaneborn Triumph
Background: Eldeen Reaches (+2 to Athletics)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 21, Con 14, Dex 15, Int 9, Wis 11, Cha 17.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 16, Con 13, Dex 14, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 14.


AC: 22 Fort: 23 Reflex: 20 Will: 19
HP: 89 Surges: 10 Surge Value: 22

TRAINED SKILLS
Endurance +11, Intimidate +13, Athletics +16, Nature +10

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +6, Arcana +4, Bluff +8, Diplomacy +8, Dungeoneering +5, Heal +5, History +4, Insight +5, Perception +5, Religion +4, Stealth +6, Streetwise +8, Thievery +6

FEATS
Human: Improved Roar of Triumph
Level 1: Mark of Handling
Level 2: Two-Weapon Fighting
Level 4: Action Surge
Level 6: Weapon Focus (Heavy Blade)
Level 8: Weapon Proficiency (Bastard sword)
Level 10: Focused Expertise (Bastard sword)
Level 11: Charging Rampage

POWERS
Barbarian at-will 1: Howling Strike
Barbarian at-will 1: Devastating Strike
Bonus At-Will Power: Pressing Strike
Barbarian encounter 1: Vault the Fallen
Barbarian daily 1: Rage Drake's Frenzy
Barbarian utility 2: Stonebreaker
Barbarian encounter 3: Shatterbone Strike
Barbarian daily 5: Vengeful Storm Rage
Barbarian utility 6: Loss of Will
Barbarian encounter 7: Curtain of Steel
Barbarian daily 9: White Tiger Rage
Barbarian utility 10: Deny Death

ITEMS
Hide Armor, Adventurer's Kit, Greatsword
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======

 

[Pickles JG]

Sweeeeet! Why only 16 in Str/Dex? I typically do that just for the main attacks for any class. Would it be for skill bonuses?

That's before the +2 for 1/2 orc.

I think ranger MC into barbarian with a 2 handed weapon works nicely. It's not super optimal but you do get to do howling stikes against your quarry at 11 level. Worth looking at on CB anyway.

 

[DracoSuave]

That works too, but if he's using the beast as a mount, then the Beastmaster stuff doesn't really help.

Better to just take a Mark of Handling and GO.

 

[fireinthedust]

I just read over the Mounted Combat rules. I could do Barbarian better, and find a Large Panther of some sort (find Dire Beast Template, for example).
The rules say that, with Mounted Combat, I'd get to use the beast's move action and attacks; or my own. That said, a barbarian that can Howling Strike on a Charge (with an action point to add a Tiger's claws/bite attack) would be a really devastating combination.
Additionally, I'd avoid the complication of the Beastmaster build.

I've done a build, but I don't want Cha to be too low; Heman is charismatic, though I'm not sure if Thaneborn is as far as I'd be willing to go. Maybe ditch Cha for now and go Dex (he doesn't have Chainmail), and by 30th try to get the Cha up there?

Maybe the DM will have us roll for higher stats... (ie: best of both worlds)

 

[DracoSuave]

The barbarian class itself will give you the catch up on the dex, but it's not as much of a worry as you'd think here. Defensive abilities, et-al. Thaneborn covers your lower'd AC by lowering their attack through various means.

But, chainmail isn't a bad way to go and perfectly affordable feat-wise.

For the mount, use a Dire Wolf as your base, reskin it as a riding battle cat (pack tactics are still appropriate to a tiger, and Pack Hunter is an awesome mount ability. Then Magebreed it a speed boost of +1.

Now go ride out into battle, Me-Man!

And Mark of Handling. Not Mounted Combat. Give yourself a magic tattoo of power that makes your mountcat better.

That's right. You have the POWAAAAAHHHHH!