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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BozzNugg" data-source="post: 7683338" data-attributes="member: 6801318">I would kind of prefer if Ranger and Barbarian were just rolled into one and renamed or something. I feel like between the two of them they cover enough ground but delineate enough flavour to make a true class. Basically like the primal counterpart to the Paladin. Currently I feel like the Barbarian is limited in it's range and the Ranger seems a little too broad so I think each could help the other. It also gives a nice kind of parity to the Cleric/Paladin to have Druid/Rangarian. Primary class abilities would include: HP comparable to paladin, ability to choose weapon style, favoured terrains that accrue throughout campaign, some kind of bushcraft/lore mechanic which might include tracking, and maybe some kind of multi-purpose movement/hide mechanic. Subclasses could include: Berserk: Str/Con (melee/rage/no magic)Totemist/Warden: Con/Wis (tanky/half-caster/burns spells = totem-rage/summon totems/partial druid)Hunter: Dex/Con (Tracker/Favoured Enemy/Melee & Ranged-based/no-magic)Scout: Dex/Wis (Ambush/Shoot&Go/Trap Maneuvers/Sniping/Ranged-based/no-magic)Seeker: Dex/Wis (controllery/half-caster/sniper/partial druid).True animal companions I think should just be covered in a separate splat/module that runs the gamut from hirelings/henchmen/minions/familiars/animal companions/companion characters/followers/bound creatures/mounts/etc. It should also include some character options that allow all the classes to take full advantage of the new options. I think it is easy enough to change the CR of encounters to compensate for essentially having another character around. I could also see there being a work around for animal companions as artifacts or intelligent items, with some kind of concordance system based around handle animal, though I find this less desirable. I think the alternative would be to have somekind of leadership mechanic for all or most of these,. As a rule, I think a good goal to aim for in relative power level for animal companions would be something like 1/2 a PC, while Familiars would be closer to a 1/3 or 1/4 of a PC, this way, even if everyone in a party has one, it's only effectively adding 1-2 PC's to the party in terms of power. Finally, I think the Shaman, with the spirit companion, a la 4e, as a subclass, would be better suited to the Druid, who might use them as kind of a buffing familiar/spell conduit.</blockquote>

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