[PEACH] My take on Beastmaster Ranger

[jodyjohnson]

I'm pro-house ruling but the DPR problem is dependent on what animal companion you are allowed. The 'legal' giant poisonous snake is in the same range as the Colossus Slayer with Hunter's Mark active (and has a much better attack bonus).

The beasts from the PHB are more in line with normal one hand attacks. And the Beastmaster is better off using Hunter's Mark and having the AC as utility (which is how the designers usually categorize them: Hunter=DPR, Beastmaster=utility).

Comparing the house rule numbers with the various Hunter combinations and the DPR is comparable or better depending on the pet, but is reached more dependably than with spell expenditure or conditional triggers plus doesn't have a startup round like using Hunter's Mark with TWF.

The changes only involve the Action Economy category.

http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?470944-Alternate-Ranger-s-Companion-just-a-few-tweaks


Not to say, those changes won't accomplish your goals for the Beastmaster which may include being better than the Hunter.

 

[Elder.Skywolf]

From your thread you linked:

Once you have the Extra Attack feature, you can make one weapon attack yourself when you command the beast to take the Attack action.

I think we are saying almost the same thing... I did write it that way because i wanted to include the "Attack Command" into the "Attack Action", so off-hand bonus Attack is allowed. I did not consider the snake because one of my players wanted a wolf, and i was worried it may lag a bit behind. Being her new to the game, i'd like to avoid that kind of situation. My bad english can be a issue too

As for the gestures or the Hunter's Mark i did not write them because as a DM i'm flexible enough to translate "verbally command" into "comunicate" if needed or to understand that not allowing HM for the beast is wrong

 

[jodyjohnson]

In the original post you removed the reference to having Extra Attack. Thus it reads like you get a pet attack and bonus action attack at 3rd (which can be any weapon). Then get 3 attacks at 5th (Replace one of the attack action attacks, plus a bonus action attack). With no restrictions using an offhand weapon is a lesser choice.

When you take the Attack Action you may forego one (and only one) of your attacks to verbally command the beast to make one attack. If you're holding a single weapon, you can then make an attack as a bonus action, but you don’t add your ability modifier to the damage of the bonus attack, unless that modifier is negative.

If I understand your intention, an alternate wording would be:

When you take the Attack Action you may forego one (and only one) of your attacks to verbally command the beast to make one attack. The Companion's attack counts as attacking with a Light weapon for the purposes of Two-Weapon Fighting. At 11th level you may forego both attacks or the Beast may take the multi-attack action.

That completely changes my quick analysis. For archery and 2 handed weapon combat the numbers are the same as the stock Beastmaster (plus the Hunter's Mark damage). For two-weapon fighting the damage is comparable to Colossus Slayer especially if you are already letting Hunter's Mark add to companion damage.

At 3rd you are replacing a 6.5 (1d6+3) Short Sword or Scimitar attack with a 9 (2d4+4) Wolf bite which probably has advantage and a +1 better change to hit. Plus tripping on a failed save.

 

[Elder.Skywolf]

From PHB pg. 195

"When you take the Attack action and attack with a light melee weapon that you’re holding in one hand, you can use a bonus action to attack with a different light melee weapon that you’re holding in the other hand."

Light weapon from PHB are max 1d6 damage, a two hander go up to 2d6, so yes, it is a inferior choice to go TWF with beast master. Now, before i tell my player to look for a Greatsword, do you guys have any idea to make TWF with BM not a trap option?

As a side note... Happy New Year!

Edit in response of edit:
You got my intention right (and you've written it in a much better way than me ) , even if in my mind i wouldn't let dropping 2 attacks for 4 beast attacks till much higher levels. at eleven my idea was

Main Hand + Beast attack (x2 as per 11th feature) + Off Hand

But if command is a bonus action it's Main x2 + Beast (x2), so 2handed is strictly superior in that case.

 

[jodyjohnson]

You could use your 'trade-attack-for-beast-attack' rule but not grant the ranger's proficiency bonus in extra damage.

Add in Hunter's Mark for the pet and it would be fine.

Happy New Year!

 

[Elder.Skywolf]

I'll elaborate your considerations and make a new version of it. Thanks to the both of you for your help, guys..

Cheers