doctorbadwolf
Heretic of The Seventh Circle
In general, I like it, but I would add at least two options.
Pack Hunter - Loses charge, and does less damage on a hit with maul, and gains Pack Tactics and Takedown. Anytime it hits with Maul it forces a save vs prone. This is a tactical helper companion. You send them to knock down targets and get away.
Primal Guardian - Gains a Rage style ability to reduce incoming damage (or maybe when it takes the dodge action it also gains resist to most damage?) and some sort of ability to encourage enemies to focus on it. Lose charge.
Primal Mount - A swift spirit of a horse, deer, elk, etc, that can be ridden by the ranger or a creature chosen by the ranger, keeps charge, not sure it needs to lose anything, really.
Primal Trickster - Tiny critter with lower HP, and the ability to manipulate objects and proficiency in Sleight of Hand and Stealth, and ability to hold and carry tiny objects in it's hands. Loses charge and maul, gains an attack that does little damage but has a chance to temporarily blind a target, and a feature that boosts it's speed when it takes the Dodge action.
I'd also look at making a spell that lets other types of rangers get a more limited access to these same pets, something like Summon Primal Companion. If you cast it and you have a primal companion already, you can change which spirit they are, or simply summon a second critter that scales by spell level rather than ranger level?
I mean, a BM ranger could then actually function kinda like Dar the Beastmaster pretty easily in a balanced fashion, with a that spell chosen and find familiar from a feat or MC.
Pack Hunter - Loses charge, and does less damage on a hit with maul, and gains Pack Tactics and Takedown. Anytime it hits with Maul it forces a save vs prone. This is a tactical helper companion. You send them to knock down targets and get away.
Primal Guardian - Gains a Rage style ability to reduce incoming damage (or maybe when it takes the dodge action it also gains resist to most damage?) and some sort of ability to encourage enemies to focus on it. Lose charge.
Primal Mount - A swift spirit of a horse, deer, elk, etc, that can be ridden by the ranger or a creature chosen by the ranger, keeps charge, not sure it needs to lose anything, really.
Primal Trickster - Tiny critter with lower HP, and the ability to manipulate objects and proficiency in Sleight of Hand and Stealth, and ability to hold and carry tiny objects in it's hands. Loses charge and maul, gains an attack that does little damage but has a chance to temporarily blind a target, and a feature that boosts it's speed when it takes the Dodge action.
I'd also look at making a spell that lets other types of rangers get a more limited access to these same pets, something like Summon Primal Companion. If you cast it and you have a primal companion already, you can change which spirit they are, or simply summon a second critter that scales by spell level rather than ranger level?
I mean, a BM ranger could then actually function kinda like Dar the Beastmaster pretty easily in a balanced fashion, with a that spell chosen and find familiar from a feat or MC.