D&D 5E Ranger/Warlock as Eldritch Beast-Master?

[doctorbadwolf]

I know, not an intuitive build, but bear with me. Pun intended. Assume revised ranger for all of this.

I figure there should be enough spells that don't need a good stat to allow you to go, from high to low; Dex, Cha, con, wis, int, str for the stats. Int and wis could swap, its mostly a skill preference issue.
Use mariner fighting style and str isn't even needed for climbing or swimming, and I prefer my rangers to keep an open hand anyway, if they aren't shooting a bow.

Now, taking BM conclave and chain warlock, you'll have two powerful pets, say a panther and something that flies, and being able to talk to critters should be able to get you a couple ferrets for sneaking into places and stealing things for you, as long as you don't mind them being mischeiveous and easy killed. Just find new ones and give them the same names!

Ok. Ok. I just rewatched The Beastmaster the other day.

But seriously, just the BM pet and Chain pact pet are a great combo. Gaze of Two Minds for scouting, focus ranger spell choices on buffs and utility and use warlock spells for killing things, both classes get a lot of fun tows by level 3.

Anyone else find find this idea interesting?

 

[green_destiny]

When it comes to having a pet for scouting, stealing etc. I think Warlock Pact of chain will do fine alone, it will not need BM Ranger else some skills might be redundant.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Anyone else find find this idea interesting?

I'm of two minds on the subject, truthfully. On the one hand... assuming of course you went with an Archfey Patron, having a pair of nature fey creatures like a sprite and a bear makes sense and would present some interesting tactical uses. But on the other... I am one who cares much more about the interaction pillar than maximizing the combat or exploration pillar, and thus having *two* "partners" reduces the uniqueness of the interactions for me. In other words... if I was to have an actual sprite as my companion... I'd want to be much more focused on the relationship with the sprite (especially with it being an intelligent creature) than I would having a group of companions. Likewise, if I was a member of the Beast Conclave, I'd feel as though my companionship with my beast should be the more important friendship I'd have... and to lessen or diffuse that by having other companions around too just makes for a less interesting relationship.

If you have pack of animals around you... say you're a druid and you conjure several animals often... the pack becomes known and felt to you as just that... a pack. There's little interaction with any one of the members, you interact with them on the whole (and also thus don't care as much if one dies.) But if you have a beast companion or a familiar, I just feel like that should be the most important relationship you should have, and truth be told it'll be hard enough for the DM to work that interplay between just the two of you into the game, let alone then try and make the third wheel companion important too.

So for the "Hey, I got all these resources to use!" aspect... having a beast companion and a familiar would certain work. But from a roleplay perspective, I personally don't think I'd ever want to split my time. You can really only have one best friend.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Good points! I really think the idea is easier to pull off RP-wise in a small group, and I'd probably only do it if the group was interested in it, and basically hand wave it as the pets being more companion characters for the group, run by the DM, and my character is just the one that can see through their eyes and stuff.

Or a solo campaign.

Still, I think it would be a very effective character. I may still fiddle with it and come up with a build.

 

[akr71]

Or a solo campaign.

Yes, this is what I was going to post. Interesting idea and it could be a lot of fun, but I'm not sure I would play it myself. Paired with a tank and/or a monk it could be quite the duo/trio.

Getting to level 6 to realize your character concept might feel tedious though. Get to level 3 in one before picking up levels in the other...?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Yes, this is what I was going to post. Interesting idea and it could be a lot of fun, but I'm not sure I would play it myself. Paired with a tank and/or a monk it could be quite the duo/trio.

Getting to level 6 to realize your character concept might feel tedious though. Get to level 3 in one before picking up levels in the other...?

Yeah, that's the biggest issue with it.

I kinda wish there were a class with a built in pet, and a subclass that went full Beastmaster, with a combat pet, flier, and small critter per that can steal things. Cuz I see no way to get anything like that before level 6, as is. And I would totally be fine with those companions being the focal point of the class/character.

 

[akr71]

You can almost get that as a wood gnome beastmaster. The Speak with Small Beasts feature gets you your spy your beast companion can be the combat portion. There is no guarantee that the critters you speak with will be cooperative though.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

You can almost get that as a wood gnome beastmaster. The Speak with Small Beasts feature gets you your spy your beast companion can be the combat portion. There is no guarantee that the critters you speak with will be cooperative though.

Good point. also, I didn't see this till today because the forums didn't tell me that you posted, which is weird. Does it not automatically subscribe you to threads you start?

Anyway, I'm thinking about building a couple options for Warlock that are more nature/primal spirits/vaettr pact style, and a pact bow style pact boon, to facilitate a sort of ranger/4e seeker style warlock, and/or a witch of the wilds type character.

 

[Athon Killer]

You could play the ranger until 3rd level but then you come in contact with your patron with the help of your DM and pursue 3rd lv (6th lv) warlock. maybe to save your friends you sell your soul, open a book and tentacles come out, or find yourself in a hidden grove.

 

[Athon Killer]

What about a Draconic beast master, if your DM allows it, you can have the 1/4 beast requirement become a 1/4 dragon requirment and choose psuedodragon for both BM and Familiar. Now you have two twin dragons to add to your awesome array of magic and martial skill, plus some cute moments where they both fighter for the same piece of meat.