Tell me about the Beastmaster Ranger in play...

[Klaus]

Which is exactly why I retrained Beast Protector out. It just didn't come up often enough to be worth a feat, and mainly my beast was provoking attacks on its own turn, and not getting attacked too often.

Now, combine Beast Protector with the Bard's "Misdirected Mark" or whatever, have your Beast marking things left and right...that could probably guarantee a TON of OA's.

Ah, but if you use a reach weapon and/or place your Beast Companion between you and your foe...

 

[cmbarona]

Ah, but if you use a reach weapon and/or place your Beast Companion between you and your foe...

Funny you should mention this. I'm exploring a Ranger build right now (Dragonborn with a Pseudodragon as his "Raptor") and I'm curious: what are the benefits of using a reach weapon with a beast companion?

 

[RefinedBean]

Ah, but if you use a reach weapon and/or place your Beast Companion between you and your foe...

My guy does exactly that, using a Halberd. Still, most enemies can easily shift the one square to get at me. I'd rather keep the companion on the other side, for an easier flank.

Either way, Beasts = INSANELY USEFUL. Especially for out of combat stuff, sneaking around, tracking, climbing/flying, stealing...good times.

 

[RefinedBean]

Funny you should mention this. I'm exploring a Ranger build right now (Dragonborn with a Pseudodragon as his "Raptor") and I'm curious: what are the benefits of using a reach weapon with a beast companion?

Get the beast behind an enemy to flank, get a defender to get between you and the enemy. You're now using an entire defender as a buffer, while hitting with quarry damage and still getting combat advantage.

 

[cmbarona]

I should point out a couple of misconceptions I've noticed. First, if you have the Beast Protector feat, it gives you an effective reach for those particular OAs. Second, you only get combat advantage from an enemy you are flanking, not just any enemy being flanked. So while I still think reach weapons are incredibly useful, I'm just having a hard time seeing why they are more useful for a Beastmaster Ranger. What other factors should I consider?

 

[RefinedBean]

I should point out a couple of misconceptions I've noticed. First, if you have the Beast Protector feat, it gives you an effective reach for those particular OAs. Second, you only get combat advantage from an enemy you are flanking, not just any enemy being flanked.

You're flanking with your beast companion when you make the attack, normally AND on the OAs. Also, reach-attacking means you can easily move to help another party member out, all the while keeping your beast companion on the other baddie.

Honestly, you should just give it a whirl, you can always switch out weapons. It really works very well, tactically.

 

[Rechan]

Either way, Beasts = INSANELY USEFUL. Especially for out of combat stuff, sneaking around, tracking, climbing/flying, stealing...good times.

I suddenly wonder, "What does the Bear or Boar offer outside of combat?"

 

[cmbarona]

I suddenly wonder, "What does the Bear or Boar offer outside of combat?"

Boar + Cleric = Bacon?