D&D 5E The Tamer: A Monster Tamer Class - Balancing Questions


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I'd advise looking at what WotC did in their books over time. In older editions they allowed you to summon hordes of monsters of various types. Then you were limited more and more so that you could summon very select monsters - and they were weaker. Now, we don't even get to really summon monsters anymore ... instead we summon a stat block with specific and carefully selected abilities (with one really broken oversight in the 2024 version).

This points to a fundamental problem - giving the versatility to tame/summon/conjure a wide variety results in people finding 'broken' options.

Further, we have these options already in the game. Spellcasters can summon. Enchanters can charm and dominate. We have rangers with beasts and any PC can use animal handling to train a creature.

To that end, I'd stop, really think about the specific things I wanted this build to do, consider whether they already exist via multiclassing or an existing class, and then evaluate if making something and taking the effort to truly balance it over extensive trials is worthwhile.
 

My theory on a pet class asking it's not a deakewarden or tashas beast master.

CR 1/2 or 1/3rd of player level. Beasts for 1/2 1/3rd for anything else. Even then limit it eg fiend, dragon, beast etc not whatever you like.

Your pet is your combat ability. If you get cantrips or spells you are a half caster at best. You don't get multiple attacks.

Arcane uses wizard spell list, ranger or Druid for beasts cleric list generally something like celestial.

You only get 1 pet. You can resummon it a'la find familiar.
So basically you summon a bear or whatever. Bonus action to command it you have 1 attack or cantrips to help out with it. And you're a half caster.

Pet dies you're a cantrip spammed or whatever until you get another pet. Your pet can use your proficiency bonus

Basically you're trading the power of full spell casting and warrior attacks for better pet than what WotC allows. You top out at a T-rex or CR 6 whatever.
 

My theory on a pet class asking it's not a deakewarden or tashas beast master.

CR 1/2 or 1/3rd of player level. Beasts for 1/2 1/3rd for anything else. Even then limit it eg fiend, dragon, beast etc not whatever you like.

Your pet is your combat ability. If you get cantrips or spells you are a half caster at best. You don't get multiple attacks.

Arcane uses wizard spell list, ranger or Druid for beasts cleric list generally something like celestial.

You only get 1 pet. You can resummon it a'la find familiar.
So basically you summon a bear or whatever. Bonus action to command it you have 1 attack or cantrips to help out with it. And you're a half caster.

Pet dies you're a cantrip spammed or whatever until you get another pet. Your pet can use your proficiency bonus

Basically you're trading the power of full spell casting and warrior attacks for better pet than what WotC allows. You top out at a T-rex or CR 6 whatever.
Sounds good. I have allowed the Partner Monster to change its typing and get a signature move:

IMG_0491.jpeg


How does that look?
 



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