Beast Master(understanding and optimizing) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Beast Master(understanding and optimizing) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SlashDash
01-21-05, 07:51 AM I like the idea of the Beast Master from Complete Adventurer, but having a few problems with it.

All help would be appriciated

I'm considering Druid 10\BeastMaster 10

Clarification:
1)how many animal companions do you actually get from this build?
I know that the Beast Master gets 3 extra companions of lower levels and the druid gives you one. But what I'm not positive about is the Beast Master's animal bond ability. As I understand, it states that you get an animal companion and if you have druid levels they stack - So is that in addition to the one you get as a druid or a new one?
In other words, do I get a 23/7/4/1 or 20/23/7/4/1?

2)Will the nature bond feat work???
The Beast Master's extra companions don't get to stack druid levels from any class feature that allow it to stack - But this is technically a feat - Does it work?!? And if it does work, does it work on all of them or just one?

And optim-wise, any suggestions? is there any way of taking magical beasts as companions? or any feats that help improve them?
charlesatan
01-21-05, 08:11 AM From my understanding it's the former: 23/7/4/1; By my understanding of Nature Bond, you'll end up with 23/10/7/4.

Short of epic-level, you can take the Exalted Companion feat from Book of Exalted Deeds to get a magical beast companion (or at least a Celestial animal companion). In Eberron, you can also get the feat Totem Companion to get a specific magical beast companion.

As for feats, Improved Natural Attack and Improved Toughness always seems good if you can't think of anything else. A few spells can also be handy, such as Nature's Favor (up to +3 luck bonus to attack and damage rolls at 9th caster level). If you somehow get access to 9th level spells, Nature's Avatar is great (+10 competence bonus to attack and damage). Animal Growth is also worth it, especially when cast on a Dire Bear or even a Tyrannosaurus.
MustafaHazaraKhan
01-21-05, 11:14 PM The animal companions that a Druid 10 / Beastmaster 10 would have would be 23/7/4/1. If you take the Nature Bond feat then that will go up to 26/10/7/4.

Nature Bond should work. It says that it cannot increase 'effective druid level' to more than your character level, but to work out your animal companion bonuses you are adding 'effective druid level+3' to 'effective beastmaster level'. It won't work at full efficiency until you have three levels of non-Druid though.

While your highest level companion will be a combat king those lower-level ones will be pretty shonky. I'd make a mounted Beastmaster and take the second highest animal as some sort of mount. The other two will probably be relegated to tasks like aerial scouting, petty thievery, and picky tasks.

I reckon the best optimisation of this class is to just take three levels and then skip into a different PrC. It gives the Alertness feat so you could probably concoct some kind of Beastmaster / Master of Many Forms combo without too much difficulty. If you are going to be giving up druid spellcasting then you might as well maximise the other features.
SlashDash
01-22-05, 05:47 AM I reckon the best optimisation of this class is to just take three levels and then skip into a different PrC. It gives the Alertness feat so you could probably concoct some kind of Beastmaster / Master of Many Forms combo without too much difficulty. If you are going to be giving up druid spellcasting then you might as well maximise the other features.

Actually, my original thought was to try and maximize whatever I can out of Share spells, so I didn't want to completely let go of spellcasting.

But I just had an idea, how about this:

Cleric 10\ Beast Master 10

This gives me access to 5th level spells and the one I had my eye on was Dragon Breath from Complete Divine. It will give me a breath weapon of 5d8 or 7d8 with Practiced Spellcaster. And thanks to share spells, that effects four other animals for a total of 35d8 (reflex for half).
Not bad at all, I can even use the uber-cheese of Divine Metamagic persistent to get it to work all day (every 1d4 rounds).

wait, even better, Cleric 9 \ Sorcerer 1\ Beast Master 10. Now I also got a familiar for a total of 42d8 every 1d4 rounds, reflex for half.

*EDIT*
Nope, sorry my math was a bit off. Since I lose a cleric level Dragon Breath goes down to 4d8 or 6d8 with Practiced Spellcaster to a total of 36d8.
Not really worth the trade off.
Khazra Reborn
01-22-05, 06:15 AM Go for spells which increase HP, whether through con bonuses or temporary Hp. I also suggest that you take high con forms for the worse companions, badgers & wolverines etc. If they have a lot of HP at least they make good flankers for you.
Take your 26 HD companion as an advanced dire elephant & then take the feat that lets you use your mounts str on a charge (sorry can't remember the name) & powerlunge to double it. Assume dire ape from & charge with a wooden lance & 2 handed PA.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SlashDash 01-21-05, 07:51 AM	I like the idea of the Beast Master from Complete Adventurer, but having a few problems with it. All help would be appriciated I'm considering Druid 10\BeastMaster 10 Clarification: 1)how many animal companions do you actually get from this build? I know that the Beast Master gets 3 extra companions of lower levels and the druid gives you one. But what I'm not positive about is the Beast Master's animal bond ability. As I understand, it states that you get an animal companion and if you have druid levels they stack - So is that in addition to the one you get as a druid or a new one? In other words, do I get a 23/7/4/1 or 20/23/7/4/1? 2)Will the nature bond feat work??? The Beast Master's extra companions don't get to stack druid levels from any class feature that allow it to stack - But this is technically a feat - Does it work?!? And if it does work, does it work on all of them or just one? And optim-wise, any suggestions? is there any way of taking magical beasts as companions? or any feats that help improve them?
charlesatan 01-21-05, 08:11 AM	From my understanding it's the former: 23/7/4/1; By my understanding of Nature Bond, you'll end up with 23/10/7/4. Short of epic-level, you can take the Exalted Companion feat from Book of Exalted Deeds to get a magical beast companion (or at least a Celestial animal companion). In Eberron, you can also get the feat Totem Companion to get a specific magical beast companion. As for feats, Improved Natural Attack and Improved Toughness always seems good if you can't think of anything else. A few spells can also be handy, such as Nature's Favor (up to +3 luck bonus to attack and damage rolls at 9th caster level). If you somehow get access to 9th level spells, Nature's Avatar is great (+10 competence bonus to attack and damage). Animal Growth is also worth it, especially when cast on a Dire Bear or even a Tyrannosaurus.
MustafaHazaraKhan 01-21-05, 11:14 PM	The animal companions that a Druid 10 / Beastmaster 10 would have would be 23/7/4/1. If you take the Nature Bond feat then that will go up to 26/10/7/4. Nature Bond should work. It says that it cannot increase 'effective druid level' to more than your character level, but to work out your animal companion bonuses you are adding 'effective druid level+3' to 'effective beastmaster level'. It won't work at full efficiency until you have three levels of non-Druid though. While your highest level companion will be a combat king those lower-level ones will be pretty shonky. I'd make a mounted Beastmaster and take the second highest animal as some sort of mount. The other two will probably be relegated to tasks like aerial scouting, petty thievery, and picky tasks. I reckon the best optimisation of this class is to just take three levels and then skip into a different PrC. It gives the Alertness feat so you could probably concoct some kind of Beastmaster / Master of Many Forms combo without too much difficulty. If you are going to be giving up druid spellcasting then you might as well maximise the other features.
SlashDash 01-22-05, 05:47 AM	I reckon the best optimisation of this class is to just take three levels and then skip into a different PrC. It gives the Alertness feat so you could probably concoct some kind of Beastmaster / Master of Many Forms combo without too much difficulty. If you are going to be giving up druid spellcasting then you might as well maximise the other features. Actually, my original thought was to try and maximize whatever I can out of Share spells, so I didn't want to completely let go of spellcasting. But I just had an idea, how about this: Cleric 10\ Beast Master 10 This gives me access to 5th level spells and the one I had my eye on was Dragon Breath from Complete Divine. It will give me a breath weapon of 5d8 or 7d8 with Practiced Spellcaster. And thanks to share spells, that effects four other animals for a total of 35d8 (reflex for half). Not bad at all, I can even use the uber-cheese of Divine Metamagic persistent to get it to work all day (every 1d4 rounds). wait, even better, Cleric 9 \ Sorcerer 1\ Beast Master 10. Now I also got a familiar for a total of 42d8 every 1d4 rounds, reflex for half. EDIT Nope, sorry my math was a bit off. Since I lose a cleric level Dragon Breath goes down to 4d8 or 6d8 with Practiced Spellcaster to a total of 36d8. Not really worth the trade off.
Khazra Reborn 01-22-05, 06:15 AM	Go for spells which increase HP, whether through con bonuses or temporary Hp. I also suggest that you take high con forms for the worse companions, badgers & wolverines etc. If they have a lot of HP at least they make good flankers for you. Take your 26 HD companion as an advanced dire elephant & then take the feat that lets you use your mounts str on a charge (sorry can't remember the name) & powerlunge to double it. Assume dire ape from & charge with a wooden lance & 2 handed PA.