Ranger: Beastmaster vs. Natural Bond [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ranger: Beastmaster vs. Natural Bond [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Swiftbrook
05-24-06, 09:01 PM In another thread "Need Archer Build" (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=640823) the Beastmaster prestige class and the Natural Bond feat were brought up. I've been thinking about them both and wondering what the community thoughts are on which one to choose if, as a ranger, you want to advance you animal companion quicker.

Natural Bond: add +3 levels to your effective Druid level when determining your animal companion.

Beastmaster: prereq Skill Focus(Handle Animal) feat, some skills. Benifit add beastermater level +3 to your effective Druid level when determining your animal companion. Good Fort and Reflex savs. BAB +1. d10 Hit Die and 4 skill points.

I think the Natural Bond feat is the best path to take.
To take the Beastmaster PC you need to first take the Skill Focus feat, a feat that I don't find much use in (but that's me). When you take a level in Beastmaster, you gain the equivalent of 4 Druid levels for your animal companion. When you take the Natural Bond feat and advance a level as a Ranger, you gain 3 1/2 Durid equivalent levels (3 for the feat and 1/2 for advancing as a Ranger). This keeps you progressing towards the higher level Ranger benifits.

Also, a PC for a Ranger should have a good Will save. Ranger already has a good For and Reflex save and with a high Dex for an archer, the Reflex save is going to be very good.

Now the d10 Hit Points are nothing to overlook. But, I don't see the overall benifit going with Beastmaster to advance my animal companion. I think I'll take Natural Bond if I want to go this way.

Your thoughts.

-Swiftbrook
Namarus
05-24-06, 09:04 PM Remember that Natural Bond is a limited feat, so you do need access before you can get it.
Swiftbrook
05-24-06, 09:07 PM Remember that Natural Bond is a limited feat, so you do need access before you can get it.

Noted. Got it. I'm a Green Jerkin Ranger from Furyondy.

-Swiftbrook
redgamer
05-24-06, 09:26 PM I remember a post by a circle member saying it worked like practised caster. IE it happens at the most opportune time. So you would add natural bond then add beastmaster. But you hearing it third hand so take it with a grain of salt.

Absent this I would still have them both add to effective druid level for determining animal companion as they use different wording and that interpretation is neither nonsensical nor out of line power wise for a feat.
Lomiat
05-25-06, 12:17 AM The Beastmaster route doesn't seem too bad, honestly. Most of the builds I've seen with REALLY good saves have built up their saves by compounding good saves on top of more good saves. Yes, you'd delay the class benefits from Ranger by one level, but you'd do a better job of handling your animal (along with any that you purchase: Heavy War Horse, etc.) and once you got Evasion, your Reflex save would be +2.

Then again, I've been playing where everyone has roughly as many classes as levels. Somewhere, I'm sure, there's a character that's a straight Ranger, and that's just cool. But it's not among my playgroup.
Namarus
05-25-06, 01:38 PM If your going ranger, there is no reason not to take one level of beastmaster. The increased hit points, primary bab, fort and reflex are very nice.

The other interesting thing to remember is that you will immediately be able to upgrade your animal companion to a new teir, or even acquire an animal companion from another teir.

Natural Bond only allows you to increase the effective abilities of the animal companion eg HD, str, dex etc....

Personally I don't see animal handling as a wasted feat, it will allow you to push your companion a lot easier, so you don't have to put much skill points into animal handling.

Although honestly I think you should get both feats.
DuctShuiTengu
05-25-06, 01:46 PM I'd say both. Then again, I'm of the opinion that many of the later Ranger abilities show up too late to really be effective, so I'd probably grab Natural Bond, a level of Beast Master, and then go Animal Lord or something similar to finish out.
Reska
05-31-06, 09:09 PM Also, remember that Natural Bond doesn't help in determining what kind of Animal Companion you can have, but what bonuses that Animal Companion can get.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Swiftbrook 05-24-06, 09:01 PM	In another thread "Need Archer Build" (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=640823) the Beastmaster prestige class and the Natural Bond feat were brought up. I've been thinking about them both and wondering what the community thoughts are on which one to choose if, as a ranger, you want to advance you animal companion quicker. Natural Bond: add +3 levels to your effective Druid level when determining your animal companion. Beastmaster: prereq Skill Focus(Handle Animal) feat, some skills. Benifit add beastermater level +3 to your effective Druid level when determining your animal companion. Good Fort and Reflex savs. BAB +1. d10 Hit Die and 4 skill points. I think the Natural Bond feat is the best path to take. To take the Beastmaster PC you need to first take the Skill Focus feat, a feat that I don't find much use in (but that's me). When you take a level in Beastmaster, you gain the equivalent of 4 Druid levels for your animal companion. When you take the Natural Bond feat and advance a level as a Ranger, you gain 3 1/2 Durid equivalent levels (3 for the feat and 1/2 for advancing as a Ranger). This keeps you progressing towards the higher level Ranger benifits. Also, a PC for a Ranger should have a good Will save. Ranger already has a good For and Reflex save and with a high Dex for an archer, the Reflex save is going to be very good. Now the d10 Hit Points are nothing to overlook. But, I don't see the overall benifit going with Beastmaster to advance my animal companion. I think I'll take Natural Bond if I want to go this way. Your thoughts. -Swiftbrook
Namarus 05-24-06, 09:04 PM	Remember that Natural Bond is a limited feat, so you do need access before you can get it.
Swiftbrook 05-24-06, 09:07 PM	Remember that Natural Bond is a limited feat, so you do need access before you can get it. Noted. Got it. I'm a Green Jerkin Ranger from Furyondy. -Swiftbrook
redgamer 05-24-06, 09:26 PM	I remember a post by a circle member saying it worked like practised caster. IE it happens at the most opportune time. So you would add natural bond then add beastmaster. But you hearing it third hand so take it with a grain of salt. Absent this I would still have them both add to effective druid level for determining animal companion as they use different wording and that interpretation is neither nonsensical nor out of line power wise for a feat.
Lomiat 05-25-06, 12:17 AM	The Beastmaster route doesn't seem too bad, honestly. Most of the builds I've seen with REALLY good saves have built up their saves by compounding good saves on top of more good saves. Yes, you'd delay the class benefits from Ranger by one level, but you'd do a better job of handling your animal (along with any that you purchase: Heavy War Horse, etc.) and once you got Evasion, your Reflex save would be +2. Then again, I've been playing where everyone has roughly as many classes as levels. Somewhere, I'm sure, there's a character that's a straight Ranger, and that's just cool. But it's not among my playgroup.
Namarus 05-25-06, 01:38 PM	If your going ranger, there is no reason not to take one level of beastmaster. The increased hit points, primary bab, fort and reflex are very nice. The other interesting thing to remember is that you will immediately be able to upgrade your animal companion to a new teir, or even acquire an animal companion from another teir. Natural Bond only allows you to increase the effective abilities of the animal companion eg HD, str, dex etc.... Personally I don't see animal handling as a wasted feat, it will allow you to push your companion a lot easier, so you don't have to put much skill points into animal handling. Although honestly I think you should get both feats.
DuctShuiTengu 05-25-06, 01:46 PM	I'd say both. Then again, I'm of the opinion that many of the later Ranger abilities show up too late to really be effective, so I'd probably grab Natural Bond, a level of Beast Master, and then go Animal Lord or something similar to finish out.
Reska 05-31-06, 09:09 PM	Also, remember that Natural Bond doesn't help in determining what kind of Animal Companion you can have, but what bonuses that Animal Companion can get.