Improved Animal Companion Feat

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Raez_Daevan

Aug 19, 2014 8:10:09

Just an idea to improve the companion you already have, or get a better one.

 

Improved Animal Companion

 

Prerequisite: Beastmaster Ranger

 

Your training with beasts is unmatched. You gain the following benefits:

 

  • Beasts of CR 1/4 or lower chosen as an animal companion have HP equal to 6 x ranger level.
  • Your animal companion can be a beast up to CR 1/2 and can be up to size large.
  • If your animal companion rolls a 1 on any attack roll, ability check, skill roll or saving throw, they may roll again but must take the new value.

 

Thoughts? Comments? Too weak? Too Strong?

 

#2

Raez_Daevan

Aug 19, 2014 8:48:13

I notice that animal companions can't self heal (i.e. spend hit dice), so their only way to regain hitpoints is through a long rest or through magic.  

 

Maybe a house-rule to allow a ranger to spend their own hit dice to heal their animal companion.  Or add that ability to the feat above.

#3

Raez_Daevan

Aug 19, 2014 11:47:35

I've decided this can't be avoided as a feat tax, so it'd be better to just house-rule the beastmaster to allow higher CRs at higher ranger levels.  Then maybe add a few more ranger spells that benefit Beastmasters.

 

I have this idea for a swamp ranger that has a crocodile as a companion and currently it can't happen.

#4

Whir

Aug 19, 2014 19:22:59

They probably do the 1/4CR thing to keep you at a flat damage rate (1d6+1) on your animal's attacks. Crocs do 1d10+2, which is a fairly substantial upgrade.

 

But, for a house rule, I might say that a ranger can have a beast that is 1/4 of his level in CR, maxing out at CR 1; optionall they could maybe get a CR 1/2 at 6 and maybe a CR 1 at 16 or something like that. CR 2 would be pretty powerful, so I'd probably stick to 1. I couldn't find a CR 2 beast in the available release material, but an ogre is CR 2, so you're probably looking at maybe dire bear territory (dire is still beast, right?).

 

Edit: Wolves do 2d4+2 on a hit, and are the most powerful CR 1/4 that I could find. Croc wouldn't be a huge boost from that.