Has anyone else noticed that nearly every image associated with Druids features an animal companion, but there is no longer an option for Druids to have a beasty friend? Struck me as rather unfortunate...
It would probalby be way underpowered in comparison, I think, but what about letting a Druid player take the Ranger Beast Master option in place of a the Moon or Land options?
Druids don't need an "option" to have an animal companion - they can befriend as many animals as they want, and are often quite skilled at training animals.
The only reason the Beast Master ranger needs the features that it has is because that is the only way the the player is in control of the companion, rather than it being an NPC portrayed by the DM.
Read the "Awaken" spell.
If druids could have an animal companion, Getafix would have an animal companion.
Getafix has no animal companion.
Druids can't have an animal companion.
Duids have quite a feew spells that let them gain animal companions. Having the Ranger Beastmaster subclass would be redundant.