Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 txporter Oct 19, 2009 16:54:02	My son (almost 8) plays an Elven Beastmaster Archer with a Raptor pet. He really loves his pet and is horrified that anything might happen to it. Because of this, I have allowed him to have the raptor sit on his shoulder during encounters. For the most part, he is just an Archer without prime shot. His pet has ventured off his shoulder all of about 4 times over his 6 levels. My son has mostly been happy with this but would like to attack with his pet without loosing his own attacks. Couple this with the inclusion of more and more caster enemies with AoE that are hitting his Raptor, I think he might be ready to include his bird more. I am planning to allow him to substitute his quarry damage for an attack by his raptor. In heroic tier, this seems to work well enough. He is trading a guaranteed 1d6 damage for a chance at 1d6+4 (I will make him roll to hit). This seems to possibly incentivize him into moving his raptor off his shoulder and allow him to feel like his raptor is contributing. Does anyone see any major issue this might cause? And how would others handle Paragon and Epic quarry damage progression? I was thinking about simply changing the damage dice to 2d6/3d6 but this might cause issues if we make it to epic with the minor pet attacks.
#2 Arithezoo Oct 22, 2009 11:46:38	Hey, First of all, I think its awesome that you play with your son; I hope to do the same in 8 years! Are there any other players in the party?  My wife has roughly the same character (but a snow leopard instead of an eagle), and mainly uses her pet to flank (works especially well once you pick up the ranged flanking feat..forget what it is called). I really like the idea of substituting the beast's attack for hunter's quarry.  You could instead simply say that the beast is where the quarry damage comes from.  Or, if that isn't enough, give a slight damage increase if his beast is adjacent to his quarry when he does the damage.  So, he could deal 1d8 quarry damage (representing the eagle clawing at the foe) instead of 1d6.  Essentially, you are giving him the increased quarry damage feat for free, but only usable when his beast is adjacent.  I think this is fair, as he gave up prime shot for a feature he isn't using to its fullest.  This also gets rid of your concern of epic level beast attacks as a minor action; these would be handled normally.
#3 txporter Oct 22, 2009 12:55:12	Thanks for your thoughts.  I do kinda like the idea of just maybe giving him a larger damage die if the pet is adjacent.  I will think on that.  It does simplify the whole paragon/epic level issue. The group is just me, my wife and my son.  We originally started out each playing 1 player while I DM'd.  It was hard to really adjust the encounters for 3 people well.  Now my wife and son both play two characters.  They do very well with it, although the actual roleplaying is low and I am trying to bring that in.
#4 undrave Oct 22, 2009 13:28:07	Don't forget that the Raptor can also make opportunity attacks so it would be a good idea to send it next to a caster. Maybe create a Daily power where the Raptor can stick to a foe like glue and anytime the target moves the Raptor gets to shift for free. Thus the guy is either stuck in melee or has to provoke opportunity attacks from the Raptor. Ya know I bet such a power already exists, if not it really should :p If you can wait 'till later tonight I'll make one up when I come back from work :D
#5 DanTracker Oct 23, 2009 6:06:54	i think that is a fantastic trade-off and a perfect way to flavor the hunter's quarry. i'm stealing this to offer to the beastmaster at my table. she barely every puts her wolf into the battle because her own attacks are so much more powerful, why send the beast? this would be a great way for her to use the wolf to better advantage without giving up her own attacks. kudos. initally i was going to say, "that's just the rules. it is a trade of your attack or the beast attack." that is what i and another player explained to the beastmaster in our group. but after reading that you were going to trade the quarry for the beast attack, that is simply a great option. and, thank you for the idea. i'm going to write an email to that beast master right away telling her about this possibility.