Hey,
Is there a feat somewhere that allows you to gain an Animal Companion not on the Core Ranger's Animal Companion list?
I'm looking at getting something that isn't on the Ranger list, but is on the Druid list and as they share the same list (with Ranger being more limited), I just wondered if there was a feat I could get that would allow me to get one of the Druid's Animal Companions. :)
Thanks!
I would say it is up to GM fiat. I am unaware of any expansions to the Ranger's Animal Companion list.
- Gauss
@Gauss - That's what I would have had to have done, but thankfully JorianDrake has answered my question! :D
@Jorian - Thanks a lot!
I don't know why, but when looking through Archetypes I completely missed this one and it's awesome because it allows me to have multiple animals!
So, by level 17, hello level 10 T-Rex and level 7 Roc!
Mounted Combat and Melee Combat buddies! :D
This is my first ever Ranger, so here's what I've come up with!
Ranger Beast Master 1
CG Human
Intiative: 2
------------
Defense
------------
AC: 16, Touch: 12, Flat-Footed: 14
HP: 12
Fort: 3, Ref: 4, Will: 4 (6 vs Charm and Compulsion)
------------
Offense
------------
Speed 30ft
Melee: Earthbreaker: +5, 2d6+6 x3
+7, 2d6+8 x3 (favoured enemy)
With Power Attack:
Earthbreaker: +4, 2d6+9 x3
+6, 2d6+11 x3 (favoured enemy)
Ranged: Composite Longbow: +3, 1d8 x3
+5, 1d8+2 x3 (favoured enemy)
------------
Stats
------------
Str 18, Dex 14, Con 12, Wis 14, Int 7, Cha 12
BAB 1, CMB 5 (7 FE), CMD 18 (20 FE)
Feats Iron Will, Power Attack
Traits Birthmark
Racial Heart of the Wilderness
Skills Handle Animal 5 (7 handling own animal), Intimidate 5, Perception 6 (10 favoured enemy and terrain), Survival 6 (10 favoured enemy and terrain, +1 when tracking)
Languages Common
Gear Chain Shirt, Earth Breaker, Composite Longbow, 40 Arrows (provided I can afford it all)
------------
Class
------------
Favoured Enemy
Track
Wild Empathy (+2 Beast Master)
Animal Companion Roc and T-Rex
Spells Lead Blades, Gravity Bow
Feats Empower Spell (make weapon damage two categories above normal), mounted combat, archery based feats and melee based feats
Note: Will grab a +4 Str Bow as soon as possible.
Hopefully this is a good idea. The character concept is pretty wacky, but basically this guy takes his pride and joy in smashing opponents heads in, intimidates others to see how they like it and switches to Archery if an opponent thinks it's clever for flying. :p
Attitude towards friend: Cocky, funny, friendly
Attitude towards foe: Cocky, sarcastic, jokey
I'm tempted to make it so if he loses his two main Animal Companions, he gets a herd of Aurochs. Stampede frenzy!
Barding Armour sounds really cool, but I wouldn't upgrade it much, as Apollo would need most of the wealth accumulated in game to upgrade his own armour and weapons.
Boon Companion sounds nice, but I don't understand how it would work, unless it made the Companion a higher level than me?
If that's the case, it does however mean if I reach level 17, it'll be the equivalent of level 22 (probably caps out at 20 though), because when you hit level 12, a Beast Master's Animal Companion ability is the same as a Druid's (without the -3 in other words), so that's cool.
As for Rich Parents, I wish I could, but the GM always makes us have one campaign trait, so unless one gives me the same bonus for Will Saves, I'm going to have to stick with Birthmark.
Still, it would be nice to purchase a Chain Shirt, Earth Breaker Hammer and +4 Str Composite Longbow from the start.
I wouldn't be able to get an Animal Companion until level 4 anyway, but yea, Boon Companion sounds awesome and would it effect all Companions?
I can't multi-class though, because I need all of the Ranger's Favoured Enemy and Terrain abilities. Nice idea though. :)
feat: Additional Traits (you get two more traits, and one can be Rich Parents), take it on level 1 and you have no problems
Boon Companion makes your companion level calculation be increased by 4 up to your total character level, so until level 12 it is useful, later too if you continue to multiclass into an other class to up to 4 levels
example 12 lvl Beastmaster / 4 lvl Mighty Godling
a Beastmaster ranger gets an animal companion already on level 1, it just stays level 1/ 1HD until level 5 due to the -3 modifier, or until Boon Companion is taken. Sure, the ability does replace the typical ranger's bond but the effect comes right away jut as in case of an Animal domain using cleric
Strictly speaking: your GM is following the rules regarding Campaign Traits.
If your GM uses campaign traits, one of your starting traits must be a campaign trait.
With that said, I don't force my players to use the campaign traits. I find that most of them are too narrow to be appropriate to all characters.
Regarding Rich Parents: it is a sucker trait. Due to WBL guidelines by level 2 it is a completely wasted trait. Even if your GM does not use WBL guidelines after a few levels 900gp extra is a pittance. Take a trait that actually provides a longer term benefit. Birthmark is a fine choice.
- Gauss
Ah, well it's a shame you can't retrain Ranger's feats then. :p
Otherwise, I'd have it for a while, then retrain it to something useful when I hit level 13, as it'd become void by that point. Shame it doesn't go past your Character level, because otherwise I'd use it to boost a companion up by 4 levels if I have multiple companions, which I will do. :D
I was thinking by level 17, with the Boon Companion Feat I could have a possible animal level of 21, so I could lower my main animals to have two of them. One at Level 12 and one at Level 9, equalling 21. :p
Tbh, I think I can do that, so there's no need to get rid of the Boon Companion Feat anyway.
I'm just sticking with this Archetype though. Fighter or Barbarian would have been an option, but I want to stay straight Ranger. :)
As for Additional Traits, I've used that a few times in the past, but as I have so many feats to choose from for this build, I'm thinking it'd be a waste to me.
Other than already stated, the Feats I have to choose from are as follows:
Critical Focus, Point Blank-Shot, Precise Shot, Weapon Focus, Boon Companion, Mounted Combat, Mounted Archery, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, Manyshot (needs 17 Dex), Clustered Shots, Impact Critical Shot, Parting Shot.
Hmmm I see you are missing Improved Precise Shot. A must have feat for any archery build and Rangers can get it at level 6. Otherwise, nice build.
- Gauss
Improved Precise Shot is a Feat I actually haven't ever been bothered about, but not ever having a build which focused on Archery, I guess that's why I didn't care about it, or overlooked it.
Anyway, here's the finished list of Feats I'll be getting, but the fun will be deciding when to get them:
Level 1: Power Attack, Iron Will
Between Level 3 and 17: Critical Focus (BAB 9), Point Blank-Shot, Rapid Shot, Boon Companion, Mounted Combat, Mounted Archery, Deadly Aim, Clustered Shots (BAB 6).
Combat Style: Archery Progression
Precise Shot (level 2)
Improved Precise Shot (level 10)
Manyshot (level 14)
Thanks by the way! Hopefully this is a capable build. The only downer is the lower intelligence, but whatever. :p
Originally I was going to follow the Two-Handed Combat Style for things like Dreadful Carnage, but I think I'm fairly optimised for both weapons now.
Charisma is still good on +1 because it's needed for Handle Animal.
Well yea, but that further delays my Ranger Spells, which I'm using to restock arrows and increase my bow and hammer sized weapon damage (I can increase it by two sizes with empower, which I forgot about, so I'll add it to the list).
Also, my GM doesn't ever allow guns, so Bow and Arrow is the next best thing. :)
I agree that Fighter levels would really help this build, but unless I want to push back my Spells even further away than they already are, I can't do anything about it.
Anyway, the +4 with Boon Companion will be awesome, because I intend to have multiple Companions, so technically I get +4 levels to play around with the levels of my Companions, from the Boon Feat. :)
So, when I enter, I'll have a non fighting Roc and T-Rex, but then I'll use the Boon on the T-Rex, counting it as a level 2 monster at level 4, instead of a level 1.
At level 5, the Roc would be level 1, whilst the T-Rex is Level 2. I'll keep upping them how I see fit as I level up, but when I hit level 12, I get 4 free level points to add to my Companions, so they'll either be distributed across both Companions, or added to one, so that I have one weaker than the other, but both would be effective.
I'd then have Mounted Combat for the Roc over anything, to try and negate any damage it may receive during a fight. :)
Edit: Just realised you can't increase the Weapon Damage by two Size Categories instead of one, because the Empower Feat only increases it by 50%, so it would still remain as one Size Category above, not two.
Ah well, wishful thinking. :p
Bandavaar: Empower Spell will have no effect on Lead Blades or Gravity Bow. Sorry. The feat only affects variable based effects. Lead Blades and Gravity Bow change the size of the dice but the spells themselves do not make any dice rolls.
- Gauss
Ah, you Ninja'd my edit Gauss!
Yea, I just found that (much to my disappointment), but even still, I think I'm happy with my build. :D
@Jorian - The Beast Master allows you to have multiple creatures, with their levels divided up (I think by your choice) freely between your Companions, so you can have 17 level 1 Companions at level 17, 2 level 5's and one level 7 or 1 level 10 and 1 level 7 etc.
The Beast Master allows you to grab any Companion from the Druid list. :)
Bandavaar: I commented on your feats and noticed another problem on your other thread (really need to just move over to that one in general). :D
- Gauss
true, but the Boon Companion still doesn't let you go above your character level with your companion advancement, so it would still as per RAW be level 17, and not get the +4 to share among companions.
The Boon Companion feat is great to erase the negatives from class to companions (like the -3 from Ranger, or from Animal Domain Cleric) and to allow multiclassing without the companion faling behind in advancing, that is all.
This is why I said that as Beastmaster gets to eliminate on lvl 12 its negative entirely, the Boon Companion feat could be used to its full advantage by slowly leveling up up to 4 levels in a different class and have your char as a multiclass person.
This would not affect your companions negatively, plus I don't see why you need spells at all, just buy enchanted weapons and items from druids/rangers for what you need without casting the spells yourself, or in worst case buy spell scrolls.
There is some feat that allows Rangers a second companion at level -3 or -2 I think, seems like a waste but even as Beastmaster it would be useful on high levels, as while one companion would be lvl 15 the other would be 12, without having to split your HD among them, and thus having 2 stronger companions (and as beastmaster multiple smaller ones could be added as extra for more eyes/flavor)
Hmm, that's something worth considering then.
An extra Companion at almost full strength seems like a really cool idea. Though, by the sounds of things I should get that feat instead of Boon Companion because Boon Companion will help a lot earlier on, but once I hit level 12, unless I multi-class, it'd be useless and multi-classing is something I really didn't want to do, because I'm really liking the idea of being self sufficient enough to empower my own weapons, by increasing their damage to one size category higher. :)
Abundant Ammunition, Gravity Bow and Lead Blades are the only spells I plan to use, so with such a Spell starved Class, I think I'll be making good use of it.
Maybe I should ignore Boon Companion altogether, because otherwise it'll be a wasted Feat after level 12. :(
I could instead add Intimidating Prowess or something.
as said, I think you focus too much on those spells, especially considering you already get the ability to have more companions and dig deep into archery, spells won't be of use in anti-magic field anyway
the feats you should consider (and yea, Boon Companion may not be needed if you remain in a single class)
Second Bond, Improved Bond, Mounted Caster
multiclassing into a godling class like Mighty Godling would allow you to take divine trait ranks in Horse Lord, or some other things flavorful for your char concept, if you don't want Fighter levels for the bonus feats
special funny thing: through those feats you get 2 full HD companions, but due to being Beastmaster you can split the HD among as many as you want, this means you can now split companion HD double the amount as usually
As example, you could have your very own pack of wolves, or a swarm of ravens
Awesome. :D
I'd have loved that, but I'm only allowed Official Paizo Products, not Third Party books to grab Classes and content from. :(
I think my guy would go for the more exotic animals though.
I see him with an army of Tigers or Dinosaurs. :p
Even still, I think I'll change the Boon Companion feat (if it won;t give me an additional 4 levels to play about with) and just find something else, though Intimidating Prowess would be great with +5 Str and now I'm not going to be empowering a Spell, I'm not worried about how many spells I can cast because each chosen one is long lasting.
This means I could multi-class dip for two levels (as I still get 4 favoured enemies because it caps out at level 15 in a level 17 AP), so Barbarian with the additional strength from Rage seems like a good choice. :D
Otherwise there's always Fighter for Extra Feats, provided I find some that I like the sound of, on top of the already chosen ones.
The Mounted Fury Barbarian Archetype adds an additional 10ft to a Mounts movement speed, so that's cool.
Two-Handed Fighter 3 levels gives me Overhand Chop, but that gets rid of one of the Favoured Enemies. Then again, maybe that's worth it due to the damage increase surpassing that of a Favoured Enemies on a Melee Attack?
Then there's the Archer Archetype which adds Disarm or Sunder to my Archery attacks, though the build is already more in favour of Archery than Melee, so I'm not as inclined to go for this as I kind of want a balance of the two. :)
There's also the Rogue Sniper which adds Sneak Attack to both of my weapons, as well as decreasing range increment penalties by half when firing past your range with a bow, so this is nice.
Dragoon Fighter offers Skill Focus and Mounted Combat as free feats.
So, I now have hard decisions to make:
Do I go with a Fighter for two feats, and extreme melee attack damage to balance things out?
Do I go for a Dragoon Fighter to gain Skill Focus Ride and Mounted Combat in just a single level dip?
Do I go with the Mounted Fury Barbarian for Rage and 10ft extra movement speed on a mount?
Do I go for the Sneak Attacking Rogue Sniper?
Or, do I go for the Fighter Archer for Disarm or Sunder to my attacks? Though, I'm pretty sure you can attempt a Disarm with your Bow and Arrow anyway, just at a penalty.
Edit: I'm heavily leaning towards the Two-Handed Fighter for that bonus to my Hammer damage. It seems like a really nice trade-off for three levels and if I do this, I'll still keep the Boon Companion feat. :)
I won't go four levels of another Class, because I really want my three Combat Style Feats, but yea, Two-Handed Fighter sounds decent for this build.
That way, most feats go on Archery, while this Class dip goes onto my Hammer damage. :D
Yea, well, like I said, this concept is a little out there.
When I first made it, my focus was on Melee, only attacking from Range when necessary, but as I've made my Ranged Attacks rival my Melee or even surpass it, I'm thinking I just want to boost my Melee up now, to deal stupid damage both ways. :p
I've gone with 3 levels of Two-Handed Fighter, so I can get that Overhand Chop and oddly, three extra feats to play around with, instead of the two I thought.
I've been thinking about these:
Three Extra Feats:
1. Intimidating Prowess, Furious Focus, Dreadful Carnage
2. Animal Affinity
3. Improved Initiative or Lunge, Ride by Attack, Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Eclectic (extra favoured class), Favoured Defense and Opening Volley.
Though I'm quite liking the idea of Favoured Defense, Opening Volley and Intimidating Prowess as I want his enemies to be afraid of him, though choice number 2 is Improved Bull Rush.
Ah ok, well thanks for the help anyway. :)
Both you and Gauss have been a great help and in regards to the Archery, although I can see your point, this guy is meant to be an up front Fighter primarily, but if he's actually better with range, I'll have him hide his bow and surprise everyone when he pulls it out.
Everyone will think he's an average fighting Ranger, when actually he's pretty diverse.
My only question to you is, with the Composite Longbow, do you use your Str for Attack Bonus instead of Dex, because I'm pretty sure you do, but just wanted to clarify this with you. :)
Thanks for the help though! :D
|
Ah ok, well thanks for the help anyway. :)
Both you and Gauss have been a great help and in regards to the Archery, although I can see your point, this guy is meant to be an up front Fighter primarily, but if he's actually better with range, I'll have him hide his bow and surprise everyone when he pulls it out.
Everyone will think he's an average fighting Ranger, when actually he's pretty diverse.
My only question to you is, with the Composite Longbow, do you use your Str for Attack Bonus instead of Dex, because I'm pretty sure you do, but just wanted to clarify this with you. :)
Thanks for the help though! :D
You can use your STR for damage up to the max allowed by the bow, but you still use your DEX for attack rolls.
Thanks very much for the help guys. :)