So i finally settled on a ranger for my current campaign. It fits in well with the party (healer cleric, stealthy rogue, Talky bard, casty sorc). my DM has mentioned that the campaign will start at level 1. I was thinking of taking the beastmaster archetype and the boon companion feat (at level 1) to start with a horse. level two i would add a raven or other bird to help scout, and then either level the horse companion, or invest in a big cat until i level to the point where i can get a large (ridable) megaloceros, roc, or allosaurus.
the build i had in mind would focus on mounted archery where possible (for full attacks), and if forced to close, switch to a falchion, or scimitar and quickdraw shield. if the first enemy runs or drops, then i switch to chakrams and five foot steps until i pick up my bow or enter another melee.
Any thoughts on how this might work out? is it a waste to invest in beastmaster as a switch hitter? if i can use a roc i could rain arrows all day (provided there's space), the improved empathic link could help me scout with the raven, and by raw, beast master gets the animal companion ability at level 1 (instead of level 4) so if i take boon companion, i can get a companion at level 1
thanks in advance
... and by raw, beast master gets the animal companion ability at level 1 (instead of level 4) so if i take boon companion, i can get a companion at level 1
I think it is debateable whether the beastmaster actually gets it at lvl 1 or at lvl 4. You are correct that the class feature does not specify which level you get it. While that ccould be interpreted as lvl 1, it might also be reasonable to assume that it is meant to be lvl 4, due to the facts that A) it replaced hunters bond, and B) it doesn't have any effect in itself before lvl 4.
For a low level mount (or just backup creature), I would suggest a camel. The spit is a decent-enough debuff, and being a touch attack ensures that it is usable at later levels.
... and by raw, beast master gets the animal companion ability at level 1 (instead of level 4) so if i take boon companion, i can get a companion at level 1
I think it is debateable whether the beastmaster actually gets it at lvl 1 or at lvl 4. You are correct that the class feature does not specify which level you get it. While that ccould be interpreted as lvl 1, it might also be reasonable to assume that it is meant to be lvl 4, due to the facts that A) it replaced hunters bond, and B) it doesn't have any effect in itself before lvl 4.
For a low level mount (or just backup creature), I would suggest a camel. The spit is a decent-enough debuff, and being a touch attack ensures that it is usable at later levels.
A beast master forms a close bond with an animal companion. This ability functions like the druid animal companion ability except that the Ranger’s effective druid level is equal to his Ranger level – 3. The Ranger gains a +2 bonus on wild empathy and Handle Animal checks made regarding his animal companion. Unlike a normal Ranger, a beast master’s choice of animal companion is not limited to a subset of all possibile animal companion choices—he may choose freely among all animal companion choices, just as a druid can.
The beast master may have more than one animal companion, but he must divide up his effective druid level between his companions to determine the abilities of each companion. For example, a beast master with an effective druid level of 4 can have one 4th-level companion, two 2nd-level companions, or one 1st-level and one 3rd-level companion. Each time a beast master’s effective druid level increases, he must decide how to allocate the increase among his animal companions (including the option of adding a new 1st-level companion). Once an effective druid level is allocated to a particular companion, it cannot be redistributed while that companion is in the Ranger’s service (he must release a companion or wait until a companion dies to allocate its levels to another companion). The share spells animal companion ability does not give the Ranger the ability to cast a single spell so that it affects all of his animal companions.
This ability replaces hunter’s bond.
It would seem to me that, while the ability replaces the ranger hunter's bond ability, it is modeled after the Druid animal companion. while i suppose that it is possible that the ability is worded incorrectly, by raw it implies that the ability is as natural as wearing medium armor or counting acrobatics as a class skill.
Terrain Bond (Ex)
At 4th level, the guide forms a bond with the land itself, enabling him to direct others in such terrain. When in his favored terrain, the Ranger grants all allies within line of sight and that can hear him a +2 bonus on initiative checks and Perception, Stealth, and Survival skill checks. Also, as long as they travel with him, the Ranger’s allies leave no trail and can’t be tracked. The Ranger can choose for the group to leave a trail, or even specific members of the group to leave a trail if he so desires.
This ability replaces hunter’s bond.
Ranger’s Luck (Ex)
Upon reaching 9th level, once per day the guide can either reroll one of his attack rolls or force an enemy who just hit him with an attack to reroll the attack roll. The Ranger must take the result of the second roll even if it is worse. A Ranger can use this ability once per day at 9th level, plus one additional time per day at 14th and 19th levels.
This ability replaces evasion.
For a low level mount (or just backup creature), I would suggest a camel. The spit is a decent-enough debuff, and being a touch attack ensures that it is usable at later levels.
do you suggest this as an animal companion, or would it be more worthwhile to simply buy a camel and train it? also, as a beastmaster has access to the full druid list, are there any other options that would be effective for a switchhitter ranger?