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I feel like writing a Huntmaster guide, so I'd like to clarify a few things first:
Hunting Pack (Ex)
At 1st level, a huntmaster forms a close bond with an animal companion. This animal companion functions as a druid's animal companion, using the cavalier's level as his effective druid level. He can choose either a bird or a dog when selecting his animal companion.
The huntmaster can 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. Each time a huntmaster'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 huntmaster'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 huntmaster the ability to cast a single spell so that it affects all of his animal companions.
A huntmaster's animal companions gain a bonus on Survival checks to follow tracks equal to 1/2 the cavalier's class level (minimum 1).
This ability replaces mount.
Beast RiderYou gain the service of a monstrous companion or mount.
Prerequisites: Animal companion or mount class feature, character level 7th, half-orc or orc.
Benefit: Select one of the following creature types: elephant, pteranodon, rhinoceros, stegosaurus, or triceratops. Add this creature type to your list of possible animal companions or mounts. When summoning a creature of the selected type to serve as a mount or companion, treat your effective druid level as if it were two levels higher (to a maximum of your character level). If the creature is large enough for you to ride, it gains the combat training general purpose (see Handle Animal) at no cost.
Would a Huntmaster with the Beast Rider feat be able to include a rhinoceros in his hunting pack? Since it's neither bird nor dog, he would certainly lose takedown, but a charging rhino that gains the full benefit of a cavalier's challenge has its own merits.
I'd hate to be the bearer of bad news, but as the Hunting Pack ability replaces mount, you don't qualify for the Beast Rider feat as you no longer have Mount, but Hunting Pack instead.
However, the reading seems a bit confusing since the Hunting Pack ability refers to them as animal companions.
Anyone else want to weigh in on this?
As the hunting pack is still an animal companion and beast rider works on animal companions as well as on mounts it should work RAW.
Hunting Pack (Ex)
At 1st level, a huntmaster forms a close bond with an animal companion. This animal companion functions as a druid's animal companion, using the cavalier's level as his effective druid level. He can choose either a bird or a dog when selecting his animal companion.
Beast RiderYou gain the service of a monstrous companion or mount.
Prerequisites: Animal companion or mount class feature, character level 7th, half-orc or orc.
I bolded the two relevant parts.
It says "this ability replaces mount" that line means the feat doesn't work.
It says "this ability replaces mount" that line means the feat doesn't work.
So you would say that the huntmaster can't take boon companion, too? Or Celestial servant? Or any other feat that applies to mounts and animal companions?
If so why?Or did you just not notice that the feat works on ACs, too?
Director of Rules & Lore
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It says "this ability replaces mount" that line means the feat doesn't work.So you would say that the huntmaster can't take boon companion, too? Or Celestial servant? Or any other feat that applies to mounts and animal companions?
If so why?
Or did you just not notice that the feat works on ACs, too?
Beast Rider, Boon Companion, and Celestial Servant all reference the Animal Companion or Mount class features. The Huntmaster does not have the Animal Companion or Mount class features, he has the Hunting Pack class feature, which gives him an Animal Companion. A strict RAW reading would mean he cannot qualify for any of those feats.
Incorrect - other classes do not have 'animal companion class feature by name'. Look at druid (Nature Bond) and ranger (Hunter's Bond) for examples. Not having the specific ability "Animal Companion" does not prevent these classes from having animal companions. Why should Hunting Pack be any different?
Celestial Servant requires someone be either human or asimar. Beast Rider requires orc or half-orc.
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Director of Rules & Lore
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Incorrect - other classes do not have 'animal companion class feature by name'. Look at druid (Nature Bond) and ranger (Hunter's Bond) for examples. Not having the specific ability "Animal Companion" does not prevent these classes from having animal companions. Why should Hunting Pack be any different?
Celestial Servant requires someone be either human or asimar. Beast Rider requires orc or half-orc.
That would make the feats poorly written, not the statement incorrect.
To be clear, I was just elaborating on the reasoning behind what other posters were stating as regards things like the statement that since Hunting Pack replaces Mount, it doesn't work.
I personally don't have an issue with it and would certainly allow it.
By the rules I think it works. However, it feels to me that it's against intent, and I would consider disallowing it for that reason alone.
Also, for the sake of argument, consider Huntmaster.
wouldn't this be one of those situations that functions like the duelist gloves faq?
What I mean is that the hunting pack class feature is one that grants an animal companion, and as such, ought to interact with the feats that are associated with animal companions?
wouldn't this be one of those situations that functions like the duelist gloves faq?
What I mean is that the hunting pack class feature is one that grants an animal companion, and as such, ought to interact with the feats that are associated with animal companions?
Absolutely, yes.
Bonus question:
If you have the multiple classes that offer animal companions and mounts, do you add the chosen animal to all lists?
Yes, nothing limits it to a single class. It applies every time you 'summon' a creature to be your AC or mount.
That said, many of the animal companion class abilities stack with each other, instead of being seperate companions.