Packmaster

Many rangers are more at home in the wildlands than civilization, to the point where animals and beasts consider them kin. In such cases, sometimes these rangers adopt or are adopted into groups of animals, becoming part of their family. Rarely, in such cases, the ranger can earn the position of alpha, the leader of the pack. 

The Packmaster archetype commands a pack of predatory animals, coordinating them to work together as a single, cohesive unit. Together, they are a single force that can face down the strongest of foes--and a loyal, tight-knit family. 

Hunting Pack

When you choose this archetype at the 3rd level, you gain the ability to lead and command a pair of animals. You normally choose your pack from one of the following animals: wolf, cat, panther, eagle, raven, or any beast the DM permits you to add to your pack. Alone, they may be weak or unimposing. But when led by you, they become a formidable, well-coordinated unit--and your closest companions. 

At the 3rd level, your pack will consist of two beasts of the same type (you can have two or more wolves in a pack, but not a wolf and an eagle). You gain the ability to add a third beast to your pack at the 7th level, and an additional fourth beast at the 11th level. 

You can spend 8 hours and 20gp worth of herbs and food to train an animal to be introduced to your pack. The time and cost of reduced by 2 hours and 5gp for each beast you have inducted into your pack. 

 

The Alpha

You are the leader of a hunting pack. As long as you are near them, they will follow your lead, and heed any simple commands you give them. These commands typically take the form of specific words, phrases, or sounds your beasts are trained to respond to, often with simple instructions such as "Attack," or "Run," or "Find." 

In combat, each animal in your hunting pack shares your initiative, and will follow your lead and attempt to replicate any actions you take to the best of its ability. If you attack a creature, your animals will make attacks on the same creature in tandem. If you hide in combat, they will attempt to conceal themselves near you, and so on. 

You can use an action or bonus action to give an order to your pack.  

When assisted by your hunting pack, you gain the following benefits: 

• You pack has practiced maneuvers meant to synchronize with you in the lead to take down larger targets. You have advantage on attack rolls against creatures that are engaged with one or more members of your pack, and your pack has advantage on attack rolls against creatures engaged with you. 
• Your pack can support you in certain skill checks. The type of animals in your pack will be able to assist you in different ways; wolves or hunting dogs can help you track creatures by scent, or circle around the creature baring fangs and snarling to help you pass an intimidation check. Birds can guide you through areas from above, or deliver messages across long distances. The assistance given by your pack can be roleplayed or determined by the DM. 

Wildlands' Stride

By the 7th level, you have grown accustomed to running and keeping up with your pack. You gain +1 to your dexterity (to a maximum of 20), proficiency in athletics and acrobatics if you haven't already, and your walking speed increases by 10ft.

Pack Tactics

At 11th level, your pack learns to exploit weaknesses that you create in combat. All beasts in your pack deal an additional 1d10 damage to creatures that are at half health and engaged with you. 

The Family

By the time you reach the 15th level, your hunting pack begins to welcome the rest of your adventuring party into the family. Your hunting pack has advantage on creatures engaged with members of your party, as they incorporate your allies into their maneuvers in the same vein as your The Alpha feature.