I read in sage advice where Jeremy Crawford suggested that a wolf that had been with the party for a while could be given a fighter level using the Monsters With Classes rules on page 283 of the DMG. The question he was answering was about NPC pets and I’m not going to say he was advocating this for the Beast Master’s animal companion but this does have possibilities for Ranger Beast Master companions.
Giving animal companions levels in classes could easily make the companion overpowered but in small parties with 3 or fewer players it could be useful.
I was thinking of a raven companion with levels in rogue. I don’t think you could apply sneak attack and other features could be beyond the abilities of the raven. Also, it is not clear from the DMG whether it would gain saving throw proficiencies and skill proficiencies.
As you noted - classes are designed for player characters and are a bit beyond animals in scope.
Though the idea of a ranger companion that has 3 ranger levels and it's own companion amuses me. :)
As a DM, if it transpires through play that the ranger's companion is underpowered (and the ranger as a result), I would likely grant the companion extra HD / attack bonuses / damage, as if it were levelling up in "monster" - such things need to be done carefully though.
I read in sage advice where Jeremy Crawford suggested that a wolf that had been with the party for a while could be given a fighter level using the Monsters With Classes rules on page 283 of the DMG. The question he was answering was about NPC pets and I’m not going to say he was advocating this for the Beast Master’s animal companion but this does have possibilities for Ranger Beast Master companions.
Giving animal companions levels in classes could easily make the companion overpowered but in small parties with 3 or fewer players it could be useful.
I was thinking of a raven companion with levels in rogue. I don’t think you could apply sneak attack and other features could be beyond the abilities of the raven. Also, it is not clear from the DMG whether it would gain saving throw proficiencies and skill proficiencies.
So is this a good idea or way too overpowering.
The UA revised ranger addresses this a little and the recent sidekick warrior could be a good fit as well.
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I read in sage advice where Jeremy Crawford suggested that a wolf that had been with the party for a while could be given a fighter level using the Monsters With Classes rules on page 283 of the DMG. The question he was answering was about NPC pets and I’m not going to say he was advocating this for the Beast Master’s animal companion but this does have possibilities for Ranger Beast Master companions.
Giving animal companions levels in classes could easily make the companion overpowered but in small parties with 3 or fewer players it could be useful.
I was thinking of a raven companion with levels in rogue. I don’t think you could apply sneak attack and other features could be beyond the abilities of the raven. Also, it is not clear from the DMG whether it would gain saving throw proficiencies and skill proficiencies.
So is this a good idea or way too overpowering.
As you noted - classes are designed for player characters and are a bit beyond animals in scope.
Though the idea of a ranger companion that has 3 ranger levels and it's own companion amuses me. :)
As a DM, if it transpires through play that the ranger's companion is underpowered (and the ranger as a result), I would likely grant the companion extra HD / attack bonuses / damage, as if it were levelling up in "monster" - such things need to be done carefully though.
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The UA revised ranger addresses this a little and the recent sidekick warrior could be a good fit as well.