I have very little experience with 5th and will be part of a group that is trying 5th for the first time. I did a handful of combats, I have a basic understand of the system
I tried the hunter archetype and I like to try beast master archetype with a giant badger for a companion( i have a fondness for badgers) and I like some input. M impression is that it seems weak and can be way too hard to keep the animal alive. Have players found beast master effective?
This is a group that more role playing and problem solving then combat So even if the beast master is broken it may not matter much
I think, in my humble opinion, that the beastmaster is one of the best class in fifth edition, for exploration and problem-solving. I generally pick the animal companion based on the character's background and beast's traits. Things like flying, darkvision or keen senses are a huge boon at early levels.
Usually, the problem of the beast survivability is mitigated by the free Dodge action, if you command the beast to do nothing, and the death saves, when the beast HP drop to 0.
The beast master subclass doesn't seem to be designed for people that want a permanent companion. Rather it seems built for people that will tame a beast to use in combat until it dies then replace it.
If your party is combat light, it might work well for you, but magic initiate with find familiar provides much the same utility and you can hide it in a pocket plane when you want it out of the fight. Badgers (non-giant) aren't on the list of standard familiars, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to ask the dm to let you use one.
I don't recommend the Beastmaster Ranger for inexperienced players unless either you have 1) a very friendly DM who is willing to walk you through the build and taking the right animal companion and 2) your party has a dedicated healer. It's a confusing sub-class to play in combat and the benefits don't measure very well compared to features of other classes, including the Pact of the Chain Warlock or a Bard with the Magic Initiate feat and the Find Familiar spell for the reasons Lunali already stated above. Or play a Circle of the Spores Druid if you want that melee spellcaster feel and take the Speak with Animals spell - use the spell to RP finding an animal to be your companion (with DM permission of course).
That DDB article is not a good summary of real arguments made against the BM Ranger. It's clear that the author chose to only interview one DM about how good or bad the class is, RAW, and then extrapolated largely from that one conversation instead of actually listening to the large body of people who have issues with it.
How effective your beast is can depend a lot on what playstyle you enjoy and what combat you enjoy. Since you've talked about being focused on the role playing and problem solving, and if your group and DM are on board with that, then the Beastmaster can have a lot of fun role playing options depending on your choice of companion!
As you've noticed one of the drawbacks is how well the beast can survive and do damage in combat. If you want your giant badger to fight alongside you in combat you can talk to your DM about ways to help beef them up so they are still viable as the party gets stronger. Or maybe your ranger is an archer, and the badger isn't going to charge into combat but stand guard beside you as your firing from a distance!
The most important thing is that you have fun and are enjoying your character. If Beastmaster Ranger appeals to you, then talk to your DM about any concerns you have. In my experience most DMs are happy to work with you to make the character you want!
The Ranger Beast Master is as viable as the DM wants it to be.
If the DM insists the animal companion does not get death saving throws, then it is not viable in their campaign.
If the DM interprets “It takes its turn on your initiative” as the ranger takes and finishes their turn before the animal companion starts its turn, then the teamwork will be awkward and clumsy.
If the DM interprets the archetype description as “this is everything and the only things the animal companion can do”, then you will have an animal companion that is less capable then an animal that is controlled by the DM.
Solutions
Give animal companions death saving throws. There is nothing in the rules that says the DM can’t and if the animal companion isn’t a “special nonplayer character” then I don’t know who would be considered special.
Let the ranger and animal companion interweave their turns.
Interpret the archetype as specific changes to the general rules. If a DM controlled beast can do something then the Ranger can control their beast as modified by the archetype description. If the description doesn’t mention something then it follows the general rules.
Example: The ranger wants to attack an orc.
Ranger and animal companion move to the orc. They can interweave their turns so they can do it together.
Ranger commands the animal companion to take the Ready action. Ready isn’t listed as an action that requires the Ranger’s action to command so the Ranger just needs to verbally command it. The animal companion readies an attack with the trigger “when the ranger says “attack!””.
Ranger says “attack!”. Animal companion makes an attack using its reaction. The animal companion has used its action and reaction.
Ranger can use their action to take the Attack action. If the Ranger wants to use Two Weapon Fighting, they can and would get the bonus action.
I’m not claiming this is RAW or RAI but nothing in this interpretation is explicitly ruled out by RAW.
If the DM does all these things and still feels the animal companion is too fragile, they can give the animal companion class levels or sidekick levels.
Whether the Ranger Beast Master is viable is up to the DM.
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I have very little experience with 5th and will be part of a group that is trying 5th for the first time. I did a handful of combats, I have a basic understand of the system
I tried the hunter archetype and I like to try beast master archetype with a giant badger for a companion( i have a fondness for badgers) and I like some input. M impression is that it seems weak and can be way too hard to keep the animal alive. Have players found beast master effective?
This is a group that more role playing and problem solving then combat So even if the beast master is broken it may not matter much
I think, in my humble opinion, that the beastmaster is one of the best class in fifth edition, for exploration and problem-solving. I generally pick the animal companion based on the character's background and beast's traits. Things like flying, darkvision or keen senses are a huge boon at early levels.
Usually, the problem of the beast survivability is mitigated by the free Dodge action, if you command the beast to do nothing, and the death saves, when the beast HP drop to 0.
The beast master subclass doesn't seem to be designed for people that want a permanent companion. Rather it seems built for people that will tame a beast to use in combat until it dies then replace it.
If your party is combat light, it might work well for you, but magic initiate with find familiar provides much the same utility and you can hide it in a pocket plane when you want it out of the fight. Badgers (non-giant) aren't on the list of standard familiars, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to ask the dm to let you use one.
I don't recommend the Beastmaster Ranger for inexperienced players unless either you have 1) a very friendly DM who is willing to walk you through the build and taking the right animal companion and 2) your party has a dedicated healer. It's a confusing sub-class to play in combat and the benefits don't measure very well compared to features of other classes, including the Pact of the Chain Warlock or a Bard with the Magic Initiate feat and the Find Familiar spell for the reasons Lunali already stated above. Or play a Circle of the Spores Druid if you want that melee spellcaster feel and take the Speak with Animals spell - use the spell to RP finding an animal to be your companion (with DM permission of course).
There was an article on D&D Beyond on this topic last year:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/155-is-the-beast-master-broken
That DDB article is not a good summary of real arguments made against the BM Ranger. It's clear that the author chose to only interview one DM about how good or bad the class is, RAW, and then extrapolated largely from that one conversation instead of actually listening to the large body of people who have issues with it.
How effective your beast is can depend a lot on what playstyle you enjoy and what combat you enjoy. Since you've talked about being focused on the role playing and problem solving, and if your group and DM are on board with that, then the Beastmaster can have a lot of fun role playing options depending on your choice of companion!
As you've noticed one of the drawbacks is how well the beast can survive and do damage in combat. If you want your giant badger to fight alongside you in combat you can talk to your DM about ways to help beef them up so they are still viable as the party gets stronger. Or maybe your ranger is an archer, and the badger isn't going to charge into combat but stand guard beside you as your firing from a distance!
The most important thing is that you have fun and are enjoying your character. If Beastmaster Ranger appeals to you, then talk to your DM about any concerns you have. In my experience most DMs are happy to work with you to make the character you want!
Find me on Twitter: @OboeLauren
The Ranger Beast Master is as viable as the DM wants it to be.
If the DM insists the animal companion does not get death saving throws, then it is not viable in their campaign.
If the DM interprets “It takes its turn on your initiative” as the ranger takes and finishes their turn before the animal companion starts its turn, then the teamwork will be awkward and clumsy.
If the DM interprets the archetype description as “this is everything and the only things the animal companion can do”, then you will have an animal companion that is less capable then an animal that is controlled by the DM.
Solutions
Give animal companions death saving throws. There is nothing in the rules that says the DM can’t and if the animal companion isn’t a “special nonplayer character” then I don’t know who would be considered special.
Let the ranger and animal companion interweave their turns.
Interpret the archetype as specific changes to the general rules. If a DM controlled beast can do something then the Ranger can control their beast as modified by the archetype description. If the description doesn’t mention something then it follows the general rules.
Example: The ranger wants to attack an orc.
Ranger and animal companion move to the orc. They can interweave their turns so they can do it together.
Ranger commands the animal companion to take the Ready action. Ready isn’t listed as an action that requires the Ranger’s action to command so the Ranger just needs to verbally command it. The animal companion readies an attack with the trigger “when the ranger says “attack!””.
Ranger says “attack!”. Animal companion makes an attack using its reaction. The animal companion has used its action and reaction.
Ranger can use their action to take the Attack action. If the Ranger wants to use Two Weapon Fighting, they can and would get the bonus action.
I’m not claiming this is RAW or RAI but nothing in this interpretation is explicitly ruled out by RAW.
If the DM does all these things and still feels the animal companion is too fragile, they can give the animal companion class levels or sidekick levels.
Whether the Ranger Beast Master is viable is up to the DM.