Hunter is the only option I see when entering my Ranger 3rd level. It mentioned market to add classes, so I signed up for 1 month. I still do not see Beast Master. I am new to DnD Beyond, so maybe I am missing something. Any help would be appreciated.
You have to own the PHB in DND beyond. That said, beastmaster is usually a trap option. Consider yourself warned before you make one.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
The Beastmaster Ranger is a trap option unless the player is very familiar with the rules and various beast options, which requires research. For people new to 5th edition or new to Rangers generally, being effective is far easier playing as a Hunter or Gloomstalker sub-class.
The Beastmaster Ranger is a trap option unless the player is very familiar with the rules and various beast options, which requires research. For people new to 5th edition or new to Rangers generally, being effective is far easier playing as a Hunter or Gloomstalker sub-class.
This, that's why I said usually. You /can/ make beastmasters work, but you have to have a good idea of what you're doing or else you're far more likely to make mistakes and be left with a crappy character. Telling a player to pick a beastmaster as a first character without doing the research necessary to make it work decently is extremely bad advice. Of course, some people like to defend bad options too.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
IMHO, Beastmaster is fantastic... for a light, fun, RP heavy campaign. It can be really good for an exploration/puzzle focused game too. For a combat heavy game, I very much agree with crazyhawk and Song_of_Blues.
It can work as long as the player has enough research/experience to pull it off. Without that research and/or experience, players are often left frustrated that their Companions keep dying and that they are often more effective in combat using their own attacks instead of forgoing to allow their companion to attack. The companion just ends up babysitting the back line casters and trying not to die.
Add to that the fact that even experienced players often get frustrated at the lack of opportunities to use their base Ranger features too since they’re so niche. Having a player simultaneously feeling that both their class and subclass main features are often left unused in a good number of sessions and it can sometimes start to wear on a player.
So, while Beastmasters can be a lot of fun, and they have a great lore to them, they also come with more challenges on average than most other subclasses (especially for new players) to really let the player feel like a badass.
An easy pair of houserules to compensate for those additional challenges is to switch commanding the companion to a Bonus Action, and to increase the companion’s HP from “Stat Block HP OR 4x Ranger Level, whichever’s higher” to “Stat Block HP AND 4x Ranger level combined.” Also, I add Find Familiar to their spell list. Others will likely disagree so please keep in mind that it’s just my personal observations here and nothing more.
Another few houserules I personally use is to just give Rangers Expertise in Survival as a bonus at 1st level, and to let Rangers cast Hunter’s Mark without Concentration. Those are the simplest few changes that make the biggest boost to making Rangers feel like the masters of the wilderness that they should be. Again, just my personal take on it.
I'm hoping that the BM fixes will be in Tasha's and will help them out. There was a lot of stuff in there that I really think that rangers needed.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
The Beastmaster Ranger is a trap option unless the player is very familiar with the rules and various beast options, which requires research. For people new to 5th edition or new to Rangers generally, being effective is far easier playing as a Hunter or Gloomstalker sub-class.
This, that's why I said usually. You /can/ make beastmasters work, but you have to have a good idea of what you're doing or else you're far more likely to make mistakes and be left with a crappy character. Telling a player to pick a beastmaster as a first character without doing the research necessary to make it work decently is extremely bad advice. Of course, some people like to defend bad options too.
Some people also like to make it seem like DnD is some complicated thing that requires tons of research to have fun. Or that playing a class that requires even a tiny bit of strategy is too difficult for the normal player.
Play Beastmaster. It’s not some “trap”, you just have to be willing to adjust your preconceived notions. But then again, maybe some people just can’t be bothered with another perspective.
I recently played such a character in a campaign for levels 1-15 and I really enjoyed it. At no point did I feel my character was "not fun" or "not good in combat." As a Beast Master, I even chose an Osprey [Sea Eagle] companion, against the advise of all the guides I had seen. I made this choice based on story considerations and never regretted it.
It was a pirate campaign and my favored terrain was coastal. I even had an ongoing and mostly friendly rivalry with her brother who was a straight fighter. Sure he could do things my Ranger couldn't, but the opposite is equally true. I had my share of epic moments!
Play what you want. Enjoy it. And never let anyone tell you that "your fun is wrong."
I recently played such a character in a campaign for levels 1-15 and I really enjoyed it. At no point did I feel my character was "not fun" or "not good in combat." As a Beast Master, I even chose an Osprey [Sea Eagle] companion, against the advise of all the guides I had seen. I made this choice based on story considerations and never regretted it.
It was a pirate campaign and my favored terrain was coastal. I even had an ongoing and mostly friendly rivalry with her brother who was a straight fighter. Sure he could do things my Ranger couldn't, but the opposite is equally true. I had my share of epic moments!
Play what you want. Enjoy it. And never let anyone tell you that "your fun is wrong."
I recently played such a character in a campaign for levels 1-15 and I really enjoyed it. At no point did I feel my character was "not fun" or "not good in combat." As a Beast Master, I even chose an Osprey [Sea Eagle] companion, against the advise of all the guides I had seen. I made this choice based on story considerations and never regretted it.
It was a pirate campaign and my favored terrain was coastal. I even had an ongoing and mostly friendly rivalry with her brother who was a straight fighter. Sure he could do things my Ranger couldn't, but the opposite is equally true. I had my share of epic moments!
Play what you want. Enjoy it. And never let anyone tell you that "your fun is wrong."
(super high five)
It's a great class and subclass. I love them! And so pumped you had a fun time with your seafarers!
I for one support PHB beast master. There is a lot of powerful utility. I also find that using an action over a bonus action means your spellcasting abilities are Not IN conflict with beast commands.
Playing with other pet classes I find bonus action commands are always fighting with bonus action spells. PHB beastmaster pets actually seem like party members and a team working together. even when you can only make one attack it feels like a tank and a glass cannon working together.
The real key is to not be closeminded about the pet. choose smart an play creative and you will be fine.
all this mechanical talk.... I just want a damn owl to chill with. I already own the PHB (that I spent $50 on already to support my local comic book shop) these people are the worst. Buy it through us if you want A MAJOR CLASS OPTION that's already in the ******* PHB. Jesus this company is ****ed.
all this mechanical talk.... I just want a damn owl to chill with. I already own the PHB (that I spent $50 on already to support my local comic book shop) these people are the worst. Buy it through us if you want A MAJOR CLASS OPTION that's already in the ******* PHB. Jesus this company is ****ed.
This company is a store, much like your local comic shop. They gotta sell product for their money, just like your local comic shop. They can’t give away the PHB for free, just like your local comic shop. This website is neither owned nor operated by the game’s publisher, just like your local comic shop. What’s ****ed about it? If you had purchased here, would you call your local comic shop a ****ed company for not giving you a free hardback PHB?
If all you want is the beast master, you can just buy that for $2 and it’ll even count as credit if you later decide to spring the $30 for the PHB here too.
Hunter is the only option I see when entering my Ranger 3rd level. It mentioned market to add classes, so I signed up for 1 month. I still do not see Beast Master. I am new to DnD Beyond, so maybe I am missing something. Any help would be appreciated.
You have to own the PHB in DND beyond. That said, beastmaster is usually a trap option. Consider yourself warned before you make one.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Thanks for the explanation and the warning. First time playing a Ranger.
Don’t listen to the Internet on what classes to play. They actually all play fairly well, some people just have strong opinions on very minor things.
The Beastmaster Ranger is a trap option unless the player is very familiar with the rules and various beast options, which requires research. For people new to 5th edition or new to Rangers generally, being effective is far easier playing as a Hunter or Gloomstalker sub-class.
This, that's why I said usually. You /can/ make beastmasters work, but you have to have a good idea of what you're doing or else you're far more likely to make mistakes and be left with a crappy character. Telling a player to pick a beastmaster as a first character without doing the research necessary to make it work decently is extremely bad advice. Of course, some people like to defend bad options too.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
IMHO, Beastmaster is fantastic... for a light, fun, RP heavy campaign. It can be really good for an exploration/puzzle focused game too. For a combat heavy game, I very much agree with crazyhawk and Song_of_Blues.
It can work as long as the player has enough research/experience to pull it off. Without that research and/or experience, players are often left frustrated that their Companions keep dying and that they are often more effective in combat using their own attacks instead of forgoing to allow their companion to attack. The companion just ends up babysitting the back line casters and trying not to die.
Add to that the fact that even experienced players often get frustrated at the lack of opportunities to use their base Ranger features too since they’re so niche. Having a player simultaneously feeling that both their class and subclass main features are often left unused in a good number of sessions and it can sometimes start to wear on a player.
So, while Beastmasters can be a lot of fun, and they have a great lore to them, they also come with more challenges on average than most other subclasses (especially for new players) to really let the player feel like a badass.
An easy pair of houserules to compensate for those additional challenges is to switch commanding the companion to a Bonus Action, and to increase the companion’s HP from “Stat Block HP OR 4x Ranger Level, whichever’s higher” to “Stat Block HP AND 4x Ranger level combined.” Also, I add Find Familiar to their spell list. Others will likely disagree so please keep in mind that it’s just my personal observations here and nothing more.
Another few houserules I personally use is to just give Rangers Expertise in Survival as a bonus at 1st level, and to let Rangers cast Hunter’s Mark without Concentration. Those are the simplest few changes that make the biggest boost to making Rangers feel like the masters of the wilderness that they should be. Again, just my personal take on it.
I hope that helps.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
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I'm hoping that the BM fixes will be in Tasha's and will help them out. There was a lot of stuff in there that I really think that rangers needed.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
I agree, but I wasn’t gonna get into all that in this already off-topic thread.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Some people also like to make it seem like DnD is some complicated thing that requires tons of research to have fun. Or that playing a class that requires even a tiny bit of strategy is too difficult for the normal player.
Play Beastmaster. It’s not some “trap”, you just have to be willing to adjust your preconceived notions. But then again, maybe some people just can’t be bothered with another perspective.
There is NOTHING wrong with Beast Master Ranger.
I recently played such a character in a campaign for levels 1-15 and I really enjoyed it. At no point did I feel my character was "not fun" or "not good in combat." As a Beast Master, I even chose an Osprey [Sea Eagle] companion, against the advise of all the guides I had seen. I made this choice based on story considerations and never regretted it.
It was a pirate campaign and my favored terrain was coastal. I even had an ongoing and mostly friendly rivalry with her brother who was a straight fighter. Sure he could do things my Ranger couldn't, but the opposite is equally true. I had my share of epic moments!
Play what you want. Enjoy it. And never let anyone tell you that "your fun is wrong."
This. My experience exactly.
I have it shared to me and still nothing. Am I missing something?
(super high five)
It's a great class and subclass. I love them! And so pumped you had a fun time with your seafarers!
1. Make sure your ranger is already in whatever campaign is sharing it with you. 2. Make sure your ranger is at least level 3.
If both those are true, and you're still not seeing it, have whoever's turned on the campaign sharing turn it off and then on again for that campaign.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
If it is shared through a campaign how can I use it to create one
I for one support PHB beast master. There is a lot of powerful utility. I also find that using an action over a bonus action means your spellcasting abilities are Not IN conflict with beast commands.
Playing with other pet classes I find bonus action commands are always fighting with bonus action spells. PHB beastmaster pets actually seem like party members and a team working together. even when you can only make one attack it feels like a tank and a glass cannon working together.
The real key is to not be closeminded about the pet. choose smart an play creative and you will be fine.
all this mechanical talk.... I just want a damn owl to chill with. I already own the PHB (that I spent $50 on already to support my local comic book shop) these people are the worst. Buy it through us if you want A MAJOR CLASS OPTION that's already in the ******* PHB. Jesus this company is ****ed.
This company is a store, much like your local comic shop. They gotta sell product for their money, just like your local comic shop. They can’t give away the PHB for free, just like your local comic shop. This website is neither owned nor operated by the game’s publisher, just like your local comic shop. What’s ****ed about it? If you had purchased here, would you call your local comic shop a ****ed company for not giving you a free hardback PHB?
If all you want is the beast master, you can just buy that for $2 and it’ll even count as credit if you later decide to spring the $30 for the PHB here too.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
"you can just buy that for $2 and it’ll even count as credit if you later decide to spring the $30 for the PHB here too"
- is this still available somewhere? I cannot see this option to buy only one subclass.