Once I was playing a tier 4 campaign and the DM let me strap a Sphere of Annihalation to the back of my owl, so the owl would just kamikaze into the BBEG at the beginning of the battle, giving the party time to either escape or win.
My tortle character has an overweight dimetrodon (he's from chult) named Spicy Rodriguez. Spicy will only fall asleep (or listen to my character) after being played a soothing tune from my character's cowbell.
I know a few DMs allow them to have death saves. I personally prefer it, at least when using the vanilla ranger - I think it's much more fun to have a beast potentially journey with you for longer yet still carry that risk of death.
It's mostly a non-issue either way with Revised Ranger due to the forgiving beast companion resurrection mechanic.
I was baffled that WotC did not include death saves and companion revive (as per UA-RR) in the PHB errata last year. It seems like that would have been an unobtrusive and easy win for them. It certainly would have addressed one of the major issues that many of us have with RAW Beast Master.
Currently, I'm playing a Ghostwise Halfling and using the UA ranger rules to test out a "Nightglider" class. Therefore, in keeping with the limited lore on the subject, I chose a Giant Owl. My DM is willing to see how it plays for the sake of homebrewing this class, but if I recall there is something about the Giant Owl that makes it fall outside a strict interpretation of what animals are allowed.
The Giant Owl is Large. Both the UA:Revised Ranger and the PHB: BeastMaster both state <=CR:0.25 and <=Medium.
Giant Wasp (CR:1/2) and Pteradon (CR:1/4) are both Medium creatures.
The Preradon also has mostly the same stats of a Giant Owl.
I'd recommend adding feathers to the Pterandon and calling it an Owl if there are any balance worries.
Giant Owl has: +1 Size, +1 Str (no Str bonus), +2 Con, +6 Int, +4 Wis, +5 Cha, Keen Hearing/Sight, Training: Perception & Stealth, Darkvision: 120ft, -5 ft land speed, and knows 3 languages... the Giant Owl is significantly beefier then the Pterandon!
Giant wasps are above the challenge rating but vulture works.
Right now I have a black bear that goes by the name of "Boarbait." Short story goes, my ranger saved him as a cub from a couple of boars that were getting ready to attack him...taaa daaa! XD
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Hey everyone! I'm a newbie, but I chose a fire fox as my companion. It's seriously awesome to see what companions you guys have and it gives me a better insight of what I can do with my companion.
It makes me smile that this post is 2 years old and still going strong. Does need an updated pull now though, since Giant crab and Pteranodon are pretty dominant choices now.
My personal choice is a Pteranodon, since I can just reskin it as an owl for my character. Pretty fun way of playing in my opinion, especially after getting Mounted Combatant so I can stop worrying constantly about them dying on me.
Once I was playing a tier 4 campaign and the DM let me strap a Sphere of Annihalation to the back of my owl, so the owl would just kamikaze into the BBEG at the beginning of the battle, giving the party time to either escape or win.
I stole my pfp from this person: https://mobile.twitter.com/xelart1/status/1177312449575432193
I have a griffon named shadowclaw
My tortle character has an overweight dimetrodon (he's from chult) named Spicy Rodriguez. Spicy will only fall asleep (or listen to my character) after being played a soothing tune from my character's cowbell.
Everyone wants more cowbell
agreed. the rest of the party loves their sleep being cut in half.
Which companions work best as mounts?
I was baffled that WotC did not include death saves and companion revive (as per UA-RR) in the PHB errata last year. It seems like that would have been an unobtrusive and easy win for them. It certainly would have addressed one of the major issues that many of us have with RAW Beast Master.
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My ranger has a dire wolf
Vulture or Pteranodon for flying, panther or wolf for damage, giant crab for AC.
Giant wasps are above the challenge rating but vulture works.
Right now I have a black bear that goes by the name of "Boarbait." Short story goes, my ranger saved him as a cub from a couple of boars that were getting ready to attack him...taaa daaa! XD
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I literally just changed my companion from a panther to a poisonous snake for this. Thanks for the idea! I think my group will LOVE it
One of my players has an ape that throws shit instead of rocks
Hey everyone! I'm a newbie, but I chose a fire fox as my companion. It's seriously awesome to see what companions you guys have and it gives me a better insight of what I can do with my companion.
I had a snake in one game as my character was a yuan-ti.
Wow, people really like wolf as an companion.
My latest Ranger - a commoner who's the daughter of a shepherd will have a Border Collie. Basically a reskinned Mastiff.
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It makes me smile that this post is 2 years old and still going strong. Does need an updated pull now though, since Giant crab and Pteranodon are pretty dominant choices now.
My personal choice is a Pteranodon, since I can just reskin it as an owl for my character. Pretty fun way of playing in my opinion, especially after getting Mounted Combatant so I can stop worrying constantly about them dying on me.
I have a Giant frog, its called Bubba. Not tested un combate yet...
I would have picked mule but my DM banned mules.