Alright, so I've found my inner class to be a Ranger, and I've really enjoyed playing as a Beast Master, for a subclass, but there's one technicality in the Player's Handbook that I've yet to fully understand... How do you determine the Companion's Hit Die? I know it says how to find hit points for it, and how to increase them as your player's level increases, but all it says for finding Hit Die is, "Like any creature, it can spend Hit Die during a short rest to regain hit points." Like, does it require for your player to use his/her personal Hit Die to heal it, or something else? So, yeah, if anyone knows how that works, I would appreciate the help!
They only get the amount listed in their original stat block, which for the wolf, listed above, is 2d8+2, meaning they get 1d8+1 to use twice between long rests. As a DM I let their hit dice increase by one for each ranger level, but that is a little house rule.
There is a space where you could assume The hit die is actually 4 (Not a d4 but actually 4) or that it becomes A D6. but this assumes that hit die is actually a part of the function of hit points. This is actually the worst beastmaster errata missing IMO. I just cant see the lack of accounting for this as anything but a mistake.
For the PHB version (Ranger's Companion), yeah, like Frank said up here, you follow the statblock strictly. If you switch for the TCoE feature replacement (Primal Companion), the companion has a number of hit dice equal to your Ranger level, so it might be worth comparing the two.
For the PHB version (Ranger's Companion), yeah, like Frank said up here, you follow the statblock strictly. If you switch for the TCoE feature replacement (Primal Companion), the companion has a number of hit die equal to your Ranger level, so it might be worth comparing the two.
The only PHB argument is that the new calculation becomes an exception replacing the whole HP portion of stat block (effectively making it just like Tasha's) and the calculation just doesn't label it as hit die. This is implied because it is multiplied by level the same as a regular pc. I honestly believe this is what was intended which is why they fixed it for Tasha's. But wizards has been hesitant to errata Any phb stuff because in the past it caused just as many problems as it fixed.
However, I would never argue that point in game. Still I find its better to never have Hit die rolling come up by taking a flying snake that can avoid almost all damage by smart maneuvering.
The hit die will always be a value of a die you can roll. that i why they are called hit dice. So it would most often be d8's for most things that you can have as your animal companion.
This is true for beasts for the same reasons that it is true for the classes. Even characters with classes have hit dice. the answer to what they are is not the average number rolled or some equivalent of that. it is always the die that helped you reach that number. So D10 for the Ranger instead of 6 for example.
A little off topic here but Hit Dice in 5E almost represent 4E's healing surges. I find that funny because healing in 4E (non daily/encounter powers) most of the time required you to expend a healing surge. It is funny to think about though because your animal companion in the PBH version won't ever get more Hit Dice to heal on short rests.
This also makes me want to make a Homebrew Cantrip that does healing by making someone use a Hit Die and healing for that amount. Watch how fast Hit Dice are used up. xD
Alright, so I've found my inner class to be a Ranger, and I've really enjoyed playing as a Beast Master, for a subclass, but there's one technicality in the Player's Handbook that I've yet to fully understand...
How do you determine the Companion's Hit Die? I know it says how to find hit points for it, and how to increase them as your player's level increases, but all it says for finding Hit Die is, "Like any creature, it can spend Hit Die during a short rest to regain hit points." Like, does it require for your player to use his/her personal Hit Die to heal it, or something else?
So, yeah, if anyone knows how that works, I would appreciate the help!
It is in the stat block.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/wolf
They only get the amount listed in their original stat block, which for the wolf, listed above, is 2d8+2, meaning they get 1d8+1 to use twice between long rests. As a DM I let their hit dice increase by one for each ranger level, but that is a little house rule.
Ah, OK... I had a small feeling it had to do with that.
Thank you so much for your help!
You bet!
Inspiration below...
http://www.thetomeshow.com/e/round-table-121-beast-master-and-murders-and-acquistions/
http://www.thetomeshow.com/e/all-about-rangers-tome-296/
There is a space where you could assume The hit die is actually 4 (Not a d4 but actually 4) or that it becomes A D6. but this assumes that hit die is actually a part of the function of hit points. This is actually the worst beastmaster errata missing IMO. I just cant see the lack of accounting for this as anything but a mistake.
For the PHB version (Ranger's Companion), yeah, like Frank said up here, you follow the statblock strictly. If you switch for the TCoE feature replacement (Primal Companion), the companion has a number of hit dice equal to your Ranger level, so it might be worth comparing the two.
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The only PHB argument is that the new calculation becomes an exception replacing the whole HP portion of stat block (effectively making it just like Tasha's) and the calculation just doesn't label it as hit die. This is implied because it is multiplied by level the same as a regular pc. I honestly believe this is what was intended which is why they fixed it for Tasha's. But wizards has been hesitant to errata Any phb stuff because in the past it caused just as many problems as it fixed.
However, I would never argue that point in game. Still I find its better to never have Hit die rolling come up by taking a flying snake that can avoid almost all damage by smart maneuvering.
The hit die will always be a value of a die you can roll. that i why they are called hit dice. So it would most often be d8's for most things that you can have as your animal companion.
This is true for beasts for the same reasons that it is true for the classes. Even characters with classes have hit dice. the answer to what they are is not the average number rolled or some equivalent of that. it is always the die that helped you reach that number. So D10 for the Ranger instead of 6 for example.
A little off topic here but Hit Dice in 5E almost represent 4E's healing surges. I find that funny because healing in 4E (non daily/encounter powers) most of the time required you to expend a healing surge. It is funny to think about though because your animal companion in the PBH version won't ever get more Hit Dice to heal on short rests.
This also makes me want to make a Homebrew Cantrip that does healing by making someone use a Hit Die and healing for that amount. Watch how fast Hit Dice are used up. xD
You can find my published homebrew Spells here.