So, I'm thinking of making some changes to the Beast Master to make it a better option, but I don't want to use the UA version, because it feels almost too powerful and almost like the beast is a second player character. There are two potential changes I'm thinking of making: 1. Commanding your animal would only take a bonus action by default. I mean, this makes the most sense, because it shouldn't take a whole action to just make a command. However, it certainly shouldn't be a "free action." So, a bonus action makes the most sense, because it still uses up part of the Ranger's action economy. 2. This would also come with part of "Exceptional Training's" first benefit being replaced with something else. I'm thinking that it could be replaced by a feature that allows it to increase it's HP further to increase it's survivability, but I'm a bit more open on this one.
There are also two small changes to the main Ranger features that I think shouldn't be a problem. One of them is that the Ranger should be able to change their favored enemy. Let's say they stop encountering a certain type of enemy during the course of a campaign. Their feature ultimately becomes useless in that case. It would be better if they could change it out, to represent how their experiences affect them. Changing out favored terrains is also an idea I'm considering for similar reasons. However, I'm also thinking that there needs to be a cost, like a certain amount of time needs to be spent changing one of these out.
The most recent UA for class feature variants has new beast options for the beast master ranger that have the bonus action to command it to attack built into the beast. People seem to like it. It's, at least, worth playing around with. I personally find the beast master as-is to be just fine, especially if the words in the abilities are interpreted in a generous (yet, accurate, in my opinion) manner. The bonus command to attack can be extra challenging for a ranger, but options are always nice!
I know several tables that allow a ranger to replace one of their favored terrains or favored enemies after a long rest after traveling or being in contact with the creature type.
Yeah, the UA class variants are worth checking out (you can see them here if you haven't already).
While we can't be sure which changes will be in the upcoming Tasha's book, most of the Ranger changes are really solid, so many are hoping they'll make it through. Hunter's Mark becoming a free spell with several free castings that don't require concentration is a huge boon for all Rangers, but Beast Masters especially, as it opens up the possibility of concentrating on something else to boost your companion or yourself, and you can also take Warding Bond which lets you share damage with your companion.
Some of the other changes are nice too; the changes to Favoured Enemy let you actually use Foe Slayer a lot more at level 20, and the more "build your own" style to the Ranger has some interesting options. I already like Rangers as they are, but these are some very nice changes, and hopefully we'll get most, if not all, of them.
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Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
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I like the options that the UA article provides a little bit, but at the same time, I'm not quite sure they are features I'd want to use them. Spell Versatility is the only one I know that I'd want Rangers to be able to take, and maybe the Spellcasting Focus as well, since the Ranger is more of a Ranger/Druid hybrid anyway. The Ranger Companion Options are probably ones I'd allow.
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So, I'm thinking of making some changes to the Beast Master to make it a better option, but I don't want to use the UA version, because it feels almost too powerful and almost like the beast is a second player character. There are two potential changes I'm thinking of making: 1. Commanding your animal would only take a bonus action by default. I mean, this makes the most sense, because it shouldn't take a whole action to just make a command. However, it certainly shouldn't be a "free action." So, a bonus action makes the most sense, because it still uses up part of the Ranger's action economy. 2. This would also come with part of "Exceptional Training's" first benefit being replaced with something else. I'm thinking that it could be replaced by a feature that allows it to increase it's HP further to increase it's survivability, but I'm a bit more open on this one.
There are also two small changes to the main Ranger features that I think shouldn't be a problem. One of them is that the Ranger should be able to change their favored enemy. Let's say they stop encountering a certain type of enemy during the course of a campaign. Their feature ultimately becomes useless in that case. It would be better if they could change it out, to represent how their experiences affect them. Changing out favored terrains is also an idea I'm considering for similar reasons. However, I'm also thinking that there needs to be a cost, like a certain amount of time needs to be spent changing one of these out.
The most recent UA for class feature variants has new beast options for the beast master ranger that have the bonus action to command it to attack built into the beast. People seem to like it. It's, at least, worth playing around with. I personally find the beast master as-is to be just fine, especially if the words in the abilities are interpreted in a generous (yet, accurate, in my opinion) manner. The bonus command to attack can be extra challenging for a ranger, but options are always nice!
I know several tables that allow a ranger to replace one of their favored terrains or favored enemies after a long rest after traveling or being in contact with the creature type.
Yeah, the UA class variants are worth checking out (you can see them here if you haven't already).
While we can't be sure which changes will be in the upcoming Tasha's book, most of the Ranger changes are really solid, so many are hoping they'll make it through. Hunter's Mark becoming a free spell with several free castings that don't require concentration is a huge boon for all Rangers, but Beast Masters especially, as it opens up the possibility of concentrating on something else to boost your companion or yourself, and you can also take Warding Bond which lets you share damage with your companion.
Some of the other changes are nice too; the changes to Favoured Enemy let you actually use Foe Slayer a lot more at level 20, and the more "build your own" style to the Ranger has some interesting options. I already like Rangers as they are, but these are some very nice changes, and hopefully we'll get most, if not all, of them.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I like the options that the UA article provides a little bit, but at the same time, I'm not quite sure they are features I'd want to use them. Spell Versatility is the only one I know that I'd want Rangers to be able to take, and maybe the Spellcasting Focus as well, since the Ranger is more of a Ranger/Druid hybrid anyway. The Ranger Companion Options are probably ones I'd allow.