tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5891731747515762073.post6281799254039025751..comments2023-10-23T12:04:09.668-07:00Comments on The Chamber of Mazarbul: Dungeons and Dragons: D&D Next March Playtest - The DruidBrian Slabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05333048710667620592noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5891731747515762073.post-75350480417674963962013-04-16T19:49:52.367-07:002013-04-16T19:49:52.367-07:00Ah, I hadn't heard that specifically, though I...Ah, I hadn't heard that specifically, though I've always thought that would be a good way to handle it (in any system, in general). I loved the option to do that with the Companion Character rules from 4E's DMG2.Brian Slabyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05333048710667620592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5891731747515762073.post-47946452037388995342013-04-16T19:20:46.253-07:002013-04-16T19:20:46.253-07:00Next is, according to the designers, going to roll...Next is, according to the designers, going to roll animal companions into their henchmen rules. So, while the Druid and the Ranger can get an animal companion in addition to their normal class features, the Fighter or Paladin can also get a squire cohort, or the Wizard can have a permanently summoned elemental servant, things like that.<br /><br />I think it's a very good way of handling things: in some games, DM's may not want to deal with the headache of companions that mess with action economy and balance. And if a DM doesn't mind it, then you don't have the case where only a few classes have the option to gain a companion... everybody can have one.<br /><br />And it also means that you have more background and character options: your Druid can have a squire, for example, or your Paladin could have an animal companion.JRutterbushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14903766930453797682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5891731747515762073.post-66149481378638128442013-03-25T07:28:20.384-07:002013-03-25T07:28:20.384-07:00I like 13th Age class design in general. The whol...I like 13th Age class design in general. The whole "pick 3 out of this list of talents" setup allows you to throw every iconic ability of a class at the player without worrying about any one PC getting too many tricks. Players can build exactly the archetype that they like best, whether it's the animal companion, archery, two-weapon fighting, tracking, or being more effective against certain enemies. <br /><br />For D&D Next there are a few ways you could go about using animal companions. A Druid circle or (unconventional) Favored Enemy option could replicate the "pick and choose your class features" design of 13th Age. Themes could be added as a module, with a Fey Beast Tamer clone included. A feat similar to the Familiar feat would work well for small, utility-based companions. Hireling rules could be slightly modified to allow for animal companions (perhaps a feat unlocks the ability to train animals well enough for them to act as a hireling). I suppose you could even create a separate "beastmaster" class. <br /><br />Hopefully they'll go with several different options in order to suit different playstyles, though the trick will be balancing everything, especially if you're trading out features from different resource pools. But maybe not all animal companions need to function the same way. For all the hate against the 4E beastmaster ranger, using a raptor companion as an Archer to tag distant enemies with Hunter's Quarry was a pretty effective build.Brian Slabyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05333048710667620592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5891731747515762073.post-21183577900806516112013-03-24T23:17:11.363-07:002013-03-24T23:17:11.363-07:00I like the way 13th Age handles rangers and their ...I like the way 13th Age handles rangers and their optional animal companion. I think it could use a bit of tweaking in terms of balance, but the overall mechanic of an animal companion being worth two talents seems like a fair trade.<br /><br />I like 4E's themes (they give low-level PCs just that little extra "oomph"), and Fey Beast Tamer is an excellent one. Not every DM is going to want to give their players that much extra power/flexibility, though. I think this is especially true of D&D Next at low levels of play: it seems to be catering to almost OSR power levels for the first several character levels, and I think that's intentional. Then again, 4E-style themes could be an option that makes low-level D&D Next PCs feel more heroic. Guess we'll have to wait and see.Tim Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07682826627977565611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5891731747515762073.post-5219804731254670442013-03-22T05:52:30.809-07:002013-03-22T05:52:30.809-07:00Yeah, I was wondering that too. Personally I like...Yeah, I was wondering that too. Personally I like for both Rangers and Druids to have VIABLE animal companion options, but I can't think of a single edition of D&D that got it right.<br /><br />I also prefer for it to be just that - an option. Sometimes I want to play the archetype without messing around with a pet. I'm wondering if feats are a possible way around this. Pets for anyone! Kind of like how the Fey Beast Tamer theme essentially gave anyone the Sentinel's companion in 4E.Brian Slabyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05333048710667620592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5891731747515762073.post-81099233852173946692013-03-21T22:13:36.939-07:002013-03-21T22:13:36.939-07:00My son loves playing a Sentinel (Druid) from D&...My son loves playing a Sentinel (Druid) from D&D Essentials, with his animal companion. I'll be interested to see if that's provided as an option before the final version is released. Thanks for the great write-up!Tim Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07682826627977565611noreply@blogger.com