Beastmaster (Feat)

You have an uncommon way with animals and they join you on your adventures.

Prerequisite: 1st level, Handle Animal 1 rank, Charisma 13, Wisdom 13.

Benefits: You have animal companions whose cumulative total CR does not exceed your character level x 2. For example, you are 1st level. You can have a total of 2 CR of animal followers. You could choose one CR 2 animal (such as an axe beak, boar, cheetah, constrictor snake, etc.) or you could choose one CR 1 animal and any combination of lower CR animals that adds up to CR 1 (such as two CR 1/2 animals, three CR 1/3 animals etc.)

You may designate one animal as your “cohort” animal, which means that this animal is significantly more effective in combat and is ready, willing, and able to assist you in combat. Non-cohort or “follower” animals are lower HD animals that are not especially effective in combat but which serve many other useful utility functions.

Advancement: Each time you gain a level you may add a racial HD to one animal, or you may gain one additional CR worth of animals (several animals whose normal CR is less than one, or one whose CR is one, or you may teach your existing animals new tricks. Any time you gain a level you may “trade in” your existing total CR of animals for a different assortment. You may either pool all of your CR together to gain one stronger and more combat effective animal or you may simply gain different utility animals.

Base Master Score: The GM determines your starting “Master” score and then modifies it over time based on your actions and the condition of the animals that follow you. Routinely treating your animals poorly or putting them in great risk or causing them repeated injuries or suffering greatly reduces your Master score. Your primary cohort animal is much more willing and able to accept frequent injuries but your follower animals will not.

Your Base Master score equals your level plus your Charisma modifier.

Master Score Modifiers: An animals willingness to serve and aid you depends greatly on your treatment of it and the others that follow you. Several factors can affect your “Master” score, causing it to vary from the base score (character level + Cha modifier). Your reputation (from the point of view of the cohort or follower) raises or lowers your Master score:

Controlling your Animals: A cohort animal will attack any creature that threatens you or that you direct it to attack. It is generally up to the GM to determine if and when the animal feels you are threatened. The cohort animal will usually attack any creature that attacks you. If it is not readily apparent which creatures are enemies to the animal, you may direct it as normal for Handle Animal. Note that you gain a +4 feat bonus to any Handle Animal checks related to your cohort or follower animals.

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